The Swarthmore alumni magazine reports that the college’s housing committee has endorsed a proposal made in December by one Timothy Stewart-Winter and members of the Swarthmore Queer Union. "Mandatory same-gender housing is heterosexist," the proposal argued, "in that it fails to account for the comfort of gay, lesbian and bisexual students," which are complicated by factors such as "attraction and homophobia."

Thus, 50 spots (4 percent of student housing) have been cleared for the fall on an experimental basis, after which the program might be enlarged if necessary to meet — in the words of Assistant Dean Myrt Westphal, gender unspecified — "the needs of our students, especially our queer students." (Yes, deans say "queer" now too.)

This raises certain obvious scenarios. Although Westphal insists that "at Swarthmore there is a student culture that strongly suggests you do not live with a romantic partner," you have to know a lot of straight guys won’t mind declaring themselves gay if it means they can play Three’s Company. That ploy may be especially tempting since Swarthmore frequently packs multiple roommates in together. The alumni magazine cites the case of one female student who will be living with "‘her four best friends,’ one of whom happens to be male."

Already, the slots have been filled beyond the number requesting them because too many sophomores wanted coed housing. (Freshmen can’t pick their roommates and upperclassmen can get single rooms.)

But perhaps the most telling aspect of this situation was brought out by National Review: "Turn, for a second, to the debate over gays in the military. When it comes to that sphere — barracks, submarines and all — gay advocates huffily, offendedly maintain that ‘attraction’ is no issue. Once the gay activists have figured out their position, they should get back to us."