After months of advocacy, KU students are now organizing daily protests following the university’s decision to eliminate gender-inclusive housing in Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Lexy Urban and Taylor Doyle | @lexy_urban@ku.edu @taylor.doyle@ku.edu

On Feb. 5, KU Housing informed residents of Grace Pearson Hall — known to many students as “GP” — that room assignments would return to gender-specific designations. This change marked a significant shift away from the gender-inclusive model previously implemented in the hall.

Frustration deepened on Feb. 11, when residents received a follow-up email from KU Housing warning of possible disciplinary action for those not complying with signage policies. Students had placed protest banners and sticky notes in their windows to voice opposition to the housing decision — an action the university now deemed a policy violation.

“I think KU just deciding to remove inclusivity now of all times is evidence that they are rolling over for an administration when it’s time to stand up against it. And that’s not fair,” Meghan Arias, treasurer at Grace Pearson, said.

Students said they were blindsided by the warning, especially after months of peaceful protest. The university’s policies prohibit residents from posting unapproved signage on campus buildings. Many students saw this enforcement as a way to silence dissent.

Professor Gary Reich, who teaches political science at KU, has publicly supported students facing nonacademic misconduct charges as a result of their activism.

“I think it’s wrong to use nonacademic misconduct charges for students who are simply speaking out and engaging in peaceful protest against a university decision,” Professor Reich said.

Students involved say the emotional and academic toll has been significant.

“Every free minute I have is spent trying to resolve our situation with KU Housing,” Arias said. “I don’t even have time to study until after 8 p.m., and by then I’m already exhausted. It’s taken a toll academically, emotionally, and socially.”

In response, students have committed to organizing daily walks from Grace Pearson Hall to Corbin Hall, home to the KU Housing offices. These protests take place each weekday at 4:45 p.m., and aim to maintain visibility and pressure university officials.

On Monday, residents hosted a town hall meeting to foster dialogue between students and KU administration. Although KU Housing declined to participate officially, students noted that a few affiliated individuals did attend the discussion.

“As soon as we saw them enter the room, I saw like relief on a lot of people’s faces, including, I felt some of it on my own,” Arias said.

Students say they will continue to communicate with KU Housing in hopes of finding a resolution that centers student voices and needs.