True Colors

The True Colors Community was created to provide students an opportunity to live in an environment where they can live in the same room with any student regardless of sex, gender, gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation. It is designed to be a safe, inclusive, comfortable and supportive community for people of all gender identities and expressions. This community supports students who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming in choosing (or being placed with) a roommate of any gender. The intention of this community is not for cohabitation of romantic partners. It is recommended that students in romantic relationships do not live together in a residence hall.

Students who live in this community are expected to contribute positively to the community by offering support and encouragement for the living environment, respecting floor members’ different motivations for choosing this living option, embracing and learn from experiences different from one’s own, and actively participating in community events, and abide by all regulations as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and the Community Standards of Conduct. Students living in this community are required to sign a living agreement that outlines expectations.

Any room assignment that the student had previously selected will be reassigned to a room that is located in the True Colors Community in Stalnaker Hall. The student will be paired with another student who was also selected to be a part of this community. If a student does not want to change rooms and not live in this community, they must email reslife@mail.wvu.edu.

Students will have an opportunity to select a roommate on True Colors Application. Both roommates must be accepted into the University and have completed the University Housing Application and True Colors Community Application at the time of selection. If you do not have a roommate, another member of the True Colors Community will be placed with you. Roommate pairings will not be based on gender identity; this community enables pairings regardless of the gender with which a student does or does not identify, and preferences listed on your applications will be considered. Gender identifying characteristics will not be shared with your matched suite-mates. On the True Colors Community application, students are given the option to share or not share information.

West Virginia University is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, therefore your application will be confidential.

Housing and Residence Life staff will partner with the LGBTQ+ Center staff to develop programs and activities that will be of interest to and supportive of students who live in this community.

Resident Assistants will be selected for this community based on skill level, background, and interest. These student leaders will receive additional training to better serve the unique needs of this community and they will provide specialty program and support for this community.

Safety and Security are our number one priority. Each Residence Hall is staffed with a professional live-in Residence Hall Coordinator who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the building and supervises the Resident Assistants and Desk Staff. Resident Assistants live on each floor of the building and are responsible for building a positive inclusive community and are there to ensure that policies are being followed. The front desk of each building is staffed 24 hours a day and the Desk Staff are always happy to help a student. Also, Night Staff and Resident Assistants constantly walk through the building at night to address concerns and to support students.

• Building staff can be reached by calling the Stalnaker Hall front desk 24 hours a day. They can be reached by calling 304-293-8149.
• If a serious situation was to occur, the University Police are available 24 hours a day. They can be reached by calling 304-293-COPS.
• For additional safety information please review the Residence Hall Community Standards of Conduct.

• Gender Identity - One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
• Gender Expression - External appearance of one’s gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.
• Gender Non-Conforming - A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category.
• Transgender - An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.
• Cisgender - A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Definition Source: Human Rights Campaign