Rainbow House Application 2007-2008
Mission Statement:
The Rainbow House is committed to providing a queer-friendly atmosphere for students to live and interact. The Rainbow House is designed to bring issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students to the whole of Tufts. The Rainbow House exists to provide LGBT students and allies a housing option where their sexual orientation or gender will not be an issue of conflict. The Rainbow House is also committed to providing a safe space for any student to visit when facing challenges in their life related to their sexuality or gender such as roommate problems or coming out issues. The Rainbow House will serve as a social outlet for LGBT students and allies. Students can count on finding events where they are free to discuss their sexual orientation and/or gender freely and to interact with other students without the fear of rejection simply because of their identity.
The rainbow is the LGBT community’s symbol for the diversity of our members. We chose the rainbow as the symbol of our house to represent the variety of people we are, in gender, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, and, of course, sexual orientation.
Expectations of House Residents:
Rainbow House residents must be committed to the values of diversity outlined in the mission statement, and they must be willing to contribute to a positive, friendly, and accepting climate for all LGBT and ally students.
Residents are required to contribute to the activities and programs of the house, which include but are not limited to our annual September barbeque and our annual Halloween party. Second and third year residency in the house will be based on the current year’s involvement in house activities.
House Manager:
Preference will be given to applicants who indicate that they would be willing to be the House Manager. The House Manager is responsible for attending related Residential Life meetings (usually 2 per semester), spearheading the organization of house events, and organizing recruitment and applications for new members each spring. The House Manager will work closely with the Rainbow House Advisor, LGBT Center Director Dona Yarbrough.
Applications must be dropped off at the LGBT Center or emailed to lgbt@tufts.edu
Name:___________________________________ Telephone Number: __________________
Year of Graduation: ___________
Gender:__________
[Note: The Rainbow House welcomes straight allies!]
Are you willing to live in a double? YES / NO
Are you applying with a roommate? If so, write his/her name:____________________________
Are you committed to living in the house for a full year? YES / NO
If no, explain:
If accepted, will you definitely live in the house? (Yes means you are committed to live if accepted. No means that the Rainbow House is not your first choice in housing.) YES / NO
Are you willing to be the House Manager? YES / NO
If yes, why do you want to be House Manager, or why would you be a good House Manager?
QUESTIONS: (Attach additional sheets if necessary. Short but serious answers are all that we require.)
1. Why do you want to live in the Rainbow House, and what could you contribute? Describe any specific ideas for house programs or ways you would contribute to existing events.
2. Have you ever experienced bias due to homophobia, heterosexism, or gender discrimination? Please describe your experiences.
3. How would you define diversity, and why is it important to you?
4. What extra-curricular participation/community service experience do you have? Leadership roles? (LGBT-related and otherwise)
5. If you have lived in the house before, please describe in detail your contribution to house activities and events.
Decisions regarding applications are reached through a committee composed of current residents and the Rainbow House advisor. The advisor has final say on acceptance of applicants. Decisions are based on a complex number of factors, including willingness to contribute to the house, safety issues, diversity within the house (a balance of genders, years, races, etc.), past contributions to the community, and the need to fill doubles.