Catholic University: Adios, Coed Dorms

Catholic University's president believes he has come up with a surefire way to curb binge drinking and promiscuity: Do away with the school's 11 coed dorms. “We just thought it was a more wholesome environment,” says John Garvey, whose plan will be phased in over several years at the DC school. “A little separation is a healthy thing." But not all students and alums agree, citing the coed housing that's existed at Catholic University for more than two decades as conducive to building stronger relationships, both platonically and romantically speaking, the Washington Post reports.

While studies suggest that students in coed dorms are more than twice as likely to report weekly binge drinking or to have several sexual partners in the course of a year, the verdict on mixed housing is hardly conclusive. Some Catholic alums are advocating stasis in the school's policy. “A lot of us met our spouses there," says one former student. "We’ve started families thanks to coed living.” Garvey laid out his rationale in a Wall Street Journal essay. (More Catholic University stories.)