Co-ed dorms are a widely accepted part of college living. However, all-female dorms still exist at Ohio University.

Voigt Hall, located at 34 S. College St., was built in 1954 and named after Irma E. Voigt. Voigt was the Ohio University Dean of Women from 1913-1949 and a member of several professional women’s organizations.Today, Voigt Hall houses 150 female students, said Marseille Markham, graduate resident director of the hall.

According to the OU Housing Web site, Treudley Hall, 99 West Green Drive, was built in 1965 as the first women’s honors residence for upperclass students designed for “mature, responsible women.” The hall was named after an OU professor, Dr. Frederick Treudley.

Treudley Hall houses 146 female residents, said Suzy Warren, resident assistant for Treudley.

For the 2006-2007 academic year there were 64 requests from first-year students to live in an all-female dorm. This number was down from the 2005-2006 school year, which had 89 requests for an all-female residence hall, said Pam Drake, associate director of housing. There are no all-male dorms on campus because of the lack of requests.

“For many years, the tradition had been single-gender halls,” said Judy Piercy, interim director of resident life. “As time progressed and society became more open about co-ed living situations, we too provided that option but kept (some single-sex halls).”

Piercy said Lincoln and Read halls were previously all-male residences, and Jefferson was an all-female hall. Jefferson and Read Halls both turned co-ed in the past several years; Jefferson changed in fall 2004 and Read in fall 2003.

Fewer men wanted same-sex residences, and it became difficult to fill male halls.

“What drives the change is demand. The interest of prospective or returning students in a single-gender hall changed,” Piercy said.

Piercy said she thinks that some women may feel safer in a single-gender hall.

Sophomore roommates Lauren DesJardins and Kate Sayre are living in Voigt for their second year. Voigt was their second choice this year, but they both agreed that an all-girls dorm has advantages such as less vandalism and being able to sit around in a towel.

The only downfall of living in a single-sex dorm is not meeting as many guy friends, DesJardins said.

Sophomore Danielle Siracusa also believes the lack of guy friends to be the only downfall. Siracusa lived in Voigt last year, and this year she lives in Treudley. Although Treudley was not her first choice this year, she actually prefers the single-sex hall.

“I would choose the all-girls dorm (versus co-ed) because you don’t have to worry about certain things when you’re not trying to impress guys,” Siracusa said.