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Oberlin student outraged after 'cisgender men' installed radiators in trans safe space

The college website describes the dorm as 'a close-knit community that provides women and transgendered persons with a safe space'

A student at Ohio's Oberlin College said he was "scared and angry" after the institute announced that "cisgender men" would install radiators in a "safe space" dormitory for women and trans students.

"In general, I am very averse to people entering my personal space. This anxiety was compounded by the fact that the crew would be strangers, and they were more than likely to be cisgender men," Oberlin student Peter Fray-Witzer wrote in an op-ed published in the college newspaper last week. "Baldwin Cottage is the home of the Women and Trans Collective. The College website describes the dorm as “a close-knit community that provides women and transgendered persons with a safe space for discussion, communal living, and personal development.” Cisgender men are not allowed to live on the second and third floors, and many residents choose not to invite cisgender men to that space."

"I was angry, scared, and confused. Why didn’t the College complete the installation over the summer, when the building was empty? Why couldn’t they tell us precisely when the workers would be there? Why were they only notifying us the day before the installation was due to begin?" Fray-Witzer added in the article. 

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Referring to an individual as "Polo Man" because he wore a "neat polo", who accompanied the crew, Fray-Witzer said that he asked him if getting the radiator installation can be rejected. The college emissary did not allow the same. Fray-Witzer then left for class. "By the time I had come back, they appeared to be done, though Polo Man warned me that they would return later in the week to check the insulation. Sure enough, they were back the next day. I felt mildly violated and a little peeved," he said. "I understand, of course, that installations like this are routine; the College needs to improve its facilities occasionally, and who am I to stand in the way of that? After all, I get a brand-spanking-new radiator, right in time for the cold weather. But why not finish the project during the four months of the summer semester, when the building was unoccupied?" 

Other students in the dorm apparently said they were irked by the mess, noise and other problems that construction projects could give rise to. Others complained how the school made them feel uncomfortable due to the way they handled the installation. "Why not alert us earlier to the intrusion? Why didn’t the College make a schedule detailing when the workers would be likely to arrive at each dorm and in each room? They should have taken measures to keep students comfortable and safe — especially those who have elected to live in a specifically designated safe space," Fray-Witzer wrote.

The op-ed has since been widely circulated on social media. The piece has also been criticized by some. "Students at Oberlin, which costs $80,000/year to attend, are angry and scared that the low-paid servants sent to fix their radiators are cis men. Perfect illustration of how s**tty identity leftism doesn't just ignore class repression but reinforces it," one user wrote. "I read about the Oberlin dust up over radiators. First, I think the writer is being silly in many ways. Second, college students do lots of things that the rest of society (or the same people later in life) view as wrong or odd or silly," wrote another user. 

"Remove fray-witzer from the school, he basically said he hates cis men and feel like they are all bad, if someone said that about the LGBT or someome black they would be removed instantly so why the double standard?", one user wrote, while another wrote, "Peter Fray-Witzer, grow up. You are just as bad as someone who discriminates against you. You obviously should just crawl back under your rock if you think the world revolves around you."

Here's a look at some more Twitter reactions:

"How long will it take before discrimination lawsuits R brought against people like this idiot "fray-witzer" for trying to force discrimination against people trying to work simply because of their gender identity or sexual preference?" One user wrote, while another wrote, "this guy seriously thinks he’s a writer? Go to Suffolk county write about political corruption, Irish mafia who terrorize people. This kid sunk his own boat. Creative process isn’t very creative with its snobby elitists articles. Lost the plot."

"Lmao Peter fray-witzer so needs a bunker not college. Which may have been built by men. Oh the humanity of it all. Peter has Androphobia the fear of men obviously he needs a safe space from his safe space," one user said. "Shame on those footing the bill for this "college" who promotes victimhood and hatred. Fray-Witzer looks to need help with coping and day-to-day life," another wrote.