Three students in Janet Hudson’s Communication for Engineering and Technology course, originally proposed a class assignment to Jose Picart, vice provost for diversity and African-American affairs on August 22 and received positive remarks. However, Picart is now referring to the paper as just a class assignment.

Madeline Goss, a transgender senior in computer science, Karen Achtyl, a junior in physics, and Ashley Winfree, a senior in biomedical engineering, submitted a report proposing additional unisex restrooms on campus to Picart.

Goss said she hoped and still hopes she can somehow help increase diversity.

“We want to see what we can do to actually help the environment on campus,” she said.

According to Picart, although the paper was a great educational experience for the students involved, University facilities had already been discussing the problem of unisex bathrooms for a year and a half.

“It’s basically a topic that has been addressed,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if these things continue to happen in the future as it relates to looking at providing single use bathrooms on campus.”

Picart said there are already 111 unisex bathrooms on campus.

“On the one hand there are some great ideas in the paper and on the other hand there’s already a number of facilities that address the problem,” he said.

In Technician’s Aug. 23 issue, Picart said the report “merits and deserves serious consideration from the administration.” During yesterday’s interview Picart said the students’ report was just a “learning experience.”

“I don’t know what people envision that’s going to happen because there’s already things that have happened,” he said. “This isn’t really a formal proposal, it was a student paper in an educational exercise.”

Picart also said the addition of single use bathrooms on campus has been an ongoing consideration.

“Just that the students did a classroom paper on it doesn’t mean it’s a new issue,” he said.

Goss said she hasn’t be updated on the report’s progress since giving the proposal to Picart.

“We presented our findings to the University diversity advisory committee and then it was pretty much in their hands,” Goss said.

After the News and Observer ran an article Aug. 31 about the three students’ proposal for unisex bathrooms, Goss said publicity has increased.

“People have contacted me offering support,” she said.

Picart said once he received the report he had plans to forward it to Kevin MacNaughton, associate vice chancellor for facilities. However when Picart contacted MacNaughton he had already received a copy of the report.

“[The issue] is not new to the facilities folks,” Picart said.

Hudson refused to comment.

Attempts made to contact Kevin MacNaughton, the associate vice chancellor for facilities, were not returned.