Coed Bathroom

AMHERST, Mass.--"A Free for All on Every Stall" was a slogan in the student government campaign at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst last week.

The university's decision to designate separate male and female bathroom facilities for undergraduates is "paternalistic." Freeman Woodson, a student senator, said, adding "They're kicking us back to the 1950s."

The university will segregate its coed dorms--which house two-thirds of its 11,000 students--because of increased student and parental pressure and because of state plumbing inspection rules, Marjorie Lenn. director of residential life, said yesterday.

A student referendum to keep the decade-old unisex bathrooms last week passed by a 94 per cent majority, but Lenn said, "The issue is non-negotiable."

Students will continue to protest the "ludicrous policy." Linda Gery, speaker of the student senate, said yesterday.