Rutgers to allow male, female students to shack up

New Jersey's largest university will offer a gender-neutral housing program in three dorms that aims to make the campus more inclusive for gay students.

Starting this fall, gay, lesbian and transgender students at Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus can choose either male or female roommates under the pilot program.

Heterosexual students will also be permitted to live in rooms with students of the opposite sex. Men and women will share bathrooms.

Rutgers drew scrutiny after freshman Tyler Clementi killed himself days after authorities said his dorm roommate used a webcam to capture Clementi in an intimate encounter with a man.

Rutgers Residence Life director Joan Carbone told The Home News Tribune of East Brunswick that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students explained it was difficult to find an accepting roommate.