(CHAPEL HILL) -- The UNC Board of Governors voted to ban all system campuses from allowing students to choose roommates of the opposite sex.

Advocates say many gay and transgender students feel more comfortable with members of the opposite sex and the policy would have allowed a gay man to live with a woman best friend.

Stuart Campbell, Executive Director of Equality NC, says they're disappointed with the board. "I think that unfortunately, an example of the Board of Governors bowing to the Legislature, and it's largely for political reasons."

Opponents, such as Tammi Fitzgerald with the NC Values Coalition, deemed the living arrangements inappropriate and cannot be set aside for just some students. "Duke University adopted gender-neutral housing last year, and they've expanded it to almost every student on campus this year. Heterosexual and homosexual, lesbian, gay, transsexual, whatever."

When students return to campus on August 17 at UNC-Chapel Hill, officials will have to reassign those who had been placed in 32 gender-neutral spaces made available in two dorms and the Ram Village apartments.