Apr 08, 2014 12:25 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

A female-to-male transgender student has filed a sex discrimination complaint against a Christian University in Oregon, claiming the school refused to let him live in men's dormitories, Campus Reform reported.

Officials at George Fox University said that allowing second-year student Jayce to live in on-campus housing would interfere with the school's efforts to "be a Christ-centered community."

School officials said its Christian theology makes it necessary for their residential facilities to be single gender.

"Our residential facilities are single gender because of our theological commitments," university officials said in a statement. "The student's request to switch from female-only on-campus housing to male-only on-campus housing is one that many institutions would struggle with."

According to a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday, the Oregon college told the student that he could live with other male students off campus with male students. However, to do that, Jayce must legally change his name and gender, and provide copies of the following to Mark Pothoff, Dean of Community Life: Driver's License, Birth Certificate and his Social Security Card. The university also said Jayce and his male roommates would need to abide by all the school's lifestyle standards and policies.

Jayce's attorney alleges that George Fox University is violating Title IX regulations which "require equal treatment of the sexes at schools that receive federal money," Campus Reform reported.

Jayce's mother has also launched an online petition accusing the school of denying her transgender son "appropriate housing."

"Being a religiously-affiliated school does not mean having to be unwilling to hear Jayce's story, see past preconceived notions of sex and gender and respect him for who God made him," it reads.

Some students agree with the college's stance and told KOMO News that they are glad the school is standing its ground.

"If we decide to go to George Fox knowing full well like the stance then we should follow those rules, like, even if it causes us some like personal pain or issues," first-year student Mckenna Miner said.

The petition has more than 4,000 signatures. 

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