Vote changes visitation hours in residence halls

Responsibility and communication are major skills used when living in collegiate housing. These skills will be challenged further by a new amendment to the visitation policy affecting the residence halls.
Effective Nov. 13, 24- hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week visitation hours will be a new option for residents. As stated in the standard visitation policy, all guests must have the consent of the roommate/suitemates without regard to which hours are in effect.
Each suite now has the option to create their visitation hours. The original policy, with hours from the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., is still an option for some students. However, according to Dr. Paul Jahr, about 95 percent of residents choose the 24-hour visitation option.
Jahr was clear about the new options for students.
“University policy remains the same,” Jahr said. “We are not changing the policy, only providing new options for extending or restricting visitation hours. If an agreement can’t be reached, the current policy will be in affect.”
Since the Resident Housing Association (RHA) proposed and passed a similar policy last school year, the changes were somewhat expected by residents. The reasoning for delaying the amendment to a few months into the semester is to give students time to adjust to a new lifestyle and develop relationships with their fellow residents.
RHA advisor Amanda Gunter participated in passing and supervising the proposal. She, like Jahr, has little to no reservations about the amendment.
 “The biggest difference will be for the residents and taking more responsibility in their living conditions,” said Gunter.
The only concern that may arise is occasional parental issues according to Jahr. While last year’s experience helps soothe worries with most parents, a few still inquire about the policy.
“You’re the adult,” responds Jahr referring to the students, “This is your home.”
He refers to acquiring the skills of respect, responsibility and communication through campus living as a life skill. Most of these life skills come rapidly in the residence hall experience.
Freshman Kimberly O’Toole, an English major and Napier Hall resident, agrees with the quick development of life skills through campus living.
“The transition is not easy,” O’Toole  said, “But I have learned a lot through this experience. The new policy will just make life within the residence hall much easier.”
Though recently put into effect, the amendment to the visitation policy is expected to please most students living in the residence halls.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 17 2006. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry