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Dorm visitation policy changes |
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Thursday, 24 August 2006 |
by SARA HAYNES
Intern News Reporter
Football season is not here yet, but tailgating is causing concern for the Department of Housing & Residence Life.
“Tailgating” is a term the staff is using to describe anyone stepping in behind a student as they enter a dorm, and the phenomenon is becoming increasingly common due to a change in campus policy.
Until
this semester, any student could access any dorm by use of their
AppCARD during certain hours of the day, but could only access their
own dorm at night.
This semester, however, students’ cards only opens the door of their own residence hall.
The reasoning
behind the decision was influenced by several issues, but sparked by a
“60 Minutes” report about campus safety two years ago.
Since then, the idea has been growing in popularity, and was finally approved to go into effect this year.
“[The new
policy] might be a little inconvenient, but the safety aspect of the
situation outweighs that,” Tommy Wright, director of housing operations
said.
He said in a recent incident at Virginia Tech, an escaped prison inmate shot and killed two people on campus.
“He
apparently blended right in with the students,” Wright said, “Which is
why this is so important. You really never know who you’re letting in.”
Director
of Housing & Residence Life, Jeff Doyle, shares the same concerns,
but said the final decision also took the escort policy into
consideration.
Students visiting a dorm are supposed to be escorted by a resident of that dorm.
The new
policy forces residents to meet their visitors at the door, making the
escort policy one followed by default. He stressed, however, that
student safety was the number one priority of those involved in making
the decision.
Students, too, have a lot to say about the new policy.
“It’s an
inconvenience trying to visit someone during the day and they have to
come down from, say, the sixth floor to let you in,” Josh S. Coble, a
freshman music industry major said. “It’s much more of a hassle.”
Caty J. Mullins, a sophomore journalism major, approves of the new policy.
“As a
female, I like it more,” she said. “I was actually in a dorm with a
breaking and entering incident where someone was breaking into girls’
rooms. I feel safer now.”
RA Kacie Miner, a sophomore anthropology major, said enforcing the new policy was challenging.
Minor said
having to ask students who “tailgated” their way in to leave and swipe
their card causes less than desirable reactions.
“People are hard to deal with,” she said, “but it’s all worth it.”
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