2008 Woodie Awards
No more sneaking around
Next year could bring changes in residence hall policy.
Amy Poppinga
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
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In a meeting held Feb. 13, the board, hall representatives and residents discussed the issue and came to an agreement that RHA should pursue the it.
The council will now survey the opinions of current residents in the residence halls and have each hall government vote at their next meeting. If the halls want 24-hour visitation, RHA will collect signatures and present a petition to residential life.
Eric Hanson, the RHA secretary, is in favor of the change. 24-hour visitation makes sense with nationwide changes in students' late-night studying habits and cultural norms and a nationwide shift to 24-hour visitation at universities, he said.
At SDSU, the recent hall improvements - such as card swipers and new doors within buildings - create a safer environment in the residence halls, and so students should be allowed more freedom once inside the building, he said.
In addition to the hall improvements, the restructuring of residential life and a new administration at SDSU are creating new opportunities to change the visitation policy.
"In the Department of Residential Life and the administration, there is a change in mindset to 24-hour visitation and an openness for at least a discussion to see what students would like," Hanson said.
Amanda Knutson, a Resident Assistant in Hansen Hall, sees many benefits to the new plan. She said residents would not fear the RAs as much in the later hours, the opposite gender would not use the other genders' bathrooms as much and opposite genders could pick each other up for class.
As an RA, Knutson said the current policy is not hard to enforce, but the residents are adults. It can be hard to say, "Yes, you are at college, but no you can't have your friend over," she said.
Hanson feels 24-hour visitation would put SDSU "in line" with other universities, which would help with recruitment and would help prepare students for life. "Once you step into the real world, you're no longer separated by a door that's locked at a certain hour that cuts you off from other people," he said.
Although 24-hour visitation would provide many benefits to SDSU students, both Knutson and Hanson said safety could become an issue. They did not foresee the level of safety changing much, though. Even with the current policy, Knutson said, "If someone is really trying to get on the floor, they will get on the floor no matter what."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Kevin Huether
posted 3/01/08 @ 8:47 AM CST
The picture for this sotry is tasteless and inapprpriate. I bet the parents of those students are very proud.
lucy green
posted 3/03/08 @ 11:23 AM CST
Even though collage age students are adults, they need to
show that they can make adult decisions. And adult dessions needs to be made, based on your long term future not on short term feeling. (Continued…)
Luci
posted 3/06/08 @ 9:27 AM CST
first of all, it's a photo ILLUSTRATION. do you think the photographer actually walked in on two people in bed? i think it was taken in a very tasteful manner and properly ILLUSTRATES what the article mentions. (Continued…)
Alum
posted 3/06/08 @ 2:08 PM CST
Back in the days when I was in the dorms, my roommate had his girlfriend sleep over almost every night of the week. I felt awkward being in the same room as them when they were giggling and doing who knows what under the sheets all night long. (Continued…)
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