Housing committee examines student concerns with visitation policies

Leaving home to go to college is a life-changing experience. Not only does it allow adolescents to mature and grow personally, it gives young adults the responsibility of making their own choices and relying on themselves. This type of growth and maturation are central to the Gustavus experience as a whole. When students are not attending class, doing homework or participating in extra curricular activities, they are learning how to become their own person in their own domain: the residence halls.

“Imbedded in the Gustavus mission and core values is a fundamental concern for the well-being of and respect for each individual within the context of the campus community. Balancing the sometimes competing interests of students as individuals and members of community is at the heart of the visitation and guest policy.” This statement is included at the beginning of the student visitation policy on the Gustavus website.

The current rules of on-campus residences are as follows: Occupants of first-year campus residences are allowed to have visitors Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. 24-hour visitation is permitted in the lobby, recreational space, TV lounge, study areas, computer lab and the kitchen. Hallways and section lounges are not included in the 24-hour visitation areas.

Occupants of sophomore, junior and senior campus residences also have visitation hours Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. through 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, however are 24-hour visitation days. 24-hour visitation is also permitted in the lobby, recreational space, TV lounge, study areas, computer lab and the kitchen. Hallways on single sex floors, however, are not 24-hour visitation areas.

There are also rules that apply to overnight guests. Guests can stay no more than 48 hours consecutively, and they must be registered with Campus Safety through the online Guest Registration form. Failure to abide by visitation policy may result in the loss of the student’s guest privileges.

Junior History and Communication Studies Major Phil Helt is the current housing and health chair in Gustavus’ Student Senate. The student visitation policy is one of the many issues being discussed by the Senate this year. Charlie Strey, the director of residential life and assistant dean of students, introduced the topic to Senate for discussion.

On Oct. 12, 2009, the Student Senate created the Housing Committee. This committee was put in place to research, discuss and come up with solutions to any issues students may have with housing policies. One such issue has been the student visitation policy. “Some students have voiced concerns or issues they have with this policy,” Helt stated. “It is Senate’s job to be a voice for the students to the administration.”

One such way to make your opinion heard is by filling out the online housing satisfaction survey that is sent out to Gustavus students living in residence halls. This survey is an “awesome opportunity for students who want to voice an opinion,” Helt said.

Helt, along with the rest of the Housing Committee, has been researching the visitation policies enforced by other private colleges in Minnesota and comparing them to the rules and regulations enforced at Gustavus. This research has found both stricter policies and more lenient policies than those at Gustavus. “The trick is to find the balance that is right for Gustavus students,” Helt said.

At their upcoming meetings the Housing committee will be discussing this delicate balance, taking into consideration the opinions voiced by students. No decisions about changes in the visitation policy have been made yet, but it is clear to Gustavus students that some changes may be necessary.

“There can be no doubt that the visitation policy is flawed. I do not know anyone who is happy with the visitation policy as it currently is. I see the policy as antiquated and outdated. The policy ignores the realities of student life and the responsibility of Gustavus students,” Senior Scandinavian Studies Major Andrew Nelson, co-president of Queers and Allies said.

“I believe the visitation policy restricts prospective students from having a legitimate experience on campus, therefore it keeps Gustavus from obtaining well-rounded students from all over,” Junior Health Fitness Major Kayla Tacke said.

Other students may agree with the current policy, but  they have had problems adhering to it. “My guy friend came to see me and had to sleep in his car. I felt like a terrible host, and it shed a negative light on Gustavus,” Junior Psychology major Natalie Lindberg said.

Another issue with the current policy is that some students feel that it excludes homosexual students. “This policy is blatantly heterosexist because it ignores the existence of the GLTB student-population and assumes that all students on campus are heterosexual,” Nelson said. “Clearly the policy needs work; it needs to be adapted to fit the modern idea of opposite-sex, platonic friendship and to allow freedom within the scholastic environment in which we live.”

Student input is very helpful when deciding whether or not to change current policies. “Students need to let us know what they are concerned about and how they feel about certain issues. The only way the Student Senate can be a voice for Gustavus is if we’re allowed to be,” Helt said.