Stricts

By: Jessica Huang, Gracie Keyt, Anna Kim, and Andrea Nystedt

Students who break Visitations rules, acquire four unexcused absences or violate COVID-19 related health and safety rules may be placed on restrictions for three to ten weeks depending on the severity of the infraction, as outlined in the Student E-Book. While on stricts, boarding students must check in at their dormitory every night at 8 p.m. with the exception of 8 p.m. class or required academic appointments.

According to Dean of Residential Life Carol Cahalane, approximately 30 students are currently on restrictions. “This is a significantly lower number than the past five years, which is linked to the fact that we were not on campus for the first part of this term, and that our COVID-19 restrictions have shifted some of our normal patterns,” Cahalane said.

Cahalane noted that restrictions were an effective way of preventing student infractions. “Being placed on restrictions can help students to reflect on what they have done and with the help of adults around them assess what they might do differently. The effectiveness depends on whether the students take their actions seriously and accept the offered assistance, support and guidance,” Cahalane said. “I have wondered about different approaches, but don’t have one I favor. I’m interested in any ideas members of the community have to offer.”

Uppers Alexandria Westray and Kendrah Su are currently on restrictions for breaking COVID-19 dorm visitation guidelines. “Kendrah and I live in the rooms next to each other. If I opened my door, you would see Kendrah’s room. We're in the same dorm unit. On the day we both got back there, we forgot how the rules had changed,” Westray said. At the time, dorm units were not allowed to be in each other's rooms. “She came into my room, and we had the door wide open. We weren't trying to hide or break a rule. We had just forgotten that,” Westray added.

Westray talked about the difficulties of being on restrictions. “Stricts made it harder to connect with people on the weekends. Since events such as Coffeehouse were after our check-in, we had to say ‘good night guys,’ and then have a nice calm night at 8:00 p.m.,” she said.

However, Westray noted that the pandemic has made the restrictions experience more bearable. “Since we're already not going out really, I think in some ways it's easier, since there's so little to do, because like you're not missing out on much, you're missing out on walking to the field house and getting a coffee,” she explained.

Su agreed. “We're on two weeks of Stricts during the coldest two weeks in the busiest time frame [of the term]. Also, I think it was reasonable, [because] we [did break] a rule,” she said.

Prep Corgi Adams, who received restrictions for missing classes due to oversleeping, noted that restrictions have not affected his on-campus experience. “There is nothing you need to be doing past 8 p.m. during COVID-19. You can't visit other dorms, most clubs aren't in person, you need to go to class regardless of stricts, the dining hall closes at 7:30, etc. Stricts are super redundant and only serve to scare you during the pandemic,” he said.

As the Academy welcomes March arrivals, the Academy will continue to assess the number of students with restrictions on campus.