The V's Solution

I

wrote an article a couple weeks ago criticizing the visitations policy proposed by the administration. I realize however, that without a counter-proposal, one that’s both reasonable and productive, my article bears little weight. And I think that’s indicative of a larger issue with opinion pieces—they’re far too pessimistic, and they discourage instead of encouraging. Which, in the end, hardly gets us anywhere. So here’s my proposal for a reasonable visitations policy that addresses my previous concerns. I ended my article calling for a completely open, unrestricted visitations policy, but as I’ve come to realize, that’s impossible. And it’s impossible not because the administration is hellbent on making us students unhappy, but because of the concerns of parents.

What we’re dealing with here is so vastly complicated, so nuanced, that no proposal will appease everyone. What we’re dealing with is a culture more than 200 years old that thinks boys and girls alone in a room are a threat; a threat of sex, a threat of discomfort, even a threat of exploitation. We’re dealing with a generation of parents that doesn’t know or care about gender equality or sexuality because they know their child. A parent’s goals are singular. They care about the prevention of unsafe behavior for their child. And for the overwhelming majority of students and parents, that is the prevention of unrestricted access between girls and boys. So how do we create a policy that suits the parents’ needs, the administration’s needs and the students’ needs? We have to realize one key thing. The parents of a 13 year old think differently than the parents of a 19 year old. That’s why seniors have a later check-in time and preps have an earlier one. That’s why we trust our seniors more than our preps. Why should the visitations policy be any different?

We need a gradient of visitations policies that match the trust and responsibility we grant each of our students. We need a policy that prepares our upper classmen for the freedom of a college campus.  And since everyone is yelling change, change, change, and no one is proposing an actual policy, here’s mine:

In the case of dormitory visitations, students are encouraged to use common spaces for socializing and working with friends and classmates.

Designated common spaces may be used for dormitory visitations between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and check-in for all students. There are many reasons that students may want a room visitation for privacy. Some of these include visiting with friends, completing academic work, getting extra help, working together on club activities and watching movies. Students in intimate relationships may also want room visitations to build and maintain a healthy relationship. Student rooms may be used for visitations during the specific hours designated below. Faculty always maintain the right to inquire into or stop a room visitation.

In the case of room visitations, all students may get room visitations during the times which correspond to their year. Preps can have visitations Sunday through Friday from 7:00 p.m. until check-in, and Saturdays from 8:00 p.m. until check-in, with permission from faculty on duty. During fall term, preps may only request visitations with other preps. Starting winter term, preps may be granted visitations with students from other grades. For lowers, visitation hours are the same as preps, but they can have whomever they want, regardless of grade, in their room. For uppers, visitation hours are extended, and from 12:30 p.m. to check-in, they can have people in their room without faculty permission. Seniors are granted the greatest amount of freedom; from 7:00 a.m. until check-in, they can have visitors in their room without faculty permission.

With these changes, though, come responsibilities. If students from different grades get room visitations, they must adhere to the rules of the younger student. Room visitations for non-PEA students are not allowed without permission from the Dean of Students Office. And any time a visitor who does not reside in the dormitory is present in a student's room, the door shall remain open and the lights should be on. The well-being of our student body is our primary concern. For this reason, our expectation is that students will follow the visitation policy. Unauthorized visiting to student rooms must be reported by faculty members and will result in disciplinary action. However, if a student is concerned about personal safety or feels uncomfortable about the decision or their choice to violate this rule, the student should immediately leave the room and is encouraged to seek out an adult. A student leaving an illegal visitation under such circumstances will not face disciplinary consequences.