The Concordian

The Student Government Administration is undertaking a long-awaited initiative to change the current visitation policy to expand the hours of visitation.  Originally lobbying for full, open 24-hour visitation of students between male and female dormitories, the policy changed to expand the visitation policy by which students currently abide.

“Visitation by guests of the opposite gender is permitted in every residence hall between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 midnight, Monday through Thursday.  Open visitation, with roommate consent, may occur on Friday beginning at 12:00 noon and lasting until 12:00 midnight Sunday.  On Labor Day and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holidays only, open visitation may occur through Sunday night as well.  Every guest is subject to University rules and regulations which affirm each student’s right to study, sleep and privacy.  It is the duty of the resident host to monitor and accept responsibility for the behavior of guests.  All guests in any residence hall must be escorted by the host resident of that building at all times.  The University reserves the right to deny access to any guest if it has been determined that such person has disturbed, disrupted, or endangered any residents.”

The paragraph above is simply an abbreviated version of the longer policy, available in the Student Handbook.  As it stands, weekends are open, starting at noon on Friday and ending at midnight Sunday night.  During these times as well as the rest of the week, we have the escort policy which reads:  “Each visitor(s) of the opposite sex must be accompanied by the host or hostesses within the residence hall they are visiting at all times. Residents can only serve as a host/hostess in the residence hall in which they live. Each resident may escort up to two visitors at a time and must stay with the visitor(s) while the visitor(s) is in the building. Each resident is held accountable for her/his guest(s’)/visitor(s’) on-campus behavior in accordance with University policies and procedures.”

The changes to the policy have evolved over the course of the past few months with proposals ranging from full open 24-hour visitation extending the weekends, giving students a set number of days for full open visitation, and experimenting with extended visitation in North and South Tower only.

Housing committee chairman Matthew Belcher noted “I believe that although students want 24-hour visitation, Housing is not ready to make that type of change and we are working diligently with Housing to come to an agreement that will benefit students.”

Concord University Student Affairs committee member, Bill Lewis also noted “It is doubtful that students will finish this semester without seeing changes in the visitation policy.”

Article Tools