Friday, September 28, 2001

Power Play
Residents should be given a chance

Milton Daniel Hall became the first residence hall to change visitation hours by a landslide vote Wednesday of 241 to 16.

This is the first time visitation hours have been changed since a policy change was approved in May 2000 by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Don Mills allowing students to vote to extend visitation through a referendum.

SGA President Brian Wood said the House of Representatives recommended the change because members wanted visitation hours to be a responsibility for each hall.

But, according to the 2001-2002 TCU student handbook, “a proposal to extend visitation must be submitted to and approved by the hall director before the election takes place.”

Milton Daniel Hall may be the first hall to successfully change visitation hours, but it certainly wasn’t the first hall to attempt such a feat. Other halls that have submitted proposals have been stopped in their tracks by hall directors.

The intention of the policy clearly refers to all the residents in the halls. While hall directors are representative of the hall, they should not be the sole determining body in a decision supported by a majority of their residents want.

Jarvis Hall Director Rhonda Dickens Wisner said a change in hours may require resident assistants to extend their hours for rounds.

Clearly Wisner had the interests of her staff in mind, but RAs are responsible for knowing residential policy. They should be aware that a change in hours is possible and factor that into their decision to accept the job. The interests of the majority should not be thwarted for the interests of a few.

Congratulations to Milton Daniel Hall residents and their overwhelming participation in the vote. Recognition also goes to Hall Director Artist Thornton for allowing his residents to decide what works best for them.

Maybe next semester more hall directors will allow their residents be responsible citizens and encourage them to take an active interest in their community.