Students complied with new residence hall guest policy during Welcome Weekend

Students in residence halls were compliant over Welcome Weekend with the new policy restricting overnight guests until Friday.

Residence hall directors were pleased with the policy’s effect to minimize traffic and chaos in hallways.

“It was a pretty quiet night,” said Justin Gawronski, Celani, Saxe and Herrig halls worker in the East area. “We were surprised with how little traffic we had on Thursday.”

Many students went out, but made other arrangements to stay in apartments to prevent getting caught sneaking a guest in.

“From what I heard, the front desk didn’t have any issues with the policy,” the Macomb sophomore said. “Students knew the terms.”

Gawronski walked the halls during his shift and found no one trying to sneak guests in or prop open side doors to residence halls.

Students knew when the side doors were locked and they needed their key and a photo identification to enter, he said. Each hall’s side doors close at different times this semester.

RHDs said most students were not confused by the policy.

“Overall, I had an excellent reaction,” said Bill O’Dell, Troutman and Cobb RHD. “People really seemed to understand the policy.”

Residence Life contacted students moving into residence halls explaining the policy via email, and reminded them at check-in.

James Span Jr., Campbell Hall RHD, said he was not aware of any issues in Campbell during Welcome Weekend.

“We focused on the positive side,” Span said. “It’s all about how you present the material.”

Most students understood it would help them to have a good start, while others mentioned previous semesters spent in residence halls.

“As difficult as it may be, we need the residents to trust in us,” Span said. “We’re trying to put this in place to address issues that have gone on in the past.”

Span said previous years have brought tension between roommates because of guests residing in rooms for weeks at a time.

Residents are not always candid about what situations make them uncomfortable during room contract meetings with resident assistants.

“We’re not trying to be old, cranky, and outdated people trying to prevent their social behaviors,” Span said.