A new Order Day
The end of the semester can be hectic.
Residence Life's Order Day is designed to alleviate some of the strain. But it goes too far - it can be more of a burden than a blessing.
The policy, which requires students in residence halls to return their rooms to their original state two weeks before the semester's end, is not entirely without merit. For many students, it lets them get much of their cleaning done before finals week. It gives the university a sense for its inventory and what repairs are needed.
However, the policy renders students' rooms sterile. This is a detriment to both leisure and studies. Students still have to live in the rooms for two weeks; they still have a fair deal of studying and research to do.
Order Day requires that students return their desks to their original positions, which, for many students, is outside their bedrooms and in the living room. This can create suboptimal studying conditions, and many students would much prefer to be able to continue working in their bedrooms.
Likewise, many students still would enjoy having a futon or couch in their rooms, even though they would have to move it later. Students' workload does not mean they stop socializing. And a comfortable room can be a major relief after an all-nighter to prepare an essay.
Residence Life should not abandon the policy altogether. Rather, it could use some tweaking. Right now the policy provides a way for Residence Life to avoid chaos while students move out of their rooms.
A new policy should retain a semblance of structure but grant students greater freedom during their final two weeks. As a start, Residence Life should eliminate its requirement that furniture must return to its original spot.
This would permit students still to study in the comfort of a desk in their room. And this is not equivalent to permitting students free reign.
Residence Life officials still should conduct a preliminary room tour, but the standards for 'order' should be lowered.
Officials should ensure the room is not an outright mess, and require residents to tidy themselves in preparation for a quick departure. But they still should allow major amenities.
In turn, Residence Life also should provide set 'moving hours' during afternoons in finals week. This would still structure students' departures and keep the halls quiet when they need to be.
Residence Life should seriously re-examine its current policy. Right now, order comes at too steep a cost.
