Residential dorm check-in system too restrictive
I have only been at Western a few months, but already something alarming has come to my attention. I believe there is a huge problem with the check‑in system currently in place at the residential dorms. The check in system is inconvenient and takes away student freedom.
First of all, the early check‑in time of 9 p.m. is an inconvenience. There is a steady flow of students coming and going well after 9 p.m. There is no need to check‑in so many students during this time—especially on the weekends when most students do not go out for the night until 10 p.m. or later. This early check-in time becomes repetitious and irritating for both students and workers at the front desk. Therefore, check‑in time should be moved to a more efficient and reasonable time. I suggest 12 a.m. or later.
Furthermore, the check‑in rules crush students’ dreams of freedom. College is supposed to be a place of growth and independence, yet we are treated like children. Check in of 9 p.m. is way too early. College should be more freedom, not more restrictions. Furthermore, the rule that opposite genders cannot stay the night is wrong. We are adults and are mature enough to decide who stays in our dorms; this is not a decision Western Michigan University should be making for us.
Alyssa Marsack
WMU Freshman
Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=11991
Posted by heraldstaff
on Nov 15 2009. Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinion.
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I work on campus at a desk in a dorm hall. The check ins are not meant to crush anyone’s freedom but to maintain safety. You’re right. After 9pm is when the amount of guests and residents going in and out the building increase. We check in guests and residents at 9pm because typically after 9pm is when students get rowdy and things can happen. We need to have a list of every guest who is in the hall incase there’s a fire and the list allows us to be able to check off who is in or out of the building. Obviously it doesn’t happen often but it’s a safety precaution. My hall director worked at school where they didn’t have a check in procedure and a student died in a fire because they were not sure who was in or out of the building when the fire happened. 2 years ago Eastern didn’t have a check in process and someone allowed a guest in and that guest raped and killed a student in her dorm room. This is why we have you check in. We understand you’re an adult and you should be able to do what you want but we check your ID and log in your guests to maintain your safety. If you don’t like someone looking out for you and your guests then move into an apartment where no one cares. This summer I lived in an apartment and my laptop was stolen while I was home when someone broke my window and climbed in my bedroom. You will never have to worry this will happen in a dorm because of the increased security. In a dorm at least people know you by name and care for the safety of you and your belongings.
Alyssa,
The only reason that WMU has people sign in is so that they can’t be sued if something happens, instead the person that signs them in becomes liable for them.
If you are upset about WMU’s blatant infringes upon your rights, if you look carefully at the student code and the res life guide you actually give up your 1st,2nd,4th,5th,6th,7th, and 8th amendment rights by going here.
A university should be a place for more freedom for students, but remember the students have no say in what actually gets decided and when it comes down to it western will always side with the way that makes them the most money or will prevent them from loosing any rather then actually treating students like the paying customers that we are.