Opinion, Editorial Reactions

The topic for this week is:

Should HBC's adopt a co-ed policy in the dormitories? Why or why not?



Here are a few responses to the question:

I am just disgusted by the "laws" at your university. I am a student at the University of Cape Town and I have lived in University Residences for the past five years and when I was still living in junior residences, the rules were there to forbid people to have overnight visitors, especially in the ladies residences. There is no way the university could go around asking or checking people's rooms whether there is a visitor or not. So students do have people sleeping over without the authorities knowing. But any way for me or anyone to be at the university at any age it means the person "is responsible enough" to take care of himself/herself and the university cannot interfere in student's PRIVATE LIFE.

I understand that the students are there to study, not to engage in sex which for heavens sake can take place during the allowed hours. I think your university should rather provide more sex education and time management and STOP going around in people's rooms think students should unite against this STUPID laws.

Thanks. I hope I put my point through!

Seabata Dinthe,
University of Cape Town
South Africa

I feel that co- ed dormitories can be beneficial to the students. However, these students are not trusted to have visitation past a reasonable hour for adults. Why build a $740,000 home for President Bristow, when the students live in overcrowed, indecent housing? I once resided in Lanier and Robinson Halls. Now, two of the ladies' dorms have been given to the men. That is ridiculous.

Varnita Young
Greenville, Miss.

I WAS ASTONISHED TO READ ASU STILL HAS THE SAME OUTDATED VISITATION POLICIES... GUESS WHAT WE HAD NO VISITATION ALL ALL WHEN I WAS A STUDENT..... HOWEVER IS SAD TO SEE THAT THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH IN THAT DEPARTMENT IN OVER 10 YEARS........ I UNDERSTAND THE STAFF'S CONCERNS ABOUT COED DORMS...... HOW EVER IT'S BEEN PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT PEOPLE DESIRE WHAT IS FORBIDDEN....... EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A NO VISITATION POLICY THAT DID NOT STOP MALES FROM VISISTING FEMALES IN THEIR DORM ROOMS ....IT JUST MADE US FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO SNEAK THEM IN......SURE A FEW PEOPLE GOT CAUGHT BUT EVERYONE JUST LEARNED FROM THEIR MISTAKE...AND FOUND ANOTHER WAY TO GET THEM IN..... HOWEVER I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH A NO VISITATION POLICY FOR FRESHMAN...SIMPLY BECAUSE THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF COLLEGE AND BEING ON YOUR OWN TAKES SOME ADJUSTMENT FOR NEWCOMERS....IF THINGS ARE LIKE THEY WERE WHEN I WAS THERE....(SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE)...AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THE MALE UPPERCLASSMEN CAN'T WAIT TO POUNCE UPON "FRESH MEAT".....I'VE SEEN TO MANY FRESHMEN GET CAUGHT UP IN THIS GAME .....AND HAVE TO LEAVE SCHOOL.

Evelyn Day

I do think that visitation hours should be extended. All of the students are considered young adults and therefore they should also be treated as adults. The hours here for co-ed visitation are from 4:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. on Monday thru Friday and 12:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. on Saturday and Sunday. If it was the same at Alcorn, I really think this would minimize all of the disception on the campus. (Freshmen also have the same visitation time.) Other than the visitation rules, I enjoyed my tenure at Alcorn.

LaTonya J. Byars
Cleveland, Miss.

I think Co-ed dorms would be a big improvement for Alcorn State. I attended in 1994-1998 and visitation was only for a couple of hours three times a week. On top of that, we were not suppose to be on the male's side of campus after 12:00 and vice versa. How can you tell an adult when and where to be and at what time. I addressed such issues to the president , and the majority of the students felt the same way I did. Attending college is a preparation for the real world. No longer do we have segregation, so we should not implement segregation at our institutions. I do agree that freshmens should not have that privilege right away, because it could lead to bigger problems. From my experience, there were plenty of vultures after me so I wouldn't recommend visitation for first-time college students. However, as we mature, we learn how to handle ourselves and the situations we are put in.

Chearice Vaughn
Picayune, Miss.



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