LORMAN -
If a young man is found in a young woman's room in the residence halls or a young woman is found in a young man's room, other than during regularly approved and scheduled visitation periods, both parties are subject to suspension. This is what the student handbook reads under the subject of visitation rights at Alcorn.
Visitation days in the women's dorms are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The hours are from 7 to 10p.m. Monday and Wednesday and from 8 to 12 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
When visitors come to the dorms, they must present their ID to the matron. The visitor must also be a student at Alcorn.
"It's not right that people from other schools can't come and visit. I feel that the visitor can be anyone enrolled in any other college," said Kenya Holland, a medical technology major from Crystal Springs.
There are no visitation privileges at the male dorms.
"It just goes back to morals and old fashioned values. A male should come to see the female, and it's also more safer for the young lady," said Laura Johnson, director of housing.
"I feel that there should be visitation privileges for the male dorms, because I don't think it's any safer for the male to come see the female. Whatever's going to happen will happen regardless," said Kenyatta McMillian, a sophomore business major from Belzoni.
Visitation rights are only given to upperclassmen. The student handbook clearly states that there are no visitation privileges for freshmen.
"Where all young adults and freshmen pay tuition just like the upperclassmen, they should have visitation rights too," said Kendra Jackson, a special education major from Greenville.
"Other schools are coed [in housing], but yet this school is stuck in an old-time zone where we are forced to have visitors only at certain hours," said Acquinetta Daniels, a sophomore nursing major.
"Alcorn is a place of learning and that should be one's first priority. If students are studying like they should, then the hours should be fine," said Johnson.
"It doesn't take all day to do homework and study, so therefore I think the hours should be expanded," said Andrea Carter, a sophomore computer science major from Gloster.
"I've heard word about the expansion of visitation hours, but I'm not sure if it really will happen," Johnson said.
"I don't think it's fair for us to be treated like little kids. Maybe if the visitation hours expanded, many students wouldn't be getting in trouble for sneaking a male or female into their dorms," said Martha Hart, a social work major from Belzoni.
If a person is caught violating the law, they will have to meet with the discipline committee. The visitation DC is made up of three people. The DC is the district committee chosen to deal with the situation of the violators. The student who violates the law comes before the DC to sign a paper admitting to what he or she has done. Then the violator is allowed to tell his or her side of the story. The DC then decides how many demerits the student will receive. The number of demerits a student receives varies depending upon the circumstances.
"There have been some students to violate the law and get demerits, but no student has violated badly enough to get suspended this year," said Johnson.
According to the March 18 issue of USA Today, studies show that students learn better in a co-ed environment.
"It would be very nice if Alcorn went co-ed [for it's dormitories]," said Rodney Reed, a senior agriculture science major from Belzoni.
"I don't think we should go co-ed, because everyone's not able to handle such a thing," said Sharon James, a sophomore computer science major from Clarksdale.
"Even though the students at Alcorn are considered to be adults, that doesn't mean they don't need rules and regulations, because they will see that life is all about those two things," Johnson said.
Some students also feel that the hours aren't broadcast enough.
"I didn't get the hours of visitation understood correctly until my junior year," said Stephanie Channey, an English major from Jackson.
"Some people may not be aware of the visitation hours, but I must say there are memos sent out," Johnson said.
Quiet week started Sunday and there is no visitation allowed until the next school session.
"What if I need to study with a friend who happens to be of the opposite sex," said LaTanya Law, a junior communications major from Mobile.
Many students complain about the hours being unfair, but the people who help make the law feel that they aren't.
"No matter what, you won't be completely satisfied, so live with it," said Kisha Grace, a biology major from Jackson.