Some townhouse residents are complaining about the method of confiscating illegal items used by the university over winter break, as many ever-popular beirut tables were missing from their houses.
Students sometimes conceal illegal items in order to avoid confiscation or judicial action in the event of a house or room inspection.
“We had ours [Beirut Table] hidden behind our futon and covered with tapestries,” said Mike Barber ’05. “It was completely covered up so they [the university] didn’t have the right to search for it.”
Gary Stephenson, director of housing operations, said townhouse inspections took place in order to make sure available beds were ready for new students and to check the status of heating units.
The townhouse contract states that students are not permitted to have any form of “construction material” in their townhouses.
“Since we removed construction material I do not have a count of what was a Beirut Table versus construction material,” said Stephenson. He also said, “no house was searched.”
Some townhouse residents were confused about the university’s policy on searching houses.
“I thought that they [Housing] were not allowed to touch any of our stuff,” said Marisa Caban ’05.
Inspections are conducted throughout the year and one administrator said that some maintenance work requires university employees to move residents’ property.
“The townhouse guide mentions that periodic inspections will be conducted, and there is no stipulation that they will be informed prior to each inspection although we often will do so,” said Fran Koerting, director of residence life and housing.
Koerting added that in order to do a thorough check for maintenance repairs, they have to open closet doors and look behind items.
One student mentioned an apparent disparity in the conduct of the inspections.
“I know of people who were in their houses during inspections and were simply asked if they had a table and said no,” said Caban. “Does that mean to keep my table and property safe I have to stay all vacation so my privacy isn’t violated?”
Most students, according to Stephenson, were aware they were in violation of the townhouse contract and have worked to correct the problem; nothing will be referred to the university’s judicial process.
Most students acknowledge they were not allowed to have these tables in their houses and realize why they were taken, but in one case the cost to the students was relatively high.
“They also took our black lights that were in the table,” said Barber. “All together our table cost us $200.”
University policy states that confiscated items are not returned and Koerting added that the most frequently encountered items are Beirut Tables.
A newsletter containing information on inspections was distributed to townhouse residents last week and also announced focus group to examine townhouse policies and procedures, said Koerting.
“The townhouse party policies have not been revised in over ten years, and we thought it was time to look at them to see if there were a simpler or better way for students to hold parties and still ensure the state drinking age is enforced,” added Koerting.
Another focus group will be for residents to make suggestions for the townhouse renovation project, which will begin next year.
Leave a Reply