by Liz Bae
Having a member of the opposite sex sleep in your room is forbidden at Fairfield University, but there is no specific definition or punishment for doing so, and students have heard some wildly contrasting stories on how the rules are enforced.
A junior living in the townhouses remembers being told that “The guy has to have one foot on the floor at all times and someone in the room has to be awake all night.”
Dan Akeson ’07 heard a somewhat similar version.
“The rule is so stupid,” he said. “We were told as freshmen they were okay as long as you weren’t caught sleeping. The door can be closed and locked as long as they don’t hear you sleeping.”
“I’ve heard you can get in trouble for having boom-boom in the room, but honestly, who would knock?” said Ana Cardenas ’06.
In terms of technicalities, many resident assistants and students said they share an equally hazy understanding of what precisely the rule is and how it is enforced or punished.
A senior living at the beach remembers his RA saying that they “couldn’t be in the same bed together. We could sleep in there, but as long as it was in a different bed.”
Unlike drug and alcohol violations, there is no clearly outlined policy in the student handbook for offenders.
Kimberly Nickolenko, assistant dean of students and director of judicial affairs, cited page 57 of the student handbook under guest policy, which states: “Behavior that is intrusive to the privacy of the roommate or roommates is forbidden.”
“In addition, sharing a room with a member of the opposite sex is prohibited, and no student can either request or agree to such an agreement,” the handbook says.
Fran Koerting, director of residential life, said that “the policy means sharing a room for however long that is, even if it’s just for the night.”
She empathized with the other party involved.
“I really feel for the roommate in this situation,” she said, stating that they approach cohabitation as “an infringement on the roommate’s rights [since] all residents are entitled to equal sharing of the room.”
Koerting added: “It’s really hard for a staff member to determine at what point they’re sharing the room or just stopping by.” This is especially difficult because of Fairfield’s 24-hour visitation rights.
In addition, Fairfield also has co-ed dorms.
“So technically, a boy or girl from this school can be in your room at any time,” said one male RA of a sophomore dorm. He added that “in terms of cohabitation, like with a boyfriend or girlfriend, it’s not condoned.”
The same RA also said that it’s hard to enforce the rule unless someone complains, and complaints have been made in the past. But “it’s not something you’d get fined or written up for,” he said.
The solution to the problem then lies in the hands of the roommates, as Koerting views them as the “best ones to enforce it” since it is an infringement of “their right to be there, to be comfortable, and to have privacy.”
But do people actually get into trouble for this?
“The dean of students will deal with any violation of the conduct code… This process is not different in dealing with the guest policy,” said Nickolenko.
“Sanctions for all violations of the conduct code [alcohol/drug education, censure, community service, disciplinary probation, dismissal, drug testing, educational project, fines/restitution, formal warning status, housing change, referrals, restriction, suspension on page 64 of the handbook]… would possibly apply to violations of the guest policy,” she added.
Said one female freshman currently living in a single in Dolan Hall: “My ex-roommate had a big problem with my boyfriend sleeping over. I was basically asked to leave, but it was both of our decisions.”
And since cases are reviewed on an individual basis, sanctions will be based on the nature of the incident and whether or not a student has any prior disciplinary history, according to Nickolenko.
For the previously mentioned freshman, it was more of a mutual decision that she move out, rather than have her punished.
Some scenarios aren’t as severe, according to a junior living in the townhouses, who said he doesn’t mind when his roommate’s girlfriend visits.
“She’s usually quiet. I don’t really mind her. But I have heard about bad situations where people are kept up all night because of– you know,” he said.
Leave a Reply