NEW ORLEANS (February 15, 2019) – Tighter enforcement of dormitory rules, such as a new system for dorm visitors and residential assistants at the front desks at all times, are in force this semester after being announced last semester by Residential Life, and some students aren’t happy about it.
Jasmine Elliott, a junior who lives Hartzell Hall, called the new rules inconvenient and unnecessary. Elliott said it’s too late to start enforcing rules on students.
On the other hand, unrelegated guests in dorms was one of the complaints brought up in the public student conversation “Surviving R. Kelly” about the singer’s lifestyle and also campus safety on Jan. 16.
As a safety measure, the rule that visitors must sign in and out in all residential halls is being enforced, meaning a record is kept of who comes in and out and when.
Visiting residential students also must swipe in/out and sign the visitor’s log at the front desk. Non-Dillard students visiting must have a government ID; the ID is swiped, their picture taken; they signed the log. And the guest definition includes family members.
Visitation is set from 10 a.m. to midnight daily.
Residents are required to carry their ID at all times to swipe into his or her dorm. The email reminder of Jan. 14 from Residential Life said desk attendants should not open doors for residents, and if your ID is lost, you must get a replacement from the cashier’s window for $40.
Additionally, bi-weekly room inspections are scheduled, and someone must be present at the front desk at all times. The purpose of room inspections is to make sure prohibited items such as candles, lighters, drugs and alcohol are not in students’ rooms Each resident assistant is required to do 10 hours of desk duty each week to monitor and enforce school policies.
Qiana Boyd, who joined Dillard in the fall as residential life coordinator (or “dorm mom,” as some residents say) said, “Having rules and following them minimizes the possibility of incidents occurring.”
Dominique Jones, a residential assistant, said the new rules are a step up from last year and, from her observation, fewer incidents are occurring this year.
Boyd agreed that the crackdown has been effective, with fewer incidents and fewer complaints.
(Toenisha Hudson contributed to this report.)
