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NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009
ADMINISTRATION
Proposed change would affect privacy in dorms
Search warrants may become unnecessary for room entrance
BY DYLAN SANDS
dsands@kansan.com
If a room in the residence halls is rocking, the University might do more than come knocking. A proposal at the University might allow staff members to enter students' rooms if they have reasonable suspicion that drugs or alcohol are being consumed.
The University has been re-evaluating its stance on alcohol use on campus in the wake of two student
deaths earlier this year. A recently formed alcohol task force met for the first time Tuesday afternoon
to discuss changes in the University's alcohol policies.
The current policy on searching residence halls allows students to deny entry to resident assistants. Supervisors need a search warrant to enter a student's
"I would lean more towards this is an invasion of privacy..."
Jack Martin, deputy director of communications for the University, outlined the steps. If there is a rea-
MASON HEILMAN Student body president
room, even if they suspect drugs or alcohol are being consumed inside. The proposed policy entails a series of steps whereby a supervisor could enter a student's room on suspicion.
sonable suspicion of drug or alcohol use or other violations and a resident refuses to let a resident assistant in, the RA could then find a senior staff member and again ask for permission to enter the room. If the student refuses entry twice and two housing staff
members agree there is reasonable suspicion to enter the room, they can then use a master key to open the door.
Martin said the reasonable suspicion policy could apply toward
other residence hall violations, but the focus would be on preventing alcohol abuse.
"There is always potential for other policy violations, but drug and alcohol are the ones that have got most attention," Martin said.
Martin said the policy was not aimed at invading the privacy of hall residents, but rather at protecting residents as a whole regardless of their behavior.
"What this comes down to is that one of the main reasons students choose campus housing is they expect it to be a safe place to study." Martin said. "If we can't enforce rules like the policies on drugs and alcohol then their rights aren't being protected."
Mason Heilman, student body
president, said the proposal would be considered by student senate before any decision could be made on the policy. He also said he thought it was important to provide a safe environment for all hall residents.
"The halls are there to provide a living environment that is conducive to being in college and provide areas where you can relax," Heilman said. "I don't have a definite feeling either way; I can see both sides. I would lean more towards this is an invasion of privacy, but it's important to take into account students that aren't in violation."
Heilman said students who live in the halls currently have the same
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