Dorm room sleepovers are part of college
By Erica F. Goldfine
Washington
Regarding the Oct. 8 front-page article “Howard opens the door (a tad) to overnight guests”:
As a recent college graduate, I was surprised by Howard University’s lack of trust in its students. College should be a celebration of adulthood and freedom, not simply a continuation of high school and parents’ restrictions at home. Respect for the “values, traditions and social codes of the black community” is important, but it is also important for maturing college students to embrace their independence.
They should have the right to make their own decisions regarding visitors. Students’ independence should not include curfews and restrictions on visitors in dormitories.
Similar to Georgetown University and George Washington University, American University, where I did my undergraduate studies, allows 24-hour guest access to its dormitories with the agreement of roommates. Students are considered responsible for their guests, according to American University’s Student Handbook. These are appropriate guidelines for college dorms full of maturing students.
By
washingtonpost.com editors
| October 12, 2010; 7:04 PM ET
Categories:
D.C., HotTopic
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The comments to this entry are closed.
Having another student from the school sleepover is different than having an outsider stay all night. DC is a dangerous place and allowing boy freinds from the hood to stay all night in a girls dorm is not a bright idea?
Many young people "hookup" with people they barely know. It's a formula for disaster. If they allow this the school should require that outside visitors have a background check and be registerd with the school.
As someone who lived in a co-ed dorm, it's not a question of morality but safety!