Tony Gorder

SDSU will test 24-hour residence hall visitation, starting with Binnewies and Young Halls beginning in the fall of 2009.

“We want to give it a good test, but not everywhere in every hall,” said Douglas Wermedal, assistant vice president for Student Affairs.

Binnewies and Young were chosen as the test halls to “pilot” in the new policy because the two halls are connected by Larson Commons and have a large number of students.

“That’s a good place to test. There’s a lot of student activity,” said Wermedal. “We already know a little about it from Caldwell Hall. It’s going well enough to expand it.”

“I wish I would have had it when I lived in the dorms,” said Chelsea Schulz, a junior sociology major from Canova, S.D. “I think it’s a good idea. People are going to do it anyways, so you might as well have it.”

Wermedal said the policy is to promote adult living that better fits to how students live, especially those who begin studying or socializing late at night. Students who do that are likely to “bump into that visitation barrier,” said Wermedal.

“It’s as simple as responding to the realities of students’ schedules. A lot of campuses have these sorts of policies available,” said Wermedal. “SDSU is trying to bring some of these policies to contemporary practice.”

Sam Williams, a freshman from Beresford, S.D., is worried that a 24-hour visitation policy could lead to problems.

“My neighbors are really loud anyways,” said Williams. “If they had guests late, they’d probably be louder.”

“At some time, it does need to be quiet. At some time, people have to go to bed,” said Wermedal. “We’re not going to have it where someone can take up residence in a room. It’s designed so students can study or watch a movie and not worry about it.”

#1.882149:703034022.jpg:24-hr.CMYK.ES.jpg::Ethan Swanson