Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

EDITORIAL: Student privacy must be upheld
Evergreen Editorial Board
Daily Evergreen (Washington State U.)
05/26/2006

(U-WIRE) PULLMAN, Wash. — Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier decided May 3 to bar police from the residence halls on campus. Frazier's decision represents students' right to privacy and freedom to live without police roaming living spaces when there is no reason to do so.

The editorial board recognizes the necessity of safety within living communities on campus; but supports the decision to not have an unnecessary police presence. According to the Department of Residence Life Web site, their "goal is to assist students in making connections with others while providing a safe and supportive environment that promotes scholarship, leadership, personal growth and discovery."

Students living in the residence halls have a right to a living space that is not crawling with police when there is no need for a police presence. Just as any individual in this country would be incensed at police walking through their home, residents have a right to a living space without seeing police passing through.

The police cannot work on the presumption that illegal activity is occurring, just as the legal system does not assume guilt until there is evidence that proves otherwise. If situations arise that require police, resident advisers are fully capable of requesting and escorting police around the hall. The rule of escorting guests is university policy and everyone, including the police, should follow the policy.

"Guests are defined, as any individuals who are not contracted residents of the specific room or hall in question," the policy states, "Each guest must have a host and be escorted within the building."

This is an important consideration especially in light of the fact that incoming freshmen are required to live in the residence halls. Residence Life has also extended the housing contracts to a full year, further locking students into the residence halls.

According to the Residence Life Web site, the first learning outcome for residents is taking personal responsibility. Students should be given the opportunity to take personal responsibility in their living area by being able to make choices instead of being patrolled by the police.

With these considerations in mind, the editorial board strongly urges Residence Life to continue with the current escort policy and not make police an exception. This would serve the students and continue with the effort to promote safety and a living environment for student success.

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