Freedom at Midnight

The Residence Life Access Policy has been an important issue for several members of the student body and past student governments. With an increasing number of students on campus, the need, and lack thereof, of private spaces has been a topic of great discussion. YIF classes go on for much longer than the undergraduate classes, and the need for common working spaces was not met sufficiently by the Student Commons, library and common rooms in residences, hence several members of the student government, specifically the Campus Life ministry took up the issue with the administration.

Their efforts revealed the most recent change to the Access Policy, which was conveyed to the student body on 29 January 2019 at a town hall in the sports block by Dean of Student Affairs, Deboshruti Roychowdhury. While the timings remain the same for weekdays (Sunday nights through Thursday nights), students will now enjoy Full Access on weekends (Friday and Saturday nights). The Edict shall chart out the trajectory of the different changes in policy with regards to cross-gender access and also look into the details of the new policy.

TIMELINE

2015: 10:30 pm, entry only allowed into male residences

2016: 24×7 access, revoked within 2 weeks, modified to 10:30 PM to 12:30 AM

2017: Discussion for increased access kickoff

2018: Student Government members submit a proposal for revised timings.

2019: 10/12 meetings with the Office of Student Life, followed by focus groups with random members of the student body.

After a great deal of debate and discussion involving the various stakeholders- members of the administration, the former Pro-VC, members from the Office of Student Life, the RA team, the wardens and a team from the Campus Life Ministry- the change in access hours are being implemented on a pilot basis. Full Access will be granted to students on Weekends (Friday night and Saturday night) and the response will be monitored. Ms. Roychowdhury clearly stated in the town hall that in the event of any untoward incident, the Office of Student Life reserves the right to revoke access hours.

Important highlights from the town hall detail the workings of the new policy:

Wardens and other members of the Residence Life and Student Affairs teams will be running a Quiet Hours helpline that will provide immediate redressal for any complaints. However, none of these redressal mechanisms will increase any rights held by wardens at the moment. None of the aforementioned individuals are permitted to enter any student’s room without proper procedure. Moreover, the wardens and other members of the night staff are also being trained to adapt to the new policy as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

With regard to students, it was mentioned that sensitisation about roommate rights shall be undertaken, with a possible review of the Roommate Agreement Form. The RA team will be organising mandatory floor meetings to discuss any concerns and apprehensions felt by the students. Members of the student community were encouraged to have conversations with their roommates about setting visiting hours that they are comfortable with — these conversations are intended to be the first step towards the smooth implementation of this policy. Members of the opposite gender are still prohibited from using the washrooms inside the residences.

Students can file formal complaints with the Internal Infraction Committee which has been set up. The purpose of the committee is to remedy residence life complaints received through reformative measures, it cannot take punitive action. The committee will consist of members of the Student Government, the Office of Student Affairs and members of the Residence Life Team. The first infraction will incur a verbal warning, which will go on record. In case of a second infraction, another warning shall be issued as a written warning from the office of the Dean of Students. While, in the event of a third infraction, the IIC will then treat complaints on a case by case basis. Possible punitive measures include suspension of cross access rights and completing mandatory hours with the horticulture department.

However, it must be mentioned that the existence of such a committee in no way prevents the students from approaching any of the legal bodies (CADI or CASH) directly. Moreover, the student representatives on the Residence Life Interactions Committee are supposed to create a monthly report and share it with the Student Affairs Office and the House. Members of the Student Government and the administration shall meet every 15 days to discuss updates about the policy.

The Campus Life Ministry has spearheaded the project and assured the administration that students will use this policy with a comprehensive understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

Over the past four terms of the different student governments, full access rights have been given and withdrawn; the former process being more deliberative and drawn out while the latter being more immediate and sometimes, arbitrary. The consequences of full-access on weekends shall only unravel over the next few weeks, while, those who worked hard for it and those who longed for it, wait with bated breath and crossed fingers that their fellow students do not misuse the amenity.