Students Against the 24-Hour Quiet Building Designation of Hall 5

The recent designation of Hall 5 as a 24-hour quiet building has raised some concern throughout the campus community. Not only is it unnecessary, but the method in which it was developed and approved also impedes on our rights as students and campus residents.

With this modification there will now be two buildings, out of five, which adhere to this system. Of the three remaining buildings within the Woodland Halls, two are already set aside for freshmen and transfers; and the third is now being reserved for the “sophomore experience”. With that said, what more is left for the upperclassmen to choose from, besides one floor in hall 3 and the continuously deteriorating dorms of the academic village? Furthermore, all dorms on the SUNY College at Old Westbury campus, by default, have a normal quite hour system (10pm-8am as well as 24-hour quite during examination periods) in place, which has been long established. A 24-hour quite environment is not absolutely imperative in order to implement programs or tools that facilitate career development. That in itself is a responsibility that any higher educational institute should already uphold and offer to all its students. In fact, this is an area which the Office of Counseling and Career Services should, by design, oversee; making this a redundant operation.

According to the Guide to Campus Living, written and provided by the Office of Residential Life, “Your [in reference to the residents] level of involvement, too, in your residential community will have an important impact on your personal development and those around you”. This demonstrates how beneficial it is that we, the student body, play an active role in the decisions governing our residential halls. Not only does it allow us to exercise our rights, but it is instrumental in our growth as young adults as well as individuals. If all this is true, then why has our voice not been considered or utilized in coming to a consensus on this new policy? Within the Guide to Campus Living it is also states that our institution, SUNY Old Westbury, “subscribes to the ‘Statement of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities’ promoted by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I).” This statement claims that “Residents in university housing facilities possess specific individual and group rights and responsibilities, which must serve to guide Housing Personnel in making decisions concerning student welfare and behavior.” The Guide to Campus Living goes on to list a number of rights and responsibilities of the residents. Among those listed, are the rights…

- To written copies of university house rules and regulations, or individual housing policies, which govern individual and group behavior.
- To participate in student governmental bodies, and housing departmental committees.
- To participate actively in self-governance.
- To participate in housing departmental committees as requested.