The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

ResLife staff gives advice on living in dorms

ResLife staff gives advice on living in dorms

Roughly 5,500 students live on campus and have to adhere to the rules of the dorms.

 

Residence directors, assistant residence directors and police officers reserve the right to enter a room or suite under any circumstance that appears to be a danger to the health and safety of the students, according to the Housing and Meal Plan Terms & Conditions.

 

Noise, suspicion of alcohol, smell of smoke or marijuana or suspicion of a weapon are all valid reasons for an RA to come knocking on your door.

 

RAs must knock on a door and ask that the resident open it. If there is no response after another knock they can call police or an RD to enter the room.

 

“If we hear rummaging around and then the door opens, there’s not much we can do about it. Part of our contract is that you have to open the door,” senior RA Caroline Dababneh said.

 

No police officers, RAs nor RDs are allowed to search your room beyond what is in visible sight without a warrant.

 

If you open a door, but don’t let an RA inside, “that’s a big sign that something’s wrong,” Dababneh said. “If they don’t let us in we’ll usually call someone.”

 

Keep in mind that RAs walk the halls and do checks at 11 p.m. every night and additionally 1 a.m on weekends.

 

If you do get written up and assigned a hearing you don’t have to be in it alone. Residents are allowed to bring an advisor to a hearing if they choose. This advisor can be any member of the University community.

 

“Your advisor can’t participate in a hearing, they don’t represent you or advise you, they’re not a witness, but they can be there for personal, emotional support,” Joseph Russell, associate director of ResLife, said.

 

The entire process for a hearing is listed in UVM’s housing contract.

 

“Everything is spelled out in the contract very clearly, step by step,” Russell said.

 

“I start getting a lot of questions when problems come up and residents go through the [penalty] process,” Dababneh said.

 

Don’t learn your rights after you’ve already gotten caught. The rules and conditions of the housing contract are available on ResLife’s website.

 

An RA’s job is to keep the dorms safe, not to go looking to get kids in trouble.
“I’ve never gone into a room looking for violations,” Dababneh said. “We want to respect your living space, we don’t want to have to enter rooms. [ResLife] wants you to feel like this is your space and your home.”

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ResLife staff gives advice on living in dorms