Poor behavior leads to Rouzer ‘lockdown’

Residents of Rouzer are living under 24 hour quiet and guest restrictions

By David Robertson, Interim Chief Photographer

Valentine’s Day brought love and lovers to the McDaniel campus. Freshman Chris Longo was graced with the presence of his girlfriend, visiting from New York. However, in the shadow of recent restrictions placed on Rouzer Hall, Campus Safety confronted him for having a visitor.

Unaware that the area coordinator, Dave Dahlberg, approved her visit (and circulated an email to RAs and other administrators) prior to the institution of guest restrictions, he simply suffered some annoyance; though the other residents in Rouzer found the imple?mentations quite inconvenient.

And this was just the beginning of what has turned into quite a battle between students and administrators.

Since Wednesday, February 13, Rouzer is living under 24 hour quiet (like those of finals week) and guest restrictions. The vice president for Student Affairs, the department of Campus Safety, the director of Residence Life and Dahlberg told the Rouzer community during a mandatory meeting, that the vandalism and policy violations need to stop.
“We feel, as a whole,” said Dahlberg, “that the behavior is unacceptable. We cannot understand why the Rouzer residents feel that over $5,000 in damage, and growing, is acceptable.”

The 2006-07 school year hosted significant increases in vandalism compared to years prior. Residents of Rouzer were threatened by similar restrictions last year after causing thousands of dollars in damage.

This year the amount and variety of vandalism has more or less matched that of last year, except with more publicity. Campus Safety officers now monitor the main entrances to the building nearly 24 hours a day. Incidents that include throwing chewing tobacco on the walls, destroying ceiling tiles, setting off fire extinguishers on students taking showers, throwing baby powder on unsuspecting residents in their rooms and vandalizing bathrooms and stairwells have led administrators to take such measures.

In response to the initial meeting, students had until Saturday, February 16 to appeal the charges by either giving up names of those responsible or hoping the perpetrators would admit fault. To this end, freshman Turner Hirsh said, “The short amount of time before the meeting left students unprepared to fully understand their rights in order to present an informed re?buttal against the ‘Lockdown.'”

On the other hand, junior R.J. Neaton said, “The residents aren’t very happy about it, especially the ones that haven’t caused any damage, but they’re also not willing to tell Residence Life who is actually causing the damage.”

Shortly after the meeting, Hirsh created a Facebook group entitled, “The Rouzer Rebellion,” which describes the present situation as “bullshit, and everyone shouldn’t have to pay and rights shouldn’t be taken away.”

Under the “Recent News” section, Hirsh posted what he deemed as relevant quotes from the Student Handbook regarding violations of students’ housing contract, common area damages, repair and maintenance, visitation, freedom of inquiry and expression and other sections.

The wall on the group offers an opportunity for members to post comments on the situation or present what they feel as violations to the rights in the housing contract, missed by Hirsh when he initially created the group.

Hirsh, in collaboration with a few other students who wish to remain anonymous, also created a petition to circulate among the other residents of Rouzer.

However, junior George Moorehead, the 3rd floor RA of Rouzer said, “Students want some?one to stick up for them, but when are they finally going to say enough is enough with the vandalism? I don’t understand what to do; if they want their rights back, they should actually voice their opinion to the administration in an effective rather than hostile manner.”

In addition restricting visitors and enforcing quiet hours, one student described having taken a hit academically and socially. “I study with a radio on,” he said. “Can’t do that anymore. I brought study groups over to the common rooms?that’s not happening any?more either.”

“Whiteford is now packed with Rouzer boys,” he added. “In fact, some have literally moved into Whiteford because they don’t want to hang around Rouzer. Everyone is trying to go home on the weekend. It’s ridiculous.”

“There’s just a general lack of communication between the ad?ministration and students,” said Hirsh. “It’s all heresy anyway, and instead of finding a viable solution, [administrators] continue to say, ‘If you’re not causing damage, you’re just as guilty for letting [other students] do it.'”

An email update was sent to the entire Rouzer community on Monday, February 18 that stated if damages ceased for seven days, sanctions would be lifted, though no one has commented whether or not that will actually happen.

It was debated whether or not to continue with these limits placed on students, but their confrontational reaction “makes the situation understandable?the administration is justified in their decision given the holes in concrete walls, the trashed elevator and inappropriate drawings throughout the building,” said Moorehead.

“It’s up to them how long they want to go without their privileges,” said Neaton.