Underclassmen request 'facilities-free' housing in residential colleges

For his last assignment in WRI 106: Contemporary American Prose, Brian Muegge '05 wrote an opinion paper about the need for "alcohol-free" housing on campus.

The secondary affects of some students' overconsumption of alcohol — unclean housing and bathrooms, noise and harassment — led him to write the paper, he said.

After turning in the paper in January, he forwarded copies to various administrators on campus. Since then, Muegge has been working to make his vision a reality at the University, by meeting with various deans, college masters and health services officials.

"Students living in 'facilities-free' dorms would pledge to keep alcohol out of the building and to use it elsewhere only in moderation," Muegge wrote in his paper proposal.

Muegge developed the term 'facilities-free' to differentiate his idea from the substance-free housing already in place in campus. While students in substance-free housing agree to abstain completely from alcohol, tobacco and drugs, those in 'facilities-free' housing would agree not to drink or keep alcoholic beverages in their rooms, but would be allowed to drink elsewhere. The agreement would make no reference to drugs or tobacco.

He said in an interview this type of housing would reflect the lifestyles of its inhabitants. It is "building a community of responsible drinking."

There is currently no smoke-free or substance-free housing available in the residential colleges.

For upperclassmen, there are 64 smoke-free beds and 10 substance-free singles available. Students who choose to draw these rooms pledge not to use the prohibited substances. Substance-free means no alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs or incense.

Undergraduate housing coordinator Adam Rockman said the popularity of facilities-, substanceand smoke-free housing has not exceeded the limited supply of rooms designated as such.

In response to the idea of facilities-free housing, he said, "If it's something that students want, then it is something that we would look into to see if it's feasible."

Muegge said there is enough support for his idea, and that students have the right to such housing.

"I don't have the right to infringe on other people's privacy," he said, "but I also have the right to live in a clean environment."

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Elaine Barfield '04, student leader of the Policy/Enforcement Committee of the Alcohol Task Force, was in accord with fellow committee member Muegge on this issue.

"I strongly support alcohol-free housing," she said in an e-mail. "I think it is important to provide different housing options to students, especially non-drinkers, and to provide the opportunity to live in an environment that is not constantly disturbed by the conduct of students who have been drinking excessively."

Barfield said she herself would prefer facilities-free housing if it becomes available in the future.

"I definitely would take advantage of such housing, as my experiences during the past two years with drinkers and excessively boisterous parties in my dorm have been annoying and created an unpleasant atmosphere," she said.

With the help of health services, Muegge is drafting a survey to gain some idea of how much interest there is for his proposal. But before it can be sent to the student body, a University Research Board must approve the survey.

Even if there is sufficient student interest, the housing department has to determine if the plan is feasible. "As I understand it, there have been some requests for '-free' housing in the past, but the configuration of the colleges make it a difficult challenge to provide special assignment spaces," said Janet Dickerson, vice president for campus life.

Though it is already too late to implement his plan for next year, Muegge hopes this housing will be in place for Fall 2003.

"I feel pretty optimistic that this will get done," he said.