Campus group gathers to share concerns
By MEGHANNE DOWNES
Assistant News Editor
Students gathered Wednesday evening to discuss the much-debated topic of parietals and weighed in with their feelings on the subject.
"We wanted to foster discussion and dialogue and make people realize there is a need for change," said sophomore Bill Rinner, one of the discussion's organizers.
The discussion began with the question of why parietals exist at Notre Dame. Students said the University uses the parietal policy to maintain respect, safety, security and privacy within the residence halls. Monitors are placed only in women's residence halls in order to uphold this level of security. Amber Jackson said, "If we are worried about the safety and security of women, then there is a greater issue that we need to address."
Many said they have felt the glaring eyes of rectors and monitors when they have entered a member of the opposite sex's hall. The false stigma that men are sexual predators creates strained gender relations on this campus, said Martha Patzer, another of the organizers.
Many recounted incidents where a monitor would come into 24-hour space and scold them for "inappropriate behavior." Ava Preacher, assistant dean in the College of Arts and Letters, pointed out the ridiculousness of this when she said, "One foot on the floor or you are screwed."
Several said the University provides reasons for parietals that can easily be disproven.
"The reason for parietals my rectress gave me was that I could run down my hallway in my pajamas without feeling comfortable," said Patzer.
Women have been seen wearing their pajamas and walking to and from the shower in their towels during the hours that men are permitted in the halls, said students.
University officials deny prevention of sex as the reason for parietals at the beginning of each new student's orientation and state privacy as the main reason. Students overwhelming contradicted the University's position and said the University wishes to uphold its "holier than thou" existence. One student referred to ResLife's harsh consequences when students are found having sex or breaking parietals as evidence. Not only can students be taken out of their dorm community but they can have it put on their official record for up to seven years.
Many students said they are of age to make moral decisions for themselves and should not be limited in what views they hold. Many implied the University was being impractical and should promote sexual education and not establish a rule in order to deter sex. "People aren't going to say `oh it's parietals' I guess we can't have sex until we are married," said Rinner.
Some said the University is too paternalistic in believing that men and women can neither make responsible decisions nor handle themselves around one another. Students discounted privacy as a viable reason for parietals and said students could close their doors and study at other locations. Treating students like children does not promote learning and that is part of the process of becoming adults, said discussion participants.
Randall said, "It [the University's position] says that the only relationship I can have with a male is sexual."
Students said they experienced a culture shock when they arrived here and found an environment that does not promote friendship with members of the opposite sex. They found it difficult to meet and speak with members of the opposite sex. "I feel socially handicapped now and I don't think that's good for students coming out of Notre Dame," said Jesus Bravo.
Weekends are filled with dorm parties that only further complicate gender relations. "You go to theses parties and you have to get drunk really fast because you have to be out by two. What girl wants to meet that drunken guy who can't remember her name? The only other real option to meet members of the opposite sex is at parties because it's difficult at classes," said Randall.
Parietals not only affect social life but the academic life as well said students at the discussion. Several women engineers said they would not make friends with men in their classes because they know their studying options are limited by establishing meeting locations.
Others pointed out the inconvenience of arranging for friends of the opposite sex to stay in other dorms and the awkwardness that creates. "Wh[y] does it say that my little brother can't sleep on my couch when he comes to a football game?," said Katie Ball, McGlinn Hall resident assistant.
The University includes the dorm community as one of its traditions. Students pointed out that traditions can evolve and asked why some traditions are maintained while others are changed. Before 1972 Notre Dame did not admit women and since then, the traditional spirit of Notre Dame did not weaken but strengthened with women because the environment changed. A popular tradition of in-hall dances fell last year, leaving many to wonder if the traditional spirit of community in halls would weaken. Ava Preacher, assistant dean, dismissed the idea that the University's stay hall policy of community building could be considered a long tradition because it only evolved in the 1960s.
Patzer said, "We wouldn't have to eliminate the fun things in the community [by becoming co-residential]. It's not as though co-residential housing would eliminate the community. The interaction would foster it."
Preacher said the University reviewed the option to establish co-residential housing in the past and that several president-appointed committees even recommended it. She said that since she came to Notre Dame, she believes its position has regressed to the point where the discussion of co-residential housing is no longer included in the president's report.
She dispelled the student belief that they were alone in this battle. "You have powerful allies. Faculty members are on your side and there are members of the administration with you who are. We can help you. We have strategy," said Preacher.
Besides Patzer and Rinner, other organizers of the discussion included Andrea Brault, Katie Boyle and Andy Starkey. The group intends to hold another meeting in the near future and create a testimony book from student's statements collected at the meeting. Submissions or comments can be submitted at theparietalsquestion@hotmail.com.
All News Stories for Thursday, November 14, 2002
