On Tuesday, Georgetown University Student Association representatives unanimously passed two amended resolutions, the first changing procedure regarding residence hall and apartment damage inspection and the second instating notification of policy changes in the student handbook.
Senior Class Representative Ben Anderson (CAS ‘02) proposed the first resolution, stating that GUSA should require that “students be notified of the date and time of the final inspection [of student residences] and may be in attendance if they wish; and that students must be notified when repairs they were charged for are made.”
According to GUSA President Ryan DuBose (CAS ‘02), this resolution was proposed “out of fairness” to the students, and this issue is of special interest to students now as they return to campus and find that damage they paid for last year has not yet been repaired.
“This happens all the time … [Residents] might think they’re leaving the room in great condition, and then they’re charged,” DuBose said.
GUSA Vice President Brian Walsh (CAS ‘02) said this resolution was proposed in order to protect students’ housing rights. “People pay a lot for housing, and the fines can be ridiculous.”
“If carried out, I think the housing inspection resolution will enhance a student’s understanding of why he or she has been charged for certain damage. The process will become more transparent if the administration agrees to [the] proposal,” Junior Class Representative Marty LaFalce (CAS ‘03) said.
This resolution will have a particular effect on Resident Assistants, who in accordance with the new policy will have to make public final inspection times.
According to Heath Carter (CAS ‘03), an RA in Village C West, the resolution is unnecessary because students have the opportunity to go over their room report at the beginning of the year, and it would be impossible to administer the final assessment immediately before the residents left campus for the summer.
“Logistically, the resolution puts unrealistic requirements on the RA during the exam period. Closing inspections are normally completed after students have left and exams are over, when the RA does not have any outstanding commitments to classes or groups. For the residents to be present when these inspections are performed, the RA will have to do them during the exam period, which is unfair to the RA, who has multiple academic concerns to deal with at that time of year,”Carter said.
The second resolution passed states that GUSA “requires that students be informed of student handbook policy change each academic year.”
According to Walsh, students should be informed of changes to the student handbook and the rationale behind these changes because they are held accountable for the student code of conduct as stated in the handbook. All first- year students are required to sign the code of conduct at the beginning of the year, but currently students are not notified about policy changes as they come up throughout their four years.
Representatives for the two resolutions will meet with Housing Facilities and Advocacy groups on campus by October 16 to bring the resolutions into effect.
