Spring Break
The Daily OrangeBeyond the Hill | Don't forget to knock
By Kimberly Banjoko
Posted: 10/13/09, 3:07 AM EST Section: News
Erin Taylor, a senior at Tufts University, recently got an invitation to a comedy show. The show's title: "We have sex in front of our roommates."
Tufts introduced a new policy at the start of the fall term banning students from engaging in any sexual activity while a roommate is present. The plan has been met with student complaints and national ridicule.
"It's become a joke on campus. We were on SNL, every a capella group has it in their skits. It was homecoming, and we had it on our shirts," said Taylor, an international relations major.
The university said such acts can deprive a roommate of their "privacy, study or sleep time," according to the university's 2009-2010 residential life student handbook.
The ban also covers "sexiling," or isolating a roommate from the room in order to engage in sexual activity, according to an article on CNN.com.
Kim Thurler, a Tufts University spokeswoman, told CNN that Tuft's Residential Life and Learning office had received complaints about such incidents in the past. Students reported the sexual activity to their residential advisors. School officials eventually reviewed the incidents.
"In some cases, we might intervene on behalf of the student and speak with their roommate directly, and explain what is expected of them while they live in the residence halls," Thurler told CNN.
Thurler did not release any information about potential punishment for breaking the ban, according to the article.
"It's a real policy but there are no consequences," Taylor said. She said the amount of publicity the ban has gotten has become "ridiculous."
The new guideline of conduct has received student backlash. Some students said they feel that the new rule puts the student body in an unfavorable light.
"Tufts is a great school, and we're not a bunch of inconsiderate sex fiends," said Meredith Paul, a sophomore English and art history major. "We are considerate of our roommates.
"Just a couple people ruined it for everyone," Paul said. "I never saw it as a rampant problem on campus. It's a normal college experience, but it's a shame that we couldn't deal with it on a personal level and it had to be taken to an executive level."
Other students feel that the sex ban rule should already be common knowledge.
"It's like you don't leave the music blaring at midnight when your roommate's trying to sleep," said Bryn Kass, a sophomore community health and psychology major. "It's these certain social things that the school is trying to point out. The policy is Tuft's initiative to make students feel comfortable at school."
kebanjok@syr.edu
- Asst. News Editor Julia Terruso contributed reporting to this article.
Tufts introduced a new policy at the start of the fall term banning students from engaging in any sexual activity while a roommate is present. The plan has been met with student complaints and national ridicule.
"It's become a joke on campus. We were on SNL, every a capella group has it in their skits. It was homecoming, and we had it on our shirts," said Taylor, an international relations major.
The university said such acts can deprive a roommate of their "privacy, study or sleep time," according to the university's 2009-2010 residential life student handbook.
The ban also covers "sexiling," or isolating a roommate from the room in order to engage in sexual activity, according to an article on CNN.com.
Kim Thurler, a Tufts University spokeswoman, told CNN that Tuft's Residential Life and Learning office had received complaints about such incidents in the past. Students reported the sexual activity to their residential advisors. School officials eventually reviewed the incidents.
"In some cases, we might intervene on behalf of the student and speak with their roommate directly, and explain what is expected of them while they live in the residence halls," Thurler told CNN.
Thurler did not release any information about potential punishment for breaking the ban, according to the article.
"It's a real policy but there are no consequences," Taylor said. She said the amount of publicity the ban has gotten has become "ridiculous."
The new guideline of conduct has received student backlash. Some students said they feel that the new rule puts the student body in an unfavorable light.
"Tufts is a great school, and we're not a bunch of inconsiderate sex fiends," said Meredith Paul, a sophomore English and art history major. "We are considerate of our roommates.
"Just a couple people ruined it for everyone," Paul said. "I never saw it as a rampant problem on campus. It's a normal college experience, but it's a shame that we couldn't deal with it on a personal level and it had to be taken to an executive level."
Other students feel that the sex ban rule should already be common knowledge.
"It's like you don't leave the music blaring at midnight when your roommate's trying to sleep," said Bryn Kass, a sophomore community health and psychology major. "It's these certain social things that the school is trying to point out. The policy is Tuft's initiative to make students feel comfortable at school."
kebanjok@syr.edu
- Asst. News Editor Julia Terruso contributed reporting to this article.
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