From the Dean of Students: Dear Readers, Predictably, the idea to regularize sign-in times to 9:30 p.m. across the evenings prior to classes has elicited good conversations across campus. I wish to be clear that the idea, as covered very well by Juliet Liu some weeks ago in this newspaper [1/23], centers around two themes. The first is consistency and the second is quality of dorm life. The former is borne out of studies that suggest a regular beginning to one’s nighttime rest is optimal; the latter out of allowing house counselors alternate options for dorm meetings during evenings that are followed by lighter class schedules. At this stage, this idea has not become a formal proposal either from the House Counselor Committee or the cluster deans. If it does become a formal proposal, the Senior Administrative Council would consider the proposal in the late winter or early spring for implementation in the fall of 2009. Important conversations have grown out of discussion of this proposal, however. Some students have raised the concern of being unable to study in their dorms – either early in the evening or later on. To be sure, this can be personal preference or it can be related to other, external issues in a particular dorm. As a result, I would encourage all dorm communities to engage in conversations about residents’ need for quiet study places in each dorm each evening of the school week. Sincerely, Paul Murphy Dean of Students
