Ariana Lopez’s brother can now stay with her in her residence hall room without breaking UF Housing’s rules, she learned at her floor meeting Sunday.
The 19-year-old psychology and finance sophomore would have to arrange a hotel for her brother to visit because guests of the opposite sex were not allowed to stay overnight.
This year, UF Housing changed its rules to allow any guest to stay in the residence hall for a maximum of 72 hours.
The 2013-2014 Community Standards for single student housing were revised to not specify which sex is allowed to visit overnight. The rules took effect on Aug. 15.
UF housing spokeswoman Sharon Blansett wrote in an email that the change “reflects the reality that residence halls students — much like their counterparts off campus — have friends and family members of both sexes who may want to visit them in Gainesville.”
Blansett explained that residence halls are a “home away from home” for students, and allowing guests is important in the transition into the UF and Gainesville communities.
Before the rule changed this year, many residents silently bent the rule and many Resident Assistants (RAs) looked the other way, said Dante Frisiello, a former Tolbert Hall RA.
“I know these kids were there having their college experience, and I wasn’t going to go policing anybody,” the 20-year-old political science and philosophy junior said.
Frisello said rules regarding the residents’ private lives, such as overnight guests, weren’t strictly enforced by RAs.
“As long as the kids are safe, that’s all that matters,” he said.
All the same rules still apply to residents regarding guests: Residents must have roommates’ approval prior to their guest’s visit, housing staff or an RA must be notified and each assigned resident is permitted to have no more than two guests visiting at one time.
Marla Munro, a former Jennings Hall RA, saw the rule change as an achievement for a greater cause.
As president of the Gators Coalition for an Inclusive Campus, she presented UF housing with a petition last Spring to allow students to pick roommates of any gender.
Her group pushed for gender-neutral dorms on campus.
“I’m excited,” the 21-year-old women’s studies senior said. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
Juan Benitez always thought having women over was allowed in his residence hall.
His Thomas Hall RA told him about the change in his recent hall meeting.
“Some people have girlfriends still at home,” the 19-year-old freshman said. “Plus, you’re an adult, right? You’re allowed to make those decisions.”
A version of this story ran on page 1 on 8/27/2013 under the headline "New UF dorm rule: Guests of any gender can stay over"
