Changes by the Office of Residence Life to residence and housing regulations affect both freshmen and sophomores living on campus this semester.

These changes include new visitation and curfew regulations for freshmen; resident director and assistant director responsibilities and qualifications; and a new spiritual focus, said Amanda Buchanan, senior psychology major and assistant director of Morris Hall from Lubbock.

Although Sunday through Thursday, midnight curfew will remain intact, Residence Life directors eliminated weekend curfew for freshmen students. Also, weekend visitation is being considered, in addition to visitation hours Thursday.

“Weekend curfew was changed in part because these freshmen are adults, and we need to be able to treat them like adults,” Buchanan said.  “It has been a process of trying to say to students that we want to be here to help you make wise choices, but it’s their decision to make.”

Buchanan said that Residence Life also had students’ safety in mind when deciding to eliminate weekend curfew.

“The dorm needs to be a safe place,” Buchanan said. “If something happens or plans change, it’s much better for them to have somewhere safe and protected to stay than for them to find a random acquaintance because they are locked out of the dorm.”

Jess Schell, junior youth and family ministry major and Gardner Hall resident assistant from Fort Worth, agreed the decision to eliminate curfew already has been a positive experience for freshmen.

“There’s a definite difference in attitude,” Schell said. “They are very excited about it; they are more willing to trust us because they know we are willing to trust them, and we value their space and personal time.”

In addition, resident directors and assistant directors of all freshman dorms have changed their work schedule and responsibilities this semester. Resident directors will now rotate through all dorms in a weekly “on-call” position, instead of each director being responsible for a single dorm.

Residence Life is emphasizing a new spiritual focus this semester, as well, Buchanan said.  Students and faculty will be encouraged to spend more time in spiritual solitude, and Come to the Quiet Chapel will be more frequent, so that students are provided with spiritual time without distractions.