Residents of A. B. Barrett Hall are seeking help from university staff to extend visitation hours for guests of the opposite gender.

J.P. Festa, sophomore multimedia major from McKinney, is the Barrett Hall representative for the Students’ Association. He is proposing more visitation hours, possibly on weekends, in addition to the currently allotted Thursday 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. hours.

“I always want to have someone to come hang out, to play games and watch football on the weekends when I have actual free time,” Festa said.

Festa will meet with John Delony, associate dean of students, on Wednesday to discuss his proposal.

“I’m always in favor of finding ways that students can be in community without having to leave campus,” Delony said.

Previously, Barrett did not have a lobby or common area like other dorms on campus, other than the Den coffee shop, making it difficult for students of the opposite gender to congregate. The Den closed at the beginning of this semester.

Festa said he hopes to get the momentum for a new visitation policy started and to get the university on board.

“I’m completely on board with reexamining [the policy],” Delony said.

Delony said the process involved listening to students’ opinions to compile data, then working with the Student Life team to develop a policy.

“I like hearing student voice because that is the right place and the best place to start,” Delony said.

Caitlin McKnight, sophomore speech pathology major from Pittsburg, Kan., is a resident of Barrett Hall.

“I think it would be awesome. Especially because we’re all 19, 20 or older – at that age we can handle it,” McKnight said.

Student Life has yet to consider a policy revision.

Delony said he is less concerned with the timing of a policy and more with whether it is the right thing to do.

“My plans are just for Barrett Hall but I think it would be great for every dorm,” Festa said. “It’s something the students would definitely appreciate.”