Due to COVID-19, dorm guidelines were adjusted last year. Most significantly, Justin Kopicko, a Residence Assistant and a senior studying finance and business analytics, said face coverings were required in residence halls and off-campus and on-campus guests were prohibited from entering residence halls
“People weren't allowed to have guests from any other building in the hall at all. You could only have people from this building,” Kopicko said. “That was something that surprised a lot of people.”
Carly Leatherwood, a university spokesperson, said OU will continue to work with public health experts over the summer to establish expectations as COVID-19 guidelines change.
“We will keep the University community updated as soon as we have details to share,” Leatherwood said in an email.
Leatherwood encourages students to routinely check their Catmail and visit OU’s COVID-19 response website over the summer to receive the latest information.
In addition to COVID-19 protocols, OU has a plethora of dorm guidelines in place where several electrical and appliance, decor, substance use and inspection regulations are outlined.
Possession or consumption of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21 within residence halls is prohibited, according to the 2020-2021 student housing handbook. Selling alcohol, hosting an event in residence halls with alcohol and the possession and display of alcohol containers and paraphernalia is prohibited, even if the containers are empty.
Students who are present in a room, suite, apartment or general facility that contains alcohol will be referred to Community Standards and will be documented.
The use, presence and possession of illegal drugs and controlled substances is prohibited. Prescription drugs taken outside of the prescribed use and the possession of drug paraphernalia is prohibited. Students in a room, suite, apartment or general facility that contains controlled substances may be found in violation of the policy.
OU is also a tobacco and smoke free campus, therefore, smoking or vaping in residence halls, entryways, on the South Green catwalk and within 25 feet of residential facilities is prohibited.
Various electrical and appliance regulations are outlined in the handbook. Extension cords and multi-plug adaptors without a surge protector are prohibited in dorms.
OU encourages students to personalize their rooms, but also outlines several safety concerns regarding in-room decor. Only 25% of the walls in dorm rooms are to be covered by posters and tapestries. Command products are recommended for hanging room decorations, as they cause minimal damage to the walls. Damage may result in a fine, according to the handbook.
Each semester, Housing and Residence Hall Life staff members will conduct a room inspection to ensure that dorm rooms meet the health and safety standards.
Residents living on campus are expected to keep noise to an acceptable and courteous level during all hours of the day. The handbook defines unacceptable noises as yelling, pounding on walls, windows and floors, amplified sounds and playing instruments. Noise that interferes with the studying and sleep of other individuals is prohibited.
However, OU also outlines specific hours of the day that are considered quiet hours. Those hours span from 10 p.m until 10 a.m, Sunday through Thursday. On the weekends, Friday - Saturday, quiet hours range from 12 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Kopicko believes the most important regulation in residence halls this year will be respecting quiet hours.
“Partying is kind of obvious. Quiet hours isn't something that people always think about,” Kopicko said. “Especially this year, when most people are doing classes and taking exams from their room on their computer. I think that one would be the most important thing.”