On Thursday, April 11, 2019, the Division of Student Affairs released new Residential Life policies intended to incentivize seniors to remain on campus, improve dorm life for all students, and to further create a more inclusive campus community.
We would like to thank the University for acting on student input to provide new incentives, such as the Senior Fellows program, new block meal plans, free laundry, and eliminating the single room charge. We believe these are necessary steps in the right direction. Continuing the work of previous Student Government administrations, we look forward to their implementation in the years to come.
However, we were very disappointed with the administration’s decision to enact certain policies intended to differentiate the on-campus and off-campus experience by changing some of the rights and privileges of off-campus seniors, potentially including the ability to participate in dorm dances and sports.
We commend the Notre Dame community for speaking up on this issue and for advocating for a reversal of the differentiation policy. We stand with students and will continue to advocate for you and for our Notre Dame community.
Yesterday we met with Erin Hoffman Harding and Heather Rakoczy Russell to discuss the proposed changes, focusing on the differentiation policy. We are grateful for a fruitful discussion, and have invited them both to attend a Student Senate meeting to share what they told us with all of you. The meeting will be next Tuesday, April 30th from 6-7pm and as always, all Senate meetings are open to the public. We look forward to welcoming them as soon as possible and having the opportunity for students to ask questions and engage in a community conversation.
We will continue to advocate for students and we look forward to working with all on creating a policy that is best for our entire community.
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Contact:
Aaron Benavides
Director of Communications
abenavi3@nd.edu