Don’t drink in the dorms if you are under 21. Don’t smoke in or near the buildings. Don’t be loud after quiet hours. We all know the rules, right? It seems like our RAs can’t emphasize to us enough about creating a respectful and welcoming environment by following these policies. But what about the rules you don’t know about? You know, the ones listed in that Bear Necessities packet every resident received on Move-in Day that we all totally read front to back. Believe it or not, there are actually 59 policies (some with sub-policies) just for the Resident Halls alone.

As Peer Review Board Coordinator, I have already gotten a lot of people telling me, “Wait a minute! I didn’t even know that rule existed!” But unfortunately, by the time you break the rule, there is nothing you, or I, can do about it. So here I present to you in a quick and hopefully painless guide, my top 5 rules that people have never heard of:

 

#5: Code 21: Putting up Posters Without Approval

You just joined Jericho and think, “Man, this is the best club ever! I am going to put up flyers all over my dorm so that everyone can see how awesome we are!” Wrong. Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately so that the dorms aren’t littered with flyers!), you cannot post any flyers of any sort without permission from the Resident Director first.

#4: Code 30: Lending Keys to a Friend

You and your friend, Margaret, just left the dorm when you realized that Margaret left her phone in your room which is all the way on the 8th floor, and sadly, the elevators aren’t working.
Rather than being the nice friend and going with her, you just give her the key so she can get it herself. Wrong. Unfortunately, lending out your key to anyone for any reason (even your mom!) is against policy. Only exception would be if you lent it to a roommate because honestly, who can distinguish the keys?

#3: Code 16: Throwing Items Out Windows

You have some leftover ice in your drink from Cafe Med that you really want to get rid of before you throw the cup away in the recycling bin, but then you remember that the bathroom is literally all the way down the hall. What’s a first-world kid to do in such a terrifying situation?! Throw it out the window, of course! Wrong. Unfortunately (or more appropriately, thankfully for the unknowing passerby beneath you), throwing anything of any kind out a window is prohibited. Even if you are only on the second floor.

#2: Code 7C: Exceeding the Fire Code Limit of People in a Room

You and a bunch of friends decide that tonight is going to be legen-waitforit-dary because you all plan to rewatch the entire seventh season of How I Met Your Mother in preparation for the premiere. Popcorn? Check. HIMYM? Check. 10 of your friends plus you? Check. Awesome night without breaking any rules? Not check. Unfortunately, the number of people you can have in a dorm room at once is 10 – making you, in this situation, one person over the limit. This rule is currently in review for situations, such as the apartments in the Martinez Commons, but as of now, the rule is being read as only 10 people per apartment/room/suite despite how many rooms there are (four bedrooms still equals only 10 people).

However, exceptions can be made! If you talk to your RA in advance about an event you would like to have, such as a birthday party or a large study group, chances are they will approve it and no rules shall be broken.

#1: Code 9A: Failing to Prevent a Guest From Breaking a Rule

You and Ingrid are having a wonderful time playing Cards Against Humanity (the better version of Apples-to-Apples) with a few other people when Ingrid leaves to use the restroom. She disappears for almost an hour when you hear a knock on the door from a concerned RA holding up a very drunk Ingrid. You beg the RA, “I swear I knew nothing about it! It’s her fault, not mine!” Sadly, wrong. Unfortunately, anything a guest does in the Resident Halls is your responsibility even if you have no idea that it is happening.

 

If you are interested in reading more about the policies, be sure to check out the digital copy of Bear Necessities: http://issuu.com/gobears/docs/bn1112#page=22

Although, I am sure none of that information would be new – you definitely read the whole handbook that they gave you on the first day.
Side Note: Featured video for all of those who thought of this when I said “Bear Necessities.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o

 

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