My Least Favorite Thing About BYU

My least favorite aspect of Brigham Young University are the strict rules concerning dorm "parties" or activities such as watching a movie or having a "dance party." Through my own personal experience and those of my friends and roomates, I have learned that due to certain Brigham Young University Housing policies, residents, at least in Heritage Halls, are not allowed to plan gatherings or parties without prior notification to the Hall Advisor. Not only must parties--even as innocent as a small "dance party" in my own kitchen--be planned officially through a housing administrator, but there can be no visual or public advertising to promote the event. All information concerning parties or events must be spread through word of mouth.

Along with these strict restrictions on simple friendly gatherings, students of Heritage Halls are also forbidden to watch movies on the televisions provided in their apartment lobbies due to so-called copyright laws, despite the fact that they would be viewing the films in a private building, on a private campus, and without admission fees. One of my own good friends, Kathryn Hansen, also a resident of Heritage Halls, said that she and her roomates were planning to watch a movie with the other girls in the apartment as an occasion to meet new housemates and enjoy a wholesome film on their television. However, due to reasons aforementioned, their Hall Advisor banned the event and the movie night was canceled.

Among other things, Brigham Young University is known for its friendly atmosphere and the wholesome attributes of its students. However, if its own students are forbidden to socialize at such events as a dorm movie night, or even a casual dance party in a kitchen, how is that conducive to a friendly and social atmosphere when students cannot even use these occasions to meet one another and form lasting ties and friendships? If students at Brigham Young University were trusted with more freedom and rights within their own residence halls, I think the overall feeling of community and friendship would increase as dorms and roomates socialized and made connections with one another. Brigham Young University should enact a more lenient policy toward social gatherings in dorms and appartments.