Visiting Hours Op Ed

On-Campus Visiting Hours

Have you ever wanted to hang out with someone on a more personal level and did not have a private place to go? Have you then realized they can’t even step foot in your room to watch a movie or TV show because it’s not the right day of the week? This problem happens everyday at Helaman halls on campus housing. I’m supporting the downfall of on campus visiting hours because I believe there should be more freedom for men and women to visit each other’s rooms whenever they choose.

Everything having to do with a student on BYU campus has something to do with the honor code then why not when it comes to visiting hours. We all abide by the honor code willingly and dutifully. Does the BYU administration have to monitor visiting hours? We are smart kids, we know right from wrong, but the administration restricting our social time with our potential girlfriends and boyfriends just doesn’t make sense. Fridays and Saturdays are normally social nights because there’s no school on the following day. These are the nights you most likely will meet up with somebody that you’d like to spend more time with. Yet you won’t be able to invite them into your room because it’s not Wednesday or Sunday. Lastly, I see way too many single males and females walking around in the Cannon Center and the dorm areas; a complete revamping of visiting hours is sure to change that.

The honor code is a sacred set of guidelines for students to follow. I love having the honor code as a student here. It provides me with a healthy atmosphere to prosper and learn. I believe if visiting hours were modified and men could have women over in their rooms, or vice versa at any time of the week, students would be better off. This is because students would gain more experience hanging out with different people, becoming more open about themselves, and could be a great opportunity to enhance their individual characters. Visiting another person’s room however seems to be regulated not by the honor code but by the school. To me, this is confusing because if everything else is governed by the honor code, why not visiting hours? You may believe some people would break the honor code and break standards. You also may be thinking about the blaring issue I have not mentioned which is pre-marital sex. I’m choosing to disregard this subject of discussion because I believe and trust in my fellow students. I believe in them so much that I do not see this as a major factor that deters the BYU administration from changing visiting hours. Saying this, is there a chance that pre-marital sex could occur if there were no limits on visiting hours? Possibly, but like I said I am a low-key freshman student who has kept his eyes and ears open and believes and trusts in his fellow students to a very high extent. I’m not a member of the church and I realize the care and devotion each student gives just to be at this school. I fully believe in them. If everything on campus is governed mainly by the honor code, why not let students govern their visiting hours?

Fridays and Saturdays on campus are very exciting. We have some of the top athletes in the country performing for us every weekend. Have you ever been to a Volleyball or Football game and met with some very cool people that you’re interested in? Yet these events take place on weekend nights, when you’re