by Billy Findley, staff writer
This spring, SGA petitioned the Student Life Council to take the next step in curfew alleviation—a revocation of weekend curfew altogether.
The Student Life Council decided on April 16 to recommend to the President’s Cabinet that the change be made. If the President’s Cabinet approves the elimination of weekend curfew, the rule will be officially changed in the Student Life Handbook as early as this fall.
According to class senators and some college staff, the change could drastically affect the Bryan community as a whole.
In the fall of 2001, SGA representatives advocated that the weekly and weekend curfew be altered. At the time, curfew was 11 p.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends.
SGA got its wish, and beginning in the spring of 2002 curfew was extended to its present time of 12:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends. But now, eight years later, SGA is striving to make weekend curfew a thing of the past
Direct Effect on Students
According to Junior Class Senator Joseph Maughon, the issue is critical because the curfew rule may very well have an influence on whether or not a student comes to Bryan. Maughon also says the change would make certain things more convenient for students on weekends. For instance, when students are attending sports events, concerts or other things outside of Dayton, weekend curfew can become a hassle.
Eliminating it would put an end to the desperate rush to get back inside the dorm doors in time. However, Maughon also says he understands some of the cons of having curfew eliminated as well.
“There obviously is a morality issue involved,” Maughon says. “There really isn’t a way to monitor what students do or where they go late at night.”
This leaves students and staff alike to ponder just how much the administration should strive to protect its students through nighttime regulations.
“I think it is the function of the administration to make the school the best it can be as a Christian school,” Maughon says.
Meanwhile, the staff and SGA are currently wrestling with the idea of curfew change and the implications it would entail.
Staff Concern
“Things change, but change should be considered in humility and carefulness,” Vice President of Student Life Peter Held says.
According to Held, the chief concern about the decision to change curfew isn’t about how late students should be allowed to stay up as much as it is about how the school can be the best it can be. Held says he personally doesn’t have a preference about which way the resolution goes.
“I just want a good, wise decision,” Held says.
Dean of Students Bruce Morgan heads the Student Life Council meetings.
“With freedom comes responsibility,” Morgan says. “As a private institution we have the responsibility to take care of people.”
According to Morgan, several points have been raised in the meetings including accountability, lesser restrictions and parental concerns. Morgan says he doesn’t think the decision will end in a compromise, such as an even greater lengthening of curfew. He says more likely the decision will be to keep the rule as it stands or go through with the change that the Senate has requested.
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