Residents expect the right to sleep, study, and live free from undue interference, unreasonable noise and other distractions which inhibit the exercise of this right.

The "Residence Hall Rules and Regulations" explains the responsibility of each resident living on campus:

"A resident may not unreasonably interfere with a roommate's or any other residents rights under a residence hall contract. This includes the right to a reasonable degree of quiet, and each living unit, under the supervision of its elected student executive board, is expected to determine quiet hour policy at the beginning of each academic year. Playing musical instruments in any resident's room and engaging in physical games of any kind in the residence halls is prohibited. Infractions that cannot be resolved by the residence hall staff will be referred to the director of University Residential Life, who will have discretion to resolve such problems through administrative/disciplinary action."

Quiet Hours

The procedure for establishing and enforcing quiet hours and noise policy will be as follows:

• Establishing Quiet Hours. The students in each residential community working with their Community Assistants determine their quiet hour standards at the beginning of each academic year. Using either a hand vote or secret ballot, students may determine quiet hours for their area however the hours cannot be less then:

• 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Friday nights
• 1:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights

Although voting may be done on a floor basis, a uniform building policy is highly recommended. Residents are also encouraged to create quiet hours for lounges or any public areas in close proximity to student rooms.

A written statement of the approved policy and hours must be distributed to each member of the living unit, and a copy with the Area Coordinator.

• Defining Quiet Hours. Just as important as establishing quiet hours is the process of defining the meaning of those hours. The challenge is to help all residents reach a common understanding of the acceptable behavior as defined by the policy. Two major points need to be made:
• Residents need to agree on a concrete definition for "reasonable" behavior and "unreasonable" noise. A suggested definition--during quiet hours, any noise that prevents a resident (who is in his/her room with the door closed) from sleeping or studying is "unreasonable" noise. Quiet hours identify times when quiet is essential and required. In other words, it is not true that during non-quiet hours, anything goes.
• During times not designated quiet hours, unreasonable noise is still unacceptable. All residents should expect 24-hour courtesy hours during which any resident may request another resident or their guest to be quiet.
• During finals week all residents are expected to comply with 24-hour quiet hours.

• Enforcing Quiet Hours. Residents are encouraged to post their quiet hour standards so that all residents and their guests are aware. Residents are expected to talk directly with persons causing noise and respectfully asking them to lower the noise. Students who fail to comply with reasonable requests to reduce noise may be referred to the Community Assistant. The CA will either mediate the situation or, in some circumstances, refer policy violations to the Area Coordinator.