Gustavus Adolphus College

 

• Welcome
• Section One: Occupancy Requirements
• Section Two: Agreement Period
• Section Three: Termination of Contract
• Section Four: Terms of Assignment/Community
  • Room Assignment and Reassignment
  • Right of Privacy
  • Fire Marshal's Directives
  • Checking In/Room Condition report
  • Checkout
  • Room Alterations
  • Damage and Prorations
  • Room Changes
  • Limitations on Use of Hallways
  • College Furnishings
  • Keys
  • Personal Property
  • Residency Requirement Waiver
  • Prohibited Possessions
  • Housing Contract Release
  • Placement and Assignment
• Section Five: Residence Hall Policies
  • Cable Television
  • Candles/Flammable Materials/Incense
  • Controlled Substances
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Food
  • Laundry Facilities
  • Linen
  • Lofting of beds
  • Noise
  • Pets
  • Overnight Guests
  • Solicitation
  • Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
  • Storage
  • Substance Free Housing
  • Telephone Service
  • Visitation
  • Waterbeds
  • Window Screens
• Description of Special Residence Options
  • Intentional Learning and Service Houses
  • Carlson International Center
  • Asian Cultures and Pan- Afrikan Houses
  • Wellness and Social Justice:
  • Substance Free Lifestyle Option
  • Smoking is prohibited in all Residence Halls

---

Welcome to Gustavus Adolphus College

Welcome to Gustavus Adolphus College and the College's residence halls. The college values the unique gifts each person brings to the community. This community is created and fostered at a variety of levels on campus: within the classroom; in co-curricular activities and organizations; and within the residence halls. Each person has something unique and special to give to others in the community and the community at large.

The residence hall system is dedicated to providing you a quality living environment intentionally designed to support and assist you in your learning. This is accomplished through activities and programs presented on your floor, the daily interactions you have with persons different than you, and conversations and discussions you may have with faculty and administrators living in the halls with you. Specifically, the Residence Hall program at Gustavus seeks to help you feel you belong here, challenge your thinking, provide you information on a wide variety of topical areas, and assist you to continue to accept personal responsibility for your learning and your life. All of these are designed to enhance your collegiate experience and support your learning and development.

This Housing Contract and Handbook is one step in joining the community. As with any community there are policies and procedures intended to establish agreed upon parameters for living. Please read and review this information carefully, sign the Housing Contract and Preference Form, and return it with the other materials in the packet. Placements for incoming students for fall will begin after June registration and continue throughout the summer. In late July, a letter is sent which details your room assignment, roommate, and various aspects of personalizing your room. Placements for student beginning in January term will be sent in late December. For those students beginning in February, placements are sent in January.

If you have any questions about housing at Gustavus Adolphus College, please do not hesitate to either contact the Residential Life Office at (507) 933-7529.

On behalf of the Residential Life staff, WELCOME. We are very pleased you have chosen Gustavus to further your education. We look forward to your arrival.

Charlie Strey, Director of Residential Life

Terms and Conditions of Residence

(Please read prior to signing contract .)

This Handbook is incorporated in and binding as part of the Gustavus Adolphus College Housing Contract. The terms and conditions of residence listed below supersede and replace any previous terms of assignment.

Section One: Occupancy Requirements

Gustavus Adolphus requires that all full-time (i.e., enrolled in the equivalent of three of more full semester courses) students live in college housing unless:

1. the student lives at home (15 mile radius of Gustavus) with parents or legal guardians;
   
2. the student personally owns a house (name is on deed and mortgage) in St. Peter or 15 mile radius of Gustavus.
   
3. the student is a veteran of military service;
   
4. the student is married or living with and responsible for dependent children;
   
5. the student has achieved senior or junior status AND has obtained prior and proper permission from the Director of Residential Life to seek off-campus housing.

Students who have special needs and do not qualify under the listed exemptions should refer to the Residency Requirement Waiver section of this Handbook (see Terms of Assignment Section Four , part 15).

Because the College anticipates full occupancy each Fall Semester, a resident student contracts for a space in the residence halls but not for a specific room or roommate assignment. The College reserves the right to:

1. assign roommates unilaterally;
   
2. reassign students who are without roommates;
   
3. use a room when it is unoccupied;
   
4. assign single rooms; and
   
5. reassign to different rooms or residence halls in the event such reassignments are determined necessary.

Under no circumstances may a student sell, transfer, or sublet his/her contract to another person, including another student.

Section Two: Agreement Period

1. The residence halls officially open to receive new students at 9 A.M. on the first day of New Student Orientation preceding the Fall Semester. Students may not occupy or leave personal belongings in any student room or hall before the time the halls officially open unless they are participating in a College-scheduled program or have prior approval from the Residential Life Office AND pay an additional fee for each day preceding the opening. Because College personnel may still need to enter rooms to perform maintenance or otherwise prepare for the Fall opening, early arriving students are not considered to permanently occupy their rooms prior to the official opening.
2. Residence Halls are closed during officially designated vacation periods. These include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break. However, limited space may be arranged for students required to stay for College-scheduled programs and for others who are unable to leave due to distance and who make prior arrangements with the Residential Life Office. All other rooms are to be vacated for the announced duration of the vacation period. Students with rooms in closed buildings may not re-enter their room until the hall officially re-opens.
3. Interim: Students who are enrolled for both Fall and Spring semester automatically retain their spaces during January, regardless of their status or residence during the month, and need not remove possessions from their rooms. However, a student may not occupy his/her campus housing assignment during January unless enrolled for an approved course or working on campus with prior permission of the Director of Residential Life. On occasion, the College may need to house Interim exchange students using the space of students enrolled for both semesters but gone from the campus during January. This occurs only when all open spaces are already exhausted and a space will be assigned only if the resident student agrees. The student will receive a credit to his/her account for moving personal belongings to accommodate the visitor.
4. Students must vacate their rooms within 24 hours of their last examination each semester, or by 6 P.M. on the last day of scheduled final examinations, whichever comes first. Graduating seniors and others approved to participate in Commencement may stay until 6 P.M. on Commencement Sunday. All exceptions must be approved in advance by the Residential Life Office.
   
   

Section Three: Termination of Contract

This contract remains in effect until the end of the contract period, but may be terminated under the following conditions:

1. If a student cancels enrollment at Gustavus in writing prior to the first day of classes and prior to moving into a residence hall;
2. If a student violates the terms of this contract; College regulations; or local, state, or federal laws, under which circumstances the College reserves the right to cancel the contract with no refund of room payment.
3. If the residence requirement is waived by the Residential Life Office (see Section Four Part 15.); or
4. If, within contract period, a resident student applies for and is granted a Housing Contract Release (see Section Four Part 17).
   

Section Four: Terms of Assignment/Community

1. College Policies: It is the student's responsibility to become familiar with College regulations, including, but not limited to, those in this Housing Handbook; the Statement of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Judicial Procedures; and the Gustavus Handbook; as well as other published rules, policies, and procedures of the College and all city, state, and federal laws. In signing the accompanying contract, the student agrees to abide by all such rules and regulations.
2. Policy Amendments: The College reserves the right to make rules, regulations, or policies as may be necessary for safety, health, or care of the residence halls and the resident, or to help further the educational objectives of the institution.
3. Room Assignment and Reassignment: The College reserves the right to reassign students to other campus housing or to deny on-campus housing to any student(s) whose actions are detrimental to the welfare of the residence hall or campus community. Please be aware that College regulations do not permit room-sharing (in which, for example, the assigned occupants of two or more rooms establish shared sleeping arrangements in one room and use the other for recreational space) and the subleasing or unauthorized transfer of room space. If a student(s) refuses to accept a roommate or, in the judgement of the Director, attempts to force a roommate out of a shared premises, the College may require such student(s) to relocate or be responsible for the total rent of the premises. Residential Life works with roommates in conflict through informal and formal mediation processes to assist students in appreciating differences and in learning life skills.
4. Right of Privacy: Students are guaranteed the reasonable privacy of their room and belongings. However, under specific guidelines established in accordance with the Statement of Student Rights, duly authorized agents and representatives of the College shall have the right to enter student rooms. These guidelines include, but are not limited to, cases of emergency, need for repairs, health and safety inspections, and when College officials are in "close pursuit" of a rule or policy violation. Rooms are inspected monthly and during vacation periods for health and safety hazards.
5. Fire Marshal's Directives: The College is concerned about the safety and welfare of the students living in the residence halls and has both a legal and moral responsibility to see that the State Fire Marshal's directives are met. Gustavus cannot and will not play games with fire and safety standards, policies, and procedures. The intent of these directives is very clear: to make Gustavus residence halls as safe as possible.
   
   Students may not do anything or keep anything in the residence halls that will increase the risk of fire or explosion or that is contrary to the directives of the State Fire Marshal's office or the terms of the College's insurance policies. Misuse of fire and safety equipment including, but not limited to, fire extinguishers and fire alarms is a violation of both College regulations and state laws. The State Fire Marshal's Office has notified Gustavus Adolphus College that the following cannot be allowed in students' rooms.
   • A) Carpeting and Carpet Pad: Carpeting and carpet pads are permitted. Due to the concern of fires, all carpet and pad must be cut to allow the door to open freely.
     
   • B) Construction or Modification that Increases the Risk of Fire or Decreases Safety (paneling, platforms, wood floors, and other projects that make use of wood or other flammable materials): The Deputy State Fire Marshal has OK'd the bunking of beds using a minimum of 2x4s and 4x4s. Barn board, paneling, 1x12s, platforms, plywood, particleboard, etc., cannot be allowed. If students choose to loft their beds, they are to use the bed frame and must not set the mattresses on a plywood platform. Use of wood and other flammables MUST be kept to an absolute minimum.
   • C) Door Obstructions: Doors must be able to easily open to their full capacity. There must be a clear and easy exit from each room that may be readily located in the case of fire, smoke, sleepiness, intoxication, dark, or the confusion of an actual emergency.
   • D) Flammable Materials Hanging From or Draped Across Ceilings: The Deputy Fire Marshal has specifically banned any and all flammable materials hanging or draped from the ceiling, including hanging room dividers (whether hanging from the ceiling or suspended below it). He has agreed to allow wall hangings (flat against the wall) but has suggested these be made of a fire resistant material.
     Residents violating these directives are legally liable for both civil and criminal negligence should a fire or other related problem occur. Additionally, should violations be discovered by the College, the student(s) responsible are subject to formal disciplinary action.
6. Checking In/Room Condition Report: Upon moving in, each student is required to review and sign a Room Condition Report indicating and attesting to the condition of the room and its furnishings. Signing the report constitutes agreement that the conditions are as noted. The room is checked against the report when the student moves out and the student charged, as appropriate, for damages.
7. Checkout: Residents are expected to return their rooms to the College in a good and clean condition, ready for the next residents. Those residents officially assigned to the room during the year will be held responsible for all damages and losses beyond normal wear that are not individually assigned, regardless of the cost of repair or replacement, and for charges where extra cleaning is necessary.
8. Room Alterations: Occupants are not permitted to paint, physically alter or remodel any student room or public area in the residence hall (except pre-approved decorative painting of public areas). Damages will be assessed to violators.
9. Residence Hall Damages: Students will be charged for damage to or loss of College-owned furnishings and equipment, and repairs and/or necessary maintenance or rooms and common areas (normal wear and tear excepted). If individual responsibility for such loss or repair cannot be determined, charges may be prorated among residents of the affected room, floor, section, or hall. Prorations are billed at the end of each academic year by the Finance Office, along with end-of-the-year room charges. Damage charges are subject to an appeal process.
10. Room Changes: Student initiated changes in room assignment must be approved in writing by Director of Residential Life (or designee) using an official Room Change Request Form, BEFORE any changes are made. Room changes will not be considered during the first 3 weeks of class of each semester unless required as determined by the Director of Residential Life (or designee). Upon approval, the student will be provided a room change deadline and issued a new key. Students involved in an unapproved room change will be subject to disciplinary action (including fines, not to exceed $50) and/or return to original room assignment.
11. Limitations on Use of Hallways: For health and safety reasons, no ironing or cooking (including popping corn) may be done in residence hall hallways. Similarly, hallway sport activities such as floor hockey, Frisbee, pranks that may harm the facility or occupants (e.g. excessive use of water), etc., may not be staged. Finally, hallways or stairwells may not be used for storing items.
12. College Furnishings: The College furnishes each student with a bed and other room furnishings (which vary depending upon hall). College furniture or furnishings may not be removed from student rooms nor moved from one hall to another without permission from the Director of Residential Life/his designee. However, students may request to store their bed and mattress by contacting their Area Coordinator. Removal of College furniture or furnishings from residence hall lounges and other public areas to student rooms or otherwise is expressly forbidden. Students involved in unauthorized furniture removal will be subject to disciplinary action including fines and/or eviction from halls.
13. Keys: All keys issued to resident students remain the sole property of the College and may not be duplicated. Keys are issued at the beginning of the year (or to a new occupant during the year) at no charge. Students must promptly return their keys whenever their contract is terminated or their room assignment changes during the academic year. When a room key is lost and reported, or if the student fails to return the key after vacating the room, a new lock will be installed, and the student will be billed $75 ($100 if at the end of the term) to cover the installation. (The College assumes that the student's insurance will cover expenses relating to key theft.) A student who illegally possesses, uses, or duplicates any College key will be subject to disciplinary action.
14. Personal Property: The College will make every reasonable effort to protect the personal property of residents, but will not be liable for articles lost, stolen, or damaged by fire, water, heat and/or other natural disasters. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase insurance to cover loss of or damage to personal property or to inquire into the extension of parent's insurance for this purpose.
15. Residency Requirement Waiver: Students who have special needs that cannot be met in the residence halls, but who do not qualify under the exemptions for living off-campus listed in Section 1 of this Handbook, may apply to the Residential Life Office to request a waiver of the Colleges' residency requirement. Because the College is committed to the role of residential living as an integral part of the student's educational experience, such waivers will be granted only in cases of exceptional need or hardship. Application to waive the residency requirement does not automatically release a student from contractual obligations.
16. Prohibited Possessions: The following are prohibited in student rooms: exterior antennae, air conditioners, firearms (including antique weapons), other dangerous weapons (including but not limited to archery equipment, crossbows, large knives, and swords), firecrackers and other explosives, and electrical appliances noted below. Heating or cooking appliances (including but not limited to, toaster ovens, hot plates, space heaters, sunlamps, halogen lamps without metal protective cage and electrical blankets) may not be used in student areas, with the exception of electric coffee/hot pots, pop-up toasters, microwave ovens (smaller that 700 watts), torchiere/halogen lamps with protective cage, and popcorn poppers with automatic heat control in good condition. Irons may be stored in student rooms but must be used in an ironing room or similar public area. Students may use the following electrical appliances in student rooms: radio, fan, tape recorder, television, sewing machine, personal computer, and compact refrigerator (not to exceed six (6) cubic feet), as well as coffee pot, toaster, microwave, and popcorn popper. Prohibited items will be confiscated by hall staff; confiscated items which a student may legally possess off-campus will be stored and returned at the end of the school term.
17. Housing Contract Release: Students qualified to live off-campus (as listed in Occupancy Guidelines section of this Handbook) but choosing to sign a housing contract are committed to the contract for the entire academic year UNLESS special permission is granted through the Residential Life Office.
18. Placement/Assignment: First year students who accept the College's offer of admission by returning their Advance Registration Deposit will be mailed this Residence Hall Contract and Handbook. Included in this booklet are 1) a Housing Contract and Preference Questionnaire, and 2) a copy of this Gustavus Adolphus College Housing Contract and Handbook. Placement in a residence hall of choice cannot be guaranteed, but the Residential Life Office will attempt to honor the preferences of incoming students whenever possible. In many cases, however, demand for a particular hall exceeds the space available. Incoming students that BOTH return their Advance Registration Deposit and their housing request form to the College by June 1, therefore, are given priority in terms of their housing preferences. A priority system according to the date when the student's Advance Registration Deposit AND the Housing Contract and Preference Questionnaire were received is used in placement. Housing requests received after the deadline will be assigned on an on-going basis thereafter. Requests for particular roommates are honored if they are mutual, but specific roommates cannot be guaranteed if either request is received after the June 2 deadline. Incoming students who do not state a preference for housing will be assigned at the discretion of the Residential Life Office. Roommate assignment, where no preference is given, will be based on the information provided on the Housing Contract and Preference Questionnaire. This form may be returned by mail to the Finance Office, 800 W. College Ave., St. Peter, MN, 56082-1498.
    
    

Upperclass students are provided their handbook through the Residential Life website.

Section Five: Residence Hall Policies

Residence Hall students are also responsible for knowing and understanding the laws of the city of St. Peter and other policies found in the Gustie Guide and Gustavus Academic Bulletin.

1. Cable Television: Students contract directly with MediaCom for the service they desire and are billed for the service by the cable company. Unauthorized reception of cable service is illegal and will be prosecuted. TV reception in student rooms only occurs with the use of this service. Each hall is equipped with cable in a TV lounge.
2. Candles/Flammable Materials/Incense: Any item with a wick or flame or consuming flammable material (including but not limited to candles, incense, oil lamps, potpourri simmer pots, and gas or Sterno cans) are NOT allowed in residence hall rooms or College-owned apartments or houses. Students possessing or utilizing these items are subject to a fine and confiscation of item.
3. Controlled Substances: Possession, use, sale, distribution, or solicitation of restricted or illegal substances is prohibited. The use, possession, sale, or distribution-or assistance in any way to anyone so involved-of any illegal and/or dangerous drugs, narcotics, or acids is strictly prohibited on the campus and in the residence halls. Prohibited substances will be confiscated and disposed of by College staff members in cooperation with local law enforcement officials and the offender subject to disciplinary action by both the College and civil authorities.
4. Alcoholic Beverages: The use or possession of alcoholic beverages on campus and in the residence halls is strictly regulated. "The College has adopted a policy addressing the consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus (see Gustavus Handbook for further details). The guidelines set forth in that policy are further defined below for residential situations:
• A. By Minnesota law, students must wait until their twenty-first birthday before they can legally possess, consume, or distribute alcoholic beverages. Underage students who possess, consume, or distribute alcohol are subject to appropriate disciplinary measures. Confrontation of underage students may occur either in public areas or student rooms when the staff member has knowledge of a possible violation. Possession presumes consumption in the eyes of the State of Minnesota and is illegal for individuals under the legal age. Legal age may not be assumed and must be verified by ID; all resident students will be expected to produce Gustavus Adolphus College identification and proof of age if requested by College staff.
  
• B. Resident students of legal drinking age and their guests of legal drinking age may possess and consume alcoholic beverages in residence hall sleeping rooms only. Possession of open or opened containers of alcohol is not permitted in residence hall corridors, lounge areas, bathrooms, stairwells, or any other public spaces and may result in disciplinary action as specified in the documents entitled Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Judicial Procedures.
  
• C. In rooms where none of the assigned occupants are of legal drinking age, alcohol and/or alcohol containers either full or partially full OR as decoration (boxes, cans, bottles, etc.) is not allowed and the occupants may be held jointly responsible for violations. Alcohol will not be permitted in these "underage rooms" even when guests of legal age are present; alcoholic beverages discovered in such situations are subject to confiscation and disposal, regardless of claimed ownership. Alcohol will be allowed in student rooms where at least one occupant is of legal age. In such cases, a legal-age occupant must be present and assumes responsibility as host if guests are present. Underage students, whether occupants or guests, remain restricted from possession or consumption of alcohol in these rooms. When a gathering where alcohol is present violates other residential life guidelines or when it comes to the attention of College officials that a legal host is not able to control consumption, underage guests will be instructed to leave (and cited for possession if appropriate) and the host will be subject to further sanctions.
  
• D. Disciplinary measures may be taken when underage students possess, consume, or distribute alcohol, and, also, when legal age students either distribute alcohol to underage students or possess or consume alcohol in an inappropriate location. (Simple knowledge of underage possession or consumption of alcohol, either by staff or other students of the College, can result in significant legal liability for those people.)
  
• E. State and local laws prohibit the purchase and resale of alcoholic beverages without a license. College policy prohibits any sale of alcoholic beverages on campus.
  
• F. No kegs of beer (including, but not necessarily limited to, "party balls," ponies, or kegs of any size) or large quantities of alcoholic beverages or mixtures are permitted in residential hall rooms. Pre-mixed punches and concoctions such as "waps", "garbage can punch," and other similar mixtures are considered excessive regardless of actual quantity and are prohibited. (Students are advised to contact their CF, Head Resident, or the Director of Residential Life before staging a party involving alcohol, as a number of contributing factors can affect a determination of "excess".)
  
• G. Transportation of alcoholic beverages to and from private rooms (and designated areas) must be in closed and opaque containers, not to include parts of clothing.
  
• H. Display of alcohol-related advertising materials (including bottles/cans/boxes) in residence hall windows or areas outside residence hall rooms is not permitted. Students are expected to promptly dispose of trash such as cans, bottles, and boxes from all hallways.
  
• I. The possession, consumption, or sale of alcoholic beverages at any public event is prohibited.
  
• J. No College or hall funds may be expended for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.
5. Food: Careless storage of food in student rooms may violate public health regulations and become offensive to other students. Students are responsible for maintaining an environment that does not violate public health regulations. In order to minimize risk, students are restricted from preparing foods in their own room. Students should use hall kitchens available for that purpose.
6. Laundry Facilities: Each residence hall has free laundry facilities. Use of these facilities is restricted to the residents of the hall.
7. Linen: Each student must provide their own bed linen. Buildings with newer furniture, listed below, have mattresses that require extra long sheets. Other buildings, generally, utilize extra long sheets but students may wish to move into their space before purchasing bed linens to ascertain correct size.
8. Lofting: Gustavus Adolphus College does NOT formally approve lofts or bunk beds. In Southwest, Sorensen, College View, Arbor View, Uhler, Carlson International Center including Swedish House, and Prairie View Hall, college furnished beds may be bunked using the units within the room. Loft safety is of paramount concern to the College. Therefore, the following guidelines are offered for the safety of residents and to minimize the potential costs incurred by damage or loss as a result of loft construction.
   • A. The loft must be free-standing. Bolts, nails, etc., are not to be sunk into walls to support the lost. Pressurized lofting units are not permitted.
   • B. Lofts should not incorporate existing room fixtures (curtain rods, light switches, phones, other furniture) - with the exception of bed frames.
   • C. The State Fire Marshal's directives specify that beds must not be set on plywood platforms but that the metal frame/spring should be incorporated. Use of wood and other flammables must be kept to a minimum. Use of 2x4s and 4x4s is acceptable while barn boards, paneling, platforms, particle boards, and plywood are not.
   • D. Lofts are to be completely dismantled and removed from the room when the occupants vacate the room, either by changing rooms during the year or upon final check-out at the end of the term. At that time, the room should conform to the original check-in inventory.
   • E. The College will store mattresses and bed frames that are not incorporated into the loft. Loft materials may not be stored on campus during the summer.
   • F. Residents who build lofts are responsible for any damages to the room caused by the loft and will be billed accordingly. The College is not responsible for any injuries to the occupants of the room or their guests as a result of the loft's presence.
   • G. The loft-to-ceiling clearance should be at least 36 inches, measured from the top of the mattress.
   • H. Lofts must be located and constructed in such a way that they do not interfere with the access to windows, heating units, plumbing, and other items needing periodic maintenance. The loft must not interfere with or obstruct exit from the room in case of emergency. The loft should be at least 18" from heating covers and lights.
   • I. The College's bed frame and mattress should be incorporated into the loft.
   • J. Tubular loft kits are available for rent or sale from a contracted supplier. Lofts may be rented at bedloft.com
9. Noise: Residents may not make or allow any improper or disturbing noises in the halls. Singing or playing any musical instrument(s), television, stereo, or radio in a way, or at any time, that is objectionable to others is a violation of residential life policy. Stereo systems are to be used for the listening enjoyment of students within the confines of their own rooms; placing speakers on or near window ledges to project sound from open window is not permitted. Repeated violations may result in the removal of the item(s) causing the noise. Courtesy hours: 24 hours per day. Enforced quiet hours: 10 PM - 8 AM Sundays through Thursdays, Midnight - 8 AM Friday and Saturdays
10. Pets: Fish in aquariums smaller than 15 gallons are permitted in residence halls. All other pets, exotic or wild animals, fowl, reptiles and amphibians, and other fauna are not permitted in student rooms, lounges, or hallways. This prohibition also applies to laboratory animals and specimens.
11. Overnight Guests and Visitation: Go to item 17 below for complete policy.
12. Smoking and chewing tobacco: All housing is smoking and tobacco-free. Students who use tobacco products may live in any location - with the exception of PLEDGE substance free lifestyle housing - but must use the tobacco, smoke or smokeless, outside the residence hall.
13. Solicitation: Solicitation of funds or services, distribution of material, and/or sales by any outside business or organization (i.e. one that is not a campus organization) are not permitted on campus, except as provided below.
    
    • A. Business or organizations whose services or materials are determined to be in the interests of the College or for College purposes may operate tables in the Campus Center after obtaining express approval from the Director of Student Activities.
      
    • B. Political candidates or their representatives may set up tables in the Campus Center with the authorization of the Director of Student Activities and may canvass the residence halls, provided prior arrangements have been made with the Director of Residential Life. No solicitors, sales people, or agents - whether students or others - are permitted to personally contact students in the residence halls (i.e., go door to door or use hall lounges) for commercial purposes, except if a campus group's activity has been approved in advance by the Director of Residential Life and the Director of Student Activities using the "Sales and Solicitation Application" available at the Student Activities Office. In those cases, the students representing the approved group will carry written authorization forms which they are to show upon demand. Violations of the hall solicitation restrictions should be referred to the Office of Campus Safety (x8888).
    • C. When offering sales or services off-campus, students may not use the College's name to imply endorsement or guarantee without the written permission of the Dean of Students.
      
    • D. Gustavus students representing an off-campus business or organization are not permitted to use their assigned residence hall room as a place of business. Questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Residential Life Office.
14. Storage: Subject to the limitations of space, each residence hall has areas where students may store suitcases, trunks, and other belongings during the year. Students who live outside a 350-mile radius from St. Peter may store personal belongings in the hall storage rooms during the summer. However, loft materials, furniture, wood, bicycles, and refrigerators cannot be accommodated. While the College attempts to maintain secure storage rooms, please be aware that it is not responsible for damage to or loss of materials stored. Belongings must be boxed and labeled.
15. Substance Free Lifestyle Housing: Students may choose to participate in a substance-free living environment. Substance-free areas are designated for first year men and women in Norelius Hall and for upper class students in Prairie View Hall. Substance-free living participants agree to refrain from any and all possession or use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and other controlled substances and illicit drugs. It is expected that these areas will be free from potential and residual effects of use and/or possession occurring in other locations. Students failing to abide by the agreement will be reassigned to another available space on campus.
16. Telephone Service: The Telecommunications Department provides basic telephone service, including voicemail, to all students in College-owned housing. Each room or group of rooms has a standard touch-tone telephone and local service. Students are responsible for any damages to telephones caused by abuse and will be charged for all repairs at standard time and material costs. A complete replacement telephone is $34.00. Long distance is available to all students. Students placing calls using their personal authorization code from a campus telephone are billed by the Telecommunications Department. PLEASE NOTE: The Telecommunications Department reserves the right to deny any of these services to any student who abuses the telephone system, including but not limited to physical damage to equipment, tampering with any facilities of the telephone system, harassment via telephone, and unauthorized use of codes. Occupants are responsible for all use of the phone in their assigned room; individuals whose assigned phones are used improperly are subject to campus judicial proceedings, even if the misuse was perpetrated by unidentified guests or visitors.
17. Visitation and Guests: Introduction
    The Gustavus Adolphus College Residential Life Visitation and Guest Policy is informed by the Mission of the College and its five core values. As an institution of higher learning, the College's primary concern is the education of its students. For education and learning to occur each student's well-being - both physical and emotional - is of paramount importance. Imbedded in the Gustavus mission and core values is a fundamental concern for the well-being of and respect for each individual within the context of the campus community. Balancing the sometimes competing interests of students as individuals and members of community is at the heart of the visitation and guest policy.
    
    To be welcoming, to permit your residence hall space and your routine to be re-arranged temporarily for a guest or visitor, and to treat each person with dignity and respect are fundamental traits of hospitality. Equally important are the concerns for the common good of all who call the residence hall home. Gustavus residence halls are neither hotels nor private apartment buildings. They are buildings in which vibrant communities of students, Collegiate Fellows, Head Residents, Custodians, and Physical Plant workers form and function. Individual residents are expected to extend hospitality to guests within the context of the community's interests and standards. Communities that are not welcoming of guests and individuals who abuse a community's hospitality do not reflect the Gustavus values.
    
    Behavior within Gustavus residence halls must be predicated on the essential and elemental value of respect for oneself and "the other". This respect is far deeper than mutual tolerance of one another. It affirms the dignity of each person and refuses to treat others as objects to be disregarded or ignored, used or abused, or manipulated. It recognizes the unique gift that is each person.

Policy Statement on Visitation and Guests

General Items

1. Definitions
   1. Guest: any person not directly affiliated with Gustavus as a student or employee.
   2. Visitor: any Gustavus students or employee who is not an assigned resident of the particular room, suite, apartment, or house. NOTE: Employees who enter student units for the purpose of fulfilling job responsibilities (i.e. custodial, physical plant, Residential Life staff, Campus Safety Officers, etc.) are not considered visitors.
   3. Visitation hours: the time period during which resident students may host visitors and guests of the opposite sex in their individual rooms. Visitation hours apply to all residence hall rooms and units.
2. A student's privilege to have a guest or visitor is always superseded by any other assigned resident's right to uninterrupted use of the room, suite, apartment, or house to support their educational endeavor. The privacy as well as ability to sleep or study of the roommate(s) will take precedence over a guest or visitor. Therefore, a roommate should neither be compelled to leave a room, apartment, suite, or house in order to accommodate a guest or visitor NOR be placed in situations that might cause embarrassment or inconvenience.
3. Frequent visits and/or visits of excessive length can create an uncomfortable environment for the roommate as well as other community members. Each hall resident has a right to privacy, sleep, and study which outweighs a roommate's or neighbor's privilege of visitation. If the presence of a guest or visitor is an inconvenience or distraction, the guest/visitor must leave.
4. Gustavus students and employees are responsible for knowing and understanding the Gustavus Code of Conduct and Residence Hall policies that are enforced in all residence facilities. Community members may be held responsible and sanctioned for any Code violations.
5. Student hosts are responsible for the behavior and conduct of their guests. Students are to inform guests of the Gustavus Code of Conduct and Residence Hall policies.
6. Residents are to accompany guests at all times within the residence halls. This includes meeting guests or visitors at the front entrances to buildings and escorting them within the building. Guests and visitors should be instructed to use the phones located in the vestibules to call hosts for an escort.
7. Guests and visitors are required to use bathroom facilities appropriate to their sex.
8. Any guest who violates College policy or state/federal law may be asked to leave the college immediately and/or may be notified in writing through a no trespass letter that s/he is banned from College property until further notice.

Visitation Hours: Resident students are permitted to have visitors and/or guests of the opposite gender in their rooms within the following guidelines:

First Year student areas according to the Adjusted Year in Residence

1. Visitation hours in first year campus residences are:

• Sunday through Thursday: 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM.
• Friday and Saturday, visitation is permitted from 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM.

2. Twenty-four hour visitation is permitted in the lobby, recreational space, TV lounge, study areas, computer lab, and kitchen of each residence hall.
3. Hallways and section lounges are NOT considered 24 hour visitation areas.

Sophomore, Junior, and Senior student areas according to the Adjusted Year in Residence

1. Visitation hours in sophomore, junior, and senior campus residences are:

• Sunday through Thursday: 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM.
• Friday and Saturday, visitation is permitted 24 hours a day.

2. Twenty-four hour visitation is permitted in the lobby, recreational space, TV lounge, study areas, computer lab, and kitchen of each residence hall.
3. Hallways on single sex floors are NOT considered 24 hour visitation areas.

Overnight Guests and Visitors: Resident students are permitted to have overnight guests and/or visitors on Friday or Saturday nights only. Guests/Visitors may stay for no more than 48 hours consecutively. Any policy violation may result in the loss of guest privileges. For safety purposes, guests must be registered with Campus Safety through the on-line Guest Registration Form

18. Waterbeds: Because of undue stress that waterbeds place on the structure of the residence hall and because of the danger, inconvenience, and potential for damage that ruptures of such beds present to other residents, the use of waterbeds in residence halls is prohibited. Other devices or appliances exceeding 15 gallons (e.g. hot tubs, water coolers, large aquariums) are prohibited for similar reasons.

19. Window Screens: Student are not permitted to remove the window screens from the windows, not only because of College insurance requirements but also because of the safety risk removal represents. Students removing a window screen are subject to a fine.

Description of Residences

Student rooms are furnished with a bed, dresser, wardrobe/closet, desk, and desk chair for each resident as well as a shared telephone and computer network and cable television capability. The Residence Hall pages of this website provide information and floor plans that should assist students who wish to state a preference for a particular residence hall assignment. Students wishing to request a particular hall assignment or roommate must note such preferences on the Housing Contract and Preference Questionnaire. Again, please be aware that roommate requests can be honored only when the requests are mutual.