fair share Inspections become equal Junior Resident Assistont Michelle Stoggs writes a Health and Safety inspection form Sept. 19. The green forms were passed out to let the students know they had passed inspection. -Katie Ulliman. Typically, female students headed to their donns on a weekly basis in search ofways to clean away those pink slips. Mop the Aoor he re and there; dust the windowsill; scrub the bathtub; clean the desk. Men on the other hand, were held to a lower standard of cleanliness. Trying to find bal~ ance between both sexes, the Student Association decided toaddress the issue ofGood Housekeeping and Healrh and Safety Inspections during the fall semester of2004. Dr. David Collins, vice president for Student Services, said the SA faithfully kept the issue at the forefront of discussions the 2004-2005 school year. " [The issue] was a major poim of discussion the entire year for the SA," Collins said. The decision to make cleaning inspections equal did not come easy though. With males and females having different living habits, it was difficult to even find a common ground that would satisfY everyone from the SA. "We threw out the idea of having the girls' inspections every three weeks like the guys," junior Matt H ewes, SA vice president, said. "But the girls in the room immediately shot it down." In the spring 2005, Student Services received a proposal from the SA and made some changes to the policy, Collins said. Student Services decided to change both the women's and men's inspections to every twOweeks, with the same list of health and safety guidelines for both genders. The decision was made to equalize the policy, Sheri Shearin, assistant dean ofstudents, said . "The process evolved because wewanted to create a stronger sense ofequalitybetweenwhatwas expected of the men and the women," Shearin said. He\ves said the SA agreed the policy needed to be equalized. "It was the most viable solution to create a sense of equality berween the male and female students for the Good Housekeeping situation," Hewes said. During the 2004-2005 school year, women had Good Housekeep ing weekly. From dusting to making beds to taking out the crash, every inch ofwomen's dorm rooms had to be cleaned once a week, Shearin said. The men had a less-strict Health and Safety Inspection every three weeks. Under the new policy, which was implemented this fall, both men and women had Health and Safety Inspections every twO weeks. The new solution allowed more time for the women to tend to their studies and toother aCtivi– ties. Before the new method, women spent a good portion of one night a week cleaning, which cut inca studying. "Since it's not as often, it will be a lot easier for the girls' side, and it's not as demanding on them," Lisa Farley, residence life coordinator for Shores Hall, said. "I think that will help the girls with their homework, and as they devote mo re time to those things." While it did ease the load on the women, it also increased the health among all the residence halls. A set time for cleaning encouraged the students to maintain a better living environment, Shearin said. . "We are stressing a healthy and safe environ– ment," Shearin said. Junior Angie Mowrer said she appreciated the equaliz.ing of the policy. "I'm really glad that they're equal now because [the guys] didn't have to dean as much," Mowrer said. "They weren't as derailed in their cleaning. It's fairer now that everyone has to do the same thing. le's not a double standard anymore." ·Alexo Johnston
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==