IN MOST colleges across the country, the rules regarding pets in dormitories or residence halls are simple: Forget it. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that while there is no central database of pet policies on campuses, most schools bar any pets -- as do many off-campus landlords. Some schools, such as the University, only allow non-lethal fish. In the last 10 years, however, school officials have begun to reconsider the role companion animals could have on students' mental and emotional health.
Schools have long agreed that there are compelling reasons for not allowing pets on campus. They can be dirty, noisy, smelly, unhealthy and even dangerous. Some also stand by the notion that confining an animal to a dorm room might be considered cruelty. For decades the general thinking has been that college students are too busy and too young to take care of animals and that college is where they first develop independence and self reliance. Pet-friendly university programs, however, have become increasingly popular.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, first tried allowing cats on campus six years ago and the program has worked so well it still continues today. The MIT students proposing the program modeled their policy after UCLA's policy, which allowed cats, and after presenting their case to the housing office, persuaded the administration to allow cats in four dormitories.
"What I hear from the students over and over again is that they want companionship," said MIT housing director Karen Nilsson in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interview. "When our students have a heck of a day at the lab, they like to come home to that nurturing atmosphere." Cats are now allowed as long as they are spayed or neutered, have all their required shots, are registered with the campus housing office and have the approval of every resident on the floor. If any of the rules are broken or if housing gets any complaints, however, the owner must remove the animal from the premises. Owners must also sign a contract stating that they will be held responsible for any damage to property or people their animal causes.
Similarly, pets have been allowed in Vassar College since 1971. Votes were taken in each dorm and if at least 75 percent of the students in the dormitory voted in favor of allowing pets, then the dorm became known as a "pet-dorm."
The California Institute of Technology and the State University of New York also allow cats in their dorms, and others such as the University of Pennsylvania allow small animals like birds, hamsters or rabbits.
It is general knowledge that pet owners are healthier, happier and more relaxed than non-pet owners, so why do so many universities ban animals?
"Having pets around does lower the stress level," Wendy Libby, president of Stephens College, which allows both dogs and cats, said in a Christian Science Monitor interview. "If that would make a better transition or help a student stay who might otherwise feel so lonely they might want to go, it was worth trying. Although my first reaction was, 'Why would we do this?' my second was 'Why wouldn't we?'"
It's true that with e-mail and cell phones, students can be in frequent touch with their families. But communication with their pets is impossible, and for some people that's critical. "From a first-year perspective, I think that students having pets would make the transition to college easier," agrees University student Alex Chirico.
At the University, however, pets are not allowed in dorm rooms, with the exception of non-lethal fish. "I would move off-Grounds just so I could have pets," says Jenna Kim, a third-year Brown resident advisor University Assistant Director of Accommodations Cheryl Fontaine, however, disagrees. "I don't think it's come up as a real need," she says. "Occasionally we have had a student with a medical need, such as a seeing eye dog, and those are accommodated. But those dogs aren't pets, they're working." The University's concern for safety is understandable, but if proper measures are taken, having animals should pose no threat to the community. Housing applications allow for preferences such as smoking and allergies, so why not ask similar questions concerning animals? As long as pets remain in cages when their owners are absent and fulfill all health requirements they pose no threat to anyone. "It would definitely be feasible," says Anthony Cadena, a first year University student. "I mean, they're doing it in other places. And it would probably strengthen the bond between roommates, too: if people who loved cats, for example, could share that."
"Our concern is the general health and safety of our residents," explains Fontaine. "Even rodents can have fleas or ticks that carry diseases. Plus there are so many people that are allergic."
"Having a pet would be nice, but they're just not practical," agrees Christopher Moneymaker, another University student.
Regardless of whether or not having pets is a good idea, students should be able to make that choice for themselves. Perhaps as more and more colleges allow their students the comfort of animals, the University, too, will reconsider its policy. If properly cared for, pets definitely bring more benefits than problems.
Andrea Arango is a Cavalier Daily Viewpoint writer.
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