Imagine entering your dorm room on the first day of your freshman year to find your roommate already unpacking her suitcase, television, picture frames _ and her Labrador Retriever.
The 2002-2003 Habitats guide distributed by the Tufts University Office of Residential Life and Learning clearly states that students are forbidden from keeping pets in their rooms. The only exception is made for fish, which may be kept in tanks capable of holding no more than ten gallons of water.
Yolanda King, Director of Residential Life, explains that pets are forbidden for a number of reasons. Some students are allergic to animals, and a roommate's pet can make sharing one's living space unbearable. King also questions students' abilities to maintain a healthy living environment for animals.
"The residence halls are not built to accommodate pets," King said.
King, who replaced former Residential Life and Learning director Lorraine Toppi four and a half months ago, said that the prohibition of pets in dorms is "common practice" among universities. To her knowledge, there have not been any past requests or petitions to change the regulation. King cites the allowance of fish as a "compromise" for students desiring pets.
Although these rules apply for all students, proctors _ who live amongst students in University residence halls _ are permitted to keep pets, including dogs and cats, in their rooms. Proctors have apartment-style living spaces, which arguably allow more space for pets to roam free. And, unlike many students, proctors generally keep their doors closed unless they are entering or exiting the room.
King agreed that there exists, in this provision, somewhat of a double standard, and that in fact proctors will be prohibited from keeping pets after this academic year. The four proctors housing animals in the dorms will be forced to either move out or find new homes for their pets.
Students' reactions to the Habitats policy are mixed. Some argue that pets would bring an element of warmth and friendliness to the campus, providing the comfort that freshman may need in making the transition from home to school.
University President Larry Bacow, however, has managed to make the transition to living on campus without bringing along any pets. "There are no pets in the Gifford House," Bacow said. "I am terribly allergic to all cats and many dogs."
Sophomore Lauren Saft maintains that students should have the right to choose whether or not they want to take on the responsibility of keeping a pet in their dorm rooms.
"Just as there are smoking and non-smoking rooms, we should be given the option of having both pet and pet-free dorm rooms," Saft said.
Others are in agreement with King's assertion that dorm rooms do not provide the ideal environment in which to raise a pet.
"For the sake of the animal, I don't think any pet should be kept in a dorm room with irresponsible kids," sophomore Veronique Vlahakis said.
Others students are appreciative that the University allows for pet fish. "Having a fish is perfect because it's still a pet," sophomore Andrea Daley said. "If we had a dog or a cat there would be no way we could take care of it because the room is too small."
Although pets are permitted in fraternity houses, sophomore Joe Borenstein, a resident of AEPi, asserted that a frat house may be a "dangerous" environment in which to house a pet.
"A pet would be difficult to take care of," Borenstein said. "Because of the volume of people coming through the house, there is no telling what could happen."
Some students who disagree with the current policy have decided to take matters into their own hands. A previous resident of West violated ResLife rules and kept a ferret in his room for the duration of the year. The student maintains that he checked with his roommates before bringing the ferret to school.
"I kept him in a cage in my room... and everyone was cool with it," he said. "Allergies are definitely a concern, and pets like dogs are too tough to keep in dorms... but I only had a ferret."
The student acknowledged that it has been easier to care for his pet since he moved off-campus.
"I no longer have to sneak him in the shower or smuggle food into the dorm," the student said. "When I need to wash him, I can just put him in the sink in my apartment."
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