A new policy proposed by the University of Kansas would let housing supervisors enter and search students’ rooms without a warrant or warning.  Currently, if a housing supervisor, typically a graduate student, suspects drug or alcohol use, he or she can knock and ask to search the room.  If the supervisor is not admitted, he or she needs to get a warrant before unlocking and entering a room. Under the new rules a housing supervisor could knock and if not admitted, can get a key and open the door without a warrant.

Administrators feel the policy is an important way to tighten rules on drug and alcohol use.  They’re putting a high priority on curbing substance abuse after two alcohol-related deaths at the university last year. Students, led by student government leaders, are concerned with the decreased level of privacy. Student Body President Mason Heilman stated, “Students need a voice in this … What if someone is in the shower and they don’t hear you? That is a huge violation of privacy.”
 
The University has already tightened down on drug and alcohol use, notifying parents after a student has one drug violation, two alcohol violations or the student displays behavior destructive to their own or another person's health. Punishment will depend on the severity of the violation and could include drug and alcohol education referral, parental notification or expulsion from housing. Administrators originally wanted the new policy to be in place by August, but the changes will be contingent on the Student Senate’s vote in the fall.

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