At I-house we believe that we can and should

"live, learn, collaborate and grow together in a values-based culture of empathy, respect, and moral courage".

Yet, our administration does not seem to care that much about the very same values they require us residents to follow.

Yesterday, without any heads-up, the GUEST POLICIES were changed drastically and most residents are heavily impacted by these changes. A summary:

Before

• 7 free nights limit
• Up to 7 nights additionally WITHOUT approval, paying an extra fee (i.e. possibly 14 nights total)
• fee for any night exceeding the free night maximum: $20
• Additional nights (if exceeding 14) are given for "emergency situations", provided Public safety authorices it.

• 6 free nights limit.
• no additional nights without prior approval
• fee for any night exceeding the free night maximum: $30
• Additional nights (exceeding 6) are only given for "emergency situations", provided Public safety authorices it.

This means, that we get only 6 nights guaranteed when before we got 14. Also, assuming that approval is granted and we get 8 extra nights to reach the 14 we had before, it would require the resident to pay an additional $100 a month ($10 extra per night (7) plus the 8th night at full price ($30).

These changes all at once are unacceptable.

On top of all this, we criticize:

• The fact that there was no time given to "adapt" to this situation - the change was communicated and implemented the very same day
• The Claremont Desk employee's did not even know about the changes - they were clueless when the wave of residents came downstairs and complaint.
• The email was a simple copy and paste of the new policy. No "Dear residents", no explanation. This is the opposite of being respectful.
• The change comes during a time when
  1. We do not have a resident council to represent us (because the old is out, the new one is not yet elected).
  2. Shortly after everyone moved in and signed their membership agreements.
  3. we thus do not get to move out without losing money.
  4. We all have made plans for visiters (oftentimes from abroad) for the entire semester.

The fact that there even is a limit is already ridicoulous since we are all adults and pay a rent that is not by any mean lower than at other places in the neighborhood (with much looser guest policies). However, since we knew of the (old) policy before moving it, we can't argue with that - we knew what we were getting ourselves into. But the new policy changes everything!

Many of us need the full 14 nights (or at least way more than 6) and based their decision about moving in on the pre-move-in outlined guest policy.

The administration's move is therefore completely unacceptable and we hereby require them to revoke this new guest policy - at least until the next semester when residents, again, get to decide whether or not to stay at I-house.

>>> Please sign the petition (if you are not directly impacted yourself, please sign out of solidarity with fellow residents and the community). Also, please feel free to add to it in the comments section. Thanks.