From weekend Millerton trips to interscholastic sports games, many important aspects of community life have returned to campus this year. Students have also been anticipating  the return of interdorming privileges, an important feature of residential life. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, interdorming opportunities were suspended for all last year. This fall, the school is taking steps to open up interdorming again.

In an all-school email sent out on September 30, Mr. Stephen McKibben, dean of community life, announced that two groups of students, upperclass proctors living in lowerclass dorms and residents of Baechle-Ayres, would be allowed to begin interdorming in accordance with the rules stated in The Almanac. Since then, Stu-Fac discussed the possibilities of opening up interdorming to the rest of the student community. 

Mr. McKibben worked closely with the new Residential Life Committee to discuss and draft a new interdorming policy that would ensure equity in interdorming experiences for  all students. 

The committee, formed by All-School President Sydney Goldstein ’22, consists of one proctor from each dorm–Nick Astorian ’22, Chase Dobson ’23, Henry Emswiler ’22, Giulia Hurlock ’23, Luke Louchheim ’22, Jack McGlinn ’22, Charlotte Moody ’23, Eliza Muse ’23, Eliza Ross ’22, Luis Soto Moyers ’22,  Lize Takoudes ’22, and Sarah Wells ’22. This committee was formed with the goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable dorm life experience for all in mind. All proctors were given the opportunity to apply, and members were chosen by the All-School President. 

The new interdorming policy began on November 5, allowing students to check into other dorms during evening duty hours. The policy places an emphasis on respectful, safe conduct while visiting other dorms, and requires all non-residents to check in and out with dorm faculty as well as to keep the door propped open and the overhead lights on. 

Visiting times remain limited to evenings, with the following interdorming schedule put in place: Sunday through Friday 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. for upperclass students; Saturdays 8 p.m.-10:45 p.m. for lowerclass students. Mr. McKibben said, “We all, over the last 20 months, have craved communion and being able to be with people. So providing an opportunity for students to be with each other in their personal spaces is, I think, really healthy and necessary. However, we want to do so in a way that ensures that everyone is safe and respectful of each other.”

 One notable rule change, however, places a restriction on who can host whom. Preps and Lower Mids are free to host any student, but Upper Mids and Seniors may only host other Upper Mids or Seniors. While many students welcome the opportunity to interdorm, some do have reservations about the new policy. Megan Curi ’24, said, “I’m excited; however, I am slightly confused why upperclass students can only host other upperclass students. I was looking forward to seeing my Upper Mid friends, but [at least] they can still come to my room.” 

The Residential Life Committee explained their rationale behind the rule change. Charlotte Moody ’23 said, “This policy aims to make lowerclass students feel more comfortable socializing with upperclass students in a residential space.”

Although a daytime interdorming policy has not been established yet, Mr. McKibben and the Residential Life Committee are working on outlining one that will provide equity for all students.