By Christina Broadbent
christina@newsroom.byu.edu
In an effort to curb roommate difficulties in Helaman Halls, Heritage Halls and Deseret Towers, the Resident Halls Association has placed a new emphasis on Community Standards nights this year.
According to Heritage Halls Director Paul Barton, the weekly meeting among roommates and floormates is designed to aid the students in expressing their feelings about problems they have with each other and hall rules.
Barton said the main objective is to train individuals to develop within themselves a way to get frustrations out. He said communication is the key.
Deseret Towers Director Clyde Hawkins said the weekly meetings, guided by a resident advisor, help to heighten awareness of rules and regulations of the hall. More importantly, the meetings stress the importance of general respect among neighbors.
The Resident Halls Association urged leaders to allow and encourage the residents to hold meetings on their own after the initial guidance.
Students learn more effectively when they are on their own in these cases, Hawkins said.
Although attendance hasn't been at a peak, Hawkins believes that when the residents see a need for the meetings, they will attend them.
Brent Gulthrop, a resident advisor in Heritage Halls, said the meetings are an excellent way to prevent problems by talking it out instead of running to authority figures at the drop of a hat.
'I've seen that the apartments that participate in community standards meetings have the best relationship and are able to make the most of their time together,' Gulthrop said. 'The apartments that don't do it tend to have the most problems.'
Students also feel that the meetings are the path to better communication.
'This is the way to openly communicate with others in the apartment and hall,' said Marie Urry, 18, a freshman from Centerville, Utah, majoring in chemical engineering.
According to Hawkins, the meetings are a part of the BYU education.
Like everything at BYU, community standards meetings are a teaching and learning experience, Hawkins said.
Hawkins said these meetings help students learn skills that will help in marriage, missions, and the rest of their lives.