A new key card policy in residence has been instated and repealed in less than a week after student outcry.
An email sent Sept. 16 to all students living in residence informed them of a new fee for misplacing keys. Students would be required to pay a $10 fee for borrowing a temporary key to get back into their rooms if they forget or misplace their key/swipe card.
While the policy has been removed for the fall semester, it is under review for winter, according to Laura Storey, the new director of Housing and Residence Life.
“Everyone was refunded and the policy has been removed,” she said.
In the future, Storey said she would like to see students involved in the policy and a meeting about the fees take place with the Rideau River Residence Association.
“In the future, we will consult with students and have them understand the staffing and where the money is going. The money will be used for school events,” Storey said.
In previous years, students living in residence could borrow a temporary key free of charge to get back in their room or pay $50 to get a brand new key in the event they lost their own.
The new policy added the $10 fee, however if the temporary card was not returned within 24 hours, the student was charged $50.
According to the email, at the beginning of each semester, there is a “grace” period during which no fees for losing the key are incurred by the student. For the fall semester, the grace period ended Sept. 14 and the winter semester’s grace period ends Jan. 11.
Katy Howlett, a first-year student criminology student, said she locked herself out by accident and she paid the new fee by using her campus card.
“I was saving the money for laundry and stuff. I don’t think they should make us pay,” she said.
Dominique Vernon, a second-year biochemistry student, said she found the email frustrating.
“All school ever wants from students is money,” she said.
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