Hey dorm residents! You shower in a high-traffic area, protected from view by only a flimsy piece of plastic, so you may feel like you have no right to privacy.

Even in the dorms, your rights remain intact, which is something to keep in mind, especially with semester break coming up.

RAs and facilities staff will be entering rooms over break for safety checks and room maintenance.ÿ If you’re stupid enough to leave items you’re not supposed to have in plain view, your RA will report you.

Your RA, or anyone else, for that matter, does not have the right to search the contents of closets, desk or dresser drawers, trunks, luggage, etc.

Before you dismiss the possibility, be advised that such abuses have been reported in the past.

See the September 1997 issue of Ethos for the story of an ISU student who rigged several “traps” around his room before leaving for break and, upon returning, found that someone had opened his drawers and looked in his closet.

If you suspect that your rights have been violated by an inappropriate search, you should report it to your hall director, coordinator of residence life or the associate director of residence.

Sorry, we can’t do anything about the showers.

Katie Bennett

Senior

English