This fall marks the anniversary of the Inter-Residence Hall Association’s controversial decision regarding Iowa State residence halls’ door policy.

One year later, the consensus of residence hall officials, resident assistants and ISU students is that the policy is working well.

“When we decided to try it, the initial policy was only supposed to be for one semester, in the fall of 1997,” said Randy Alexander, director of Residence. “Then after the semester was over, we reviewed it, and we felt it was working well, so we renewed it for the spring semester.”

Alexander said that so far there have not been any major problems with obscenity or possible abuses by the students because of the new policy.

“There have only been three or four situations where something offensive happened, but were not serious,” Alexander said. “I think that residents know that they never were able to put up something before, and now they have a chance to, so they are doing it carefully and responsibly.”

IRHA has come up with suggestions and guidelines to follow in case a situation ever did get out of hand, Alexander said.

“If a student puts up something that is offensive, the residents and staff are encouraged to talk to the person about it and ask them to take it down,” Alexander said. “If that doesn’t work, then a resident or staff member can request a special house meeting.”

Alexander said the meeting, where the house then votes on the material in question, is not mandatory.

“Then the house president notifies the person of the house’s decision, but the vote is not binding,” he said.

However, residents have usually respected others’ opinions, and there has never been a situation where a house has had to resort to a meeting, Alexander said.

“Students can always vote on whether something is offensive, but the vote is not binding, which means the student isn’t required to take the materials off their door,” Alexander said.

Alexander admitted that at first, people were skeptical about the new door policy. He said he met with various minority support groups to discuss the new policy.

“We added some necessary clauses, and the policy was reviewed,” he said. “After it was amended, nobody was opposed to it. And then we had the trial period, it was reviewed, and it worked great.”

The clauses include limits about what students may post on their doors.

“Students cannot put up materials that invades another person’s right to privacy, or they cannot put up anything that is considered racially offensive or violates U.S. pornography laws,” Alexander said.

So far, the policy will not be automatically reviewed every semester since it has been working so well, Alexander said.

Jacqui Hayes, junior in microbiology and Anthony House RA in Friley Hall, said she has not had any problems with the door policy since it was enacted.

“I’m very happy with the policy,” Hayes said. “People, for the most part, are cool about it. Sometimes, on other floors, I have seen things that were offensive, but people have usually moved things off when asked.”

Hayes said she does not see a problem with putting things on doors as long as people do so responsibly.

Chad Nichols, senior in meteorology and Stalker House resident in Fisher-Nickell Hall, said he thought the policy was working well, and that problems regarding offensive materials could be handled appropriately.

“I think things are great so far. I don’t think there is a problem with offensive material,” Nichols said. “If somebody found something offensive on my door, I would want them to approach me.

Chris Norquist, sophomore in civil engineering and Stalker House resident, expressed a similar sentiment.

“I think you will always run into irresponsible people, but hopefully, if people find something offensive, the problem can be taken care of,” he said. “Otherwise, I think it’s worked out great. It’s good to let people express themselves.”