Imagine sitting in your room; you’re studying or watching television to avoid studying.

Suddenly, your room is swarmed by armed police officers with dogs. They begin searching through your belongings. You feel violated.

This is not supposed to happen in America. Our founding fathers created the Bill of Rights to protect citizens from the government infringing upon our rights.

The little list of rights gives us the right to speak freely without fear of government crackdown, the right to a fair and speedy trial, the right to bear arms and much more.

After your room is stormed and searched and you are questioned, you have the right to feel violated; your Fourth Amendment right has been breached. You have been subject to what the founding fathers called “unreasonable search and seizure.”

A case in Louisiana is addressing exactly that issue. Random sweeps for “illegal drugs, weapons or other contraband” at Southern University’s residence halls hold requirements that students must sign a document allowing the searches before they move into the residence hall.

One student’s room was searched, police asked him questions and claimed they found 12 bags of marijuana and arrested him — without reading him the Miranda rights. The student won his case, but is suing the university for violating his Fourth Amendment rights.

The district court ruled that the university’s policy is unconstitutional, despite the good intentions to keep drugs out of the dormitories. The case is currently in appellate court.

Obviously, any policy which directly conflicts with the Bill of Rights, such as Southern University’s does, infringes upon a citizen’s rights.

The fact that students live in university-owned buildings does not give the university the right to violate students’ constitutional rights.

The U.S. Constitution rules above all other laws, including that of universities. The Constitution protects all citizens, including students. It’s time for universities around the country to realize this.