The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 44, No. 3 - 87

Walls, Halls and Doors

in addition, in most residential communities, there are bulletin boards that are designated for the exclusive use of the ra, residence
hall staff, and/or hall council. these bulletin
boards are considered a limited public forum
as they are not traditionally open for public
expression but restricted by design to a specific and limited group of individuals. housing
staff can take down at any time items placed
on this type of bulletin board by unauthorized
users, or about content not connected to the
board's purpose.

Diverse viewpoints are critical

Student Room Doors

other . Knowing how to support

traditionally, universities have allowed doors
within the residential hall or floors to be
spaces where residents can represent their
individuality. these spaces are not, however,
automatic or guaranteed public forum spaces.
extending the legal logic above, doors are not
traditionally viewed as spaces for expression
by anyone other than the occupants of the
room to whom the door is assigned. therefore, the way residents today typically use
their doors would make them a limited public
forum. expression via the door is limited to a
certain group (residents of the room) to use
the space. this means that the resident of the
room has complete control over what is displayed on the door and what may be removed
from the door.

this type of environment and what

While viewing the resident's door as a
limited public forum may be the default,
an institution could change the forum type
of the door through affirmative steps. for
example, an institution could give notice via
the housing contract that nothing is permitted to be affixed or displayed on the residents'
doors. in doing so, with the new school year

to the residential experience and
we want individuals to be able
to express themselves, engage,
and challenge each other . The
consequence of that type of
environment is that people will
have views that collide with each

type of policies to have in place
to guide staff are critical to the
work of a housing professional .

and new set of residents, the institution
would be changing the forum type to nonforum property.
this action would be at odds with the
common perception that the doors are the
property of the residents for the duration of
their housing contract. Despite this common
perception, they remain the property of the
institution. that said, institutions should give
thought before creating a policy that limits
freedom of expression on a resident's door.
first, does that policy enhance the learning environment for students? Would this policy be
appropriate for a residential community that
values education and inclusion? second, the
institution would need to be consistent in enforcing this policy in order to show it is being

V o l u m e 4 4 , No. 3 * 2 0 1 8

87
The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 44, No. 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 44, No. 3
