The Residence Hall Association's Issues and Facilities Committee proposed a revised resolution designed to curb the improper use of cameras and video recording devices by students on Thursday.
The proposed resolution states, "No person using a camera or video/picture recording device shall interfere with the personal or academic life of another person within the residence halls."
The committee changed the resolution after it was sent back following the RHA meeting two weeks ago.
The wording was more strict in the original proposal. In it, the committee proposed a system in which students would be required to obtain permission from a hall director or resident assistant before taking pictures or video in residence hall common areas. Common areas are defined by the Office of Housing and Residence Life as areas outside students' rooms, including lounges, hallways and stairwells.
The original resolution would have allowed students to use the devices for class projects and to take pictures in their rooms without permission as long as the students involved consented.
Changes in the new resolution stemmed from concerns raised by RHA members that students would no longer be able to take spur-of-the-moment photographs and the policy would be difficult to enforce.
Members at Thursday's meeting raised questions concerning the ambiguity of the wording in the new resolution, specifically the words "personal or academic life."
Adam Roberts, author of the resolution, defended it by saying, "If you're harassing someone, that would be considered interfering with their personal life."
Despite the vague wording, Brayton Hall representative Aimee Williams said she believes the resolution will pass.
"I can see what they want the resolution to do and to prevent," Williams said. "People have the right to say, 'I don't want my picture taken.'"
Williams, however, said she has not seen anyone misusing cameras in her hall.
"Since it hasn't affected me or anyone I know, that's why I don't feel it's such a big deal," Williams said.
If RHA passes the resolution, the organization would recommend it to the Office of Housing and Residence Life for inclusion in its handbook for the Fall Semester.
Roberts stressed the resolution, if passed, would simply be the basis for a new policy and Housing may want to more specifically define it.
"This is a recommendation," Roberts said. "It's not a policy. (Housing) would go through and look at this and decide what the policy would be."
RHA will vote on the revised resolution at its next meeting on the Thursday following Spring Break.
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