ResLife is amending its recently-revised pet policy for next year. The policy, which bans all pets in University housing except fish, will remain unchanged for incoming students, but will include a grandfather clause that will allow current pet owners to register for an exemption from the rule.
After further discussion with the Undergraduate Resident Life Committee (URLC) on Tuesday and a petition from students, ResLife recognized that students with pets might have trouble finding new homes for their pets.
The amendment includes stipulations that ResLife says will help minimize the risk of disease and allergies, including that the pet be contained within a cage. A student’s roommates or housemates must also agree to the pet’s presence in their residence.
Additionally, a student would not be permitted to bring a “replacement pet” to campus should something happen to their pet before the student’s graduation.
URLC Co-Chair Rafael Medrano ’06 stressed that the pet ban will stand as announced for incoming students.
“This change is just for those students who currently have pets,” he said.
Holly Wood ’08, who started a petition against the ban, said she is happy that she can keep her pet, but remains critical of the policy change.
“I knew if I just went to their office, they weren’t going to say, ‘You can keep your pet,’” she said. “I had to [circulate a petition] to make them pay attention to it. It’s kind of harrowing.
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