ANDREW SHORTHALL | staff writer

APU policy stands against cohabitation; is it time for a revision?

APU should look into a revision on its policy on co-ed habitation. I do not find anything immoral about it. The school may worry how it would be perceived by parents if co-ed habitation was allowed off-campus.

However, APU has a no tolerance policy on cohabitation. Azusa Pacific University’s student handbook addresses the subject of co-ed housing.

9.0 Cohabitation states “Students are not allowed to live with or engage in overnight stays with members of the opposite sex in the same living arrangements (i.e. same house, apartments, etc.). This may not apply to students living in their parents’ home.”

Director of Residence Life Charlie Moore expanded on this rule relating to cohabitation.

“APU has always been concerned with providing structures, standards, expectations, etc. that encourages what they feel are healthy and appropriate relationships
between men and women,” Moore said.

He concluded that having both sexes live close by encourages maturity in their interactions, but to have them live under the same roof just causes “unnecessary challenges”. Lanny Cram from Housing Services also referenced sexual purity as the reason behind this policy.

“My guess is that some other schools, who do allow cohabitation, don’t see the same need to challenge students while providing them with a signifi cant degree of guidance, restraint, and support,” Moore said.

One must wonder why two people, of the opposite sex, living under the same roof is permissible if a parent is present. Maybe the parent is the one of the opposite sex? Or your brother?

After turning 18, one is in charge of their own lives, regardless of parent’s views of their “irresponsible choices”.

APU disapproves of cohabitation even if it is not under university housing. This makes it seem as if any immoral act is not permissible off campus. The university’s stance on alcohol and tobacco consumption seems to contradict this. The student handbook 12.1 Use of Alcohol and Narcotics: “Students who possess, distribute, and/or use alcohol, narcotics, or other intoxicants may be subject to the disciplinary process. Students present on campus while under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol are subject to disciplinary process even if their consumption was off campus.”

This rule makes it seem that as if there will be limited disciplinary action.

Policy 13.0 forbids the use of tobacco on campus as well, but there is no mention of repercussions taken if done off campus.

If alcohol consumption and smoking are permissible off campus, why is it that cohabitation is unacceptable off campus? There seems to be an inconsistency in the
guidelines and discipline.

This seems to oppose other guidelines. For example, the rules on alcohol and tobacco consumption merely say that an individual cannot drink or smoke on campus, but directly off campus no disciplinary action will be taken.

Jean Lawson St. Hill is a graduate of APU who spent a summer living with a member of the opposite sex. She said she did it out of convenience, but she does not find it unethical.

“People have the right to make their own choices after turning 18,” Hill said.

Hill believes the school opposes cohabitation because of their stance against premarital sex. While that may be, she also said, “the school seems more concerned about how they are perceived by the student’s parents.”

“Two people can live together and not have sex,” Hill said.

Many assume that if two people of the opposite sex live together they will be having sex, but this i not always the case.

I do not think cohabitation is a big deal; is there anything immoral about living with someone of the opposite sex?

The only reason why it is perceived as a negative thing is because of the temptation that comes along with that situation.

Naturally, there is temptation involved, but it is what you do with that situation that determines whether or not an immoral act has occurred.

We are legal adults, students are qualified to make their own decisions and I think we should be able to choose who we live with.