Smith CollegeCampus Strictness Summary

Written by Dara Kagan

Dara Kagan

Hometown

Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Major

Government, with a minor in the Study of Women and Gender

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Smith’s policies, including rules regarding alcohol and drugs, are in place for the student body’s safety. There is also a respected academic honor code that is signed by each entering student. This code prevents cheating on papers and exams, and allows students to have self-scheduled final exams, which is a great example of how much the Smith administration trusts the students. Anyone who breaks this code is sent to honor board, where a jury of peers rules on the case and decides on the consequences. While this is seen as overbearing by some, it gives the rest of the student body confidence that their work is their own and shows that they are in a respectful academic environment.

In each house, two members of Residence Life—the Head Resident (HR) and the House Community Advisor (HCA)—deal with substance abuse behavior and noise complaints before involving Public Safety. Students usually look out for one another against the “common enemy” of the administration. However, recent alcohol-related student injuries have led to a new amnesty policy—if a student is concerned that her friend has had too much to drink, she can call for medical help without facing legal or academic consequences. When students are caught drinking underage, they are generally referred to the student-run judicial board. If caught with drugs, however, students may face police involvement and can be evicted from campus housing, depending on the severity of the situation. While Smith takes the violation of most policies very seriously, it has one of the most open and lenient guest policies on any college campus. Guests of students can stay as long as they like, as long as the student has checked with members of her house. Overall, Smith's policies help keep the student body safe and respectful of themselves and one another.