By Hannah Gray
Rumors fly - being expelled from school, no more campus housing or a $500 fine. Many students wonder what the consequences are for having sex, if any.
"I don't know what the consequences for being sexuality active are," sophomore Carrie Turrell said.
"The $500 fine is a pure urban myth," said Natalie Shank, the Residence Life assistant director and student conduct coordinator, who deals with higher-level disciplinary cases such as those involign sexual intimacy.
"It's not if x then y. We do it by a case-by-case file," she said.
The sexual intimacy policy does not apply only to residential students but to all students, according to Shank.
"It is broader and bigger than that - we uphold Catholic teaching," Shank said.
The Catholic Church teaches that premarital sex is an incomplete expression of love, as stated in the policy, which can be found at up.edu/safe.
"We are all sacred beings; we are not just bodies," the Rev. John Donato, C.S.C., said regarding the Church's teaching against premarital sex. "Sexual intimacy reflects the highest aspect of human nature, allowing us to participate in creating life," he said.
Engaging in sexual intimacy outside of marriage is a direct violation of the policy. Shank said a general description of sexual intimacy is genital contact, but added it could include other things.
The University of Notre Dame has a similar policy. The policy states that sexual intimacy is for two married people. Students found in violation are subject to disciplinary suspension or permanent dismissal, as stated in its guide to student life.
On the other hand, Gonzaga University's student handbook states: ". . . sexual activity should be mutual and consensual. Each individual is expected to obtain and give consent before sexual activity."
"The basics of Catholic teaching on this is sex is supposed to be within a marriage," said Mike Walsh, the Residence Life director. "It is supposed to be for reproduction."
The sexual intimacy policy used to be incorporated in UP's sexual misconduct policy. According to Shank, the new version, published in January of 2009, is more descriptive and clearer.
While some cases result in suspension, that is not the hoped-for result, nor is it automatic, according to Shank.
"Our job is to provide an outcome that is educational," Shank said.
Education could include a written reflection and a discussion about the actions the student engaged in, for any violation of policy. Sometimes it is both educational and punitive, according to Shank.
Suspension can result if the action is a one-time, huge, egregious event or if the action is reflective of a pattern of behavior, according to Shank.
"Sometimes people need to take time away from our community," Shank said. "It's a very real-world outcome, and we offer it in a way that offers education and grace."
A part of the policy states: "Therefore, the University reserves the right to take action when it believes standards of human dignity have been violated."
"My standards of human dignity are different from the University's standards of human dignity," junior Will Blowers said. "As an adult, I don't think they should be able to impose and regulate their beliefs on me."
Blowers lives off-campus and rents a house from a private landowner.
"What's going to happen? People walk by and say 'Oh people are having sex.," he said. "Let's stop them'," Blowers jokes about the difficulty the policy faces in regards to enforcement.
Most complaints are made from roommates or hearsay, according to Walsh.
"It's not as if we put cameras in the bedrooms," Walsh said.
Issues with sexual intimacy are not something that come up a lot, according to Katie Cahsman, the Fields Hall director.
"I don't view it as my job to be listening at doors - we don't do curfew checks or anything," Cashman said.
When students are caught engaging in sexual intimacy, the care and concern for the student is very important, according to Cashman.
The initial conversation is difficult to start with anyone, she said, adding that, to tell a student that peers are talking about him or her is completely awkward.
Cashman, now a third-year hall director, has dealt with the sexual intimacy issue three times. In her experience, students initially denied the claim and tried to shift the blame.
The conversation is not about giving a fine or punishment. It's about having an open and honest conversation about the situation, Cashman said.
Residence Assistants are trained to knock on the door, identify who they are, and confront the issue as it is presented, according to junior Laura Burchett, an R.A. for Kenna Hall.
One source of student confusion over the policy is the lack of stated repercussions.
"I agree with the policy," sophomore Julia Gomes said. "However, I think they should outline the repercussions for students who don't agree with the policy and/or who are not Catholic."
Gomes, like many students, mistakenly thought the policy said students who have sex in a dorm get kicked out.
Sophomore Robbie Croft also agrees with the moral implications of the policy, but says the policy should be more specific.
"I think that the policy doesn't state any penalties because we're trying to help people turn into mature adults who understand the values we are trying to teach here," Donato said.
Those values stem from the fact that UP is a Holy Cross University, rooted in the tradition and teachings of the Catholic Church. Under those teachings, sexual intimacy outside of marriage is unacceptable.
Cashman points out that students made a choice to come to UP, thereby becoming accountable to its rules.
But not all students accept those rules.
"I think you can be religious and have extramarital sex," Blowers said. "I think you can be spiritual as long as you have good morals that aren't conflicting with the rights of other individuals."
However, there are policies you do not agree with no matter where you are in life, Walsh said.
"I totally understand and respect other's beliefs, but it's a matter of choice," Walsh said regarding students' choice of schools. "We all kind of subsume our individuality for the benefits of the community."
