The Barnard College Residential Assistants Union has released a letter in opposition to the recent ban on College dormitory door decorations.

On Tuesday, Barnard College Residential Assistants attempted to deliver a letter to Dean Grinage expressing their opposition to the recently implemented policy prohibiting fixtures and decoration on Barnard residence hall doors. According to the Barnard RA Union Instagram page, when the Union attempted to deliver the letter to Dean Gringage, they were notified that “she was not in her office” and declined to accept the letter. 

The statement from the Barnard RA Union comes in response to an email from Dean Grinage sent to Barnard students on February 23. The email stated that while decorations on residence hall doors can “serve as a means of helpful communication among students,” they may also, “have the unintended effect of isolating those who have different views and beliefs.” The email introduced a new policy that all decorations except for official resident name tags would be taken down by the College starting Thursday, February 29. 

Tuesday’s letter was posted on the Barnard RA Union’s Instagram page, urging the College to revoke the policy. In particular, the letter emphasized the importance of residence hall doors as sites of individual expression, engagement, and student connection. “Dorm decorations highlight individual residents’ personalities, invite connections, and solidify friendships,” the Union wrote. 

In their statement, the Barnard RA Union stressed that the policy is a violation of student’s ability to freely express their culturally and religiously significant items, as stated in the Barnard’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment. The email sent to students from Dean Grinage, established that, “those requesting an exemption for religious or other reasons should contact Residential Life and Housing.” The Union argues that the College’s lack of a formal recognition on which items qualify for religious exemptions will isolate and discriminate against marginalized religious and cultural groups. 

The Union highlighted how as RAs, it is their responsibility to create programming that builds the foundation for community at Barnard, with residence hall doors being an accessible method of fulfilling their responsibility to create a welcoming environment. By restricting this outreach method, the RA Union argues that  Barnard “will continue to diminish the already faltering trust students have in the current Barnard administration to successfully support them, regardless how they feel about the current geo-political violence.” 

The RA union concluded their statement by questioning Barnard’s message for students to be Boldly Barnard. “How are Barnard students meant to be “bold” in silence,” the letter said, insisting the College revoke this new policy. 

Email from Dean Gringage to Barnard students on February 23, 2024 at 4:08 pm:

Dear Residential Students,  

The residential experience is an integral part of the Barnard education. Our small campus is a home away from home for most of you, and we rely on each other to help foster an environment where everyone feels welcome and safe. This is especially important in our residential spaces. We encourage debate and discussion and the free exchange of ideas, while upholding our commitment to treating one another with respect, consideration and kindness. In that spirit, I’m writing to remind you of the guardrails that guide our residential community — our Residential Life and Housing Student Guide. 

While many decorations and fixtures on doors serve as a means of helpful communication amongst peers, we are also aware that some may have the unintended effect of isolating those who have different views and beliefs. So, we are asking everyone to remove any items affixed to your room and/or suite doors (e.g. dry-erase boards, decorations, messaging) by Wednesday, February 28 at noon; the College will remove any remaining items starting Thursday, February 29. The only permissible items on doors are official items placed by the College (e.g. resident name tags). (Those requesting an exemption for religious or other reasons should contact Residential Life and Housing by emailing housing@barnard.edu.) 

We know that you have been hearing often lately about our community rules and policies. And we know it may feel like a lot. The goal is to be as clear as possible about the guardrails, and, meeting the current moment, do what we can to support and foster the respect, empathy and kindness that must guide all of our behavior on campus.  

The Residential Life and Housing team is always here to support you, and you should feel free to reach out to them with any questions you may have.  

Please take care of yourselves and of each other. Together we can build an even stronger Barnard community.   

Sincerely, 

Leslie Grinage 

Vice President for Campus Life and Student Experience and Dean of the College

Image via Bwarchives