ROUND 1
PRO:
Many students come to college and are shocked into a completely different lifestyle. It can be super jarring. Having a pet can be helpful. If Michigan Tech opened up limited housing options on campus for people to bring pets, there could be major benefits. For starters, having pets around can reduce anxiety and depression. They are great companions that would help students deal with the everyday stresses of attending a rigorous school. Dogs and cats can be soothing and comforting for students. The school recognizes this with the way they bring in dogs during finals week. Most people love having an animal to take care of. While there are potential issues with the logistics, having less stressed students is always beneficial. It would lead to a better environment on campus and perhaps even ease the burden that counseling services are currently trying to handle. Another benefit includes the potential for more income to the school. In order to have pets on campus, students should have to pay a premium rate. The extra income would help the school then cover the costs of more maintenance associated – cleaning, more durable furniture and groundskeeping. The school wouldn’t lose any money really. It would be hard to allow pets without having some limitations of course.
CON:
While everyone wants to bring their beloved pet to campus, actually letting that happen is out of the picture. A lot of people are allergic to cats or dogs. Having them on campus could cause issues for students with allergies – even if the animals are contained in specific areas. Even if the areas were more expensive to live in, it’s hard to get rid of the smell and damage to the rooms. Also, what would be the protocol for making sure animals were housetrained, up to date on vaccinations and shots or where they would be walked? Who would take liability if the pet harmed someone? Michigan Tech does not have the resources to take care of the animals. It would have to be entirely dependent on the students. Owning a pet can be more stress that students don’t need to add to their schedules. Students have to deal with irregular class schedules. This can be incredibly stressful for animals. If for example, a dog needed to go outside regularly, and the student wasn’t able to take the dog out, it would inevitably have an accident. Then the hall would start to smell and permeate into areas that are not pet-friendly. No one wants that. Even if your pet is cute, it shouldn’t be in a dorm room.
ROUND 2
PRO:
Houghton doesn’t really have a veterinary clinic that would be able to handle a huge influx of animals. We’re a small town. While we have great resources still, having students bring more pets up would congest the veterinary office and leave some pets without more urgent care for serious issues. For example, if a student brought up an older pet and it needed sudden attention, that pet may not be able to get in to see a doctor and get the help it needs to be healthy again. Another major concern, like I mentioned before, is the liability. If the animal ran away, who is at fault? What would happen if the pet broke something in the dorm room? Would the student have to pay to cover the cost of the damages? There is a lot that would need to be taken care of before the idea of allowing pets in the dorms could even be plausible. If a student really wants a pet to live with them, they can live off campus in a place that allows animals. It’s not up to the school to provide a homey lifestyle for students. They are here for an education and need to take care of that first before worrying about having a pet with them.
CON:
While there is a lot of logistical issues that would need to be worked out to make this possible, it is possible. Students would be spending more money for their cost of living, which would benefit the school and the local economy. Students may also live on campus longer and pay more money to the school. Also, having the students out walking dogs will provide them with exercise. A lot of students fall into unhealthy eating and exercise habits when at school. Having a dog to walk, for example, is a good way for students to stay active. Being active helps stimulate the brain also. Even that little burst of exercise from walking a pet can help a student clear their head and better focus on school work. Their academic performance would likely improve overall. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a piece of home with you. Having a pet has so many benefits that would help students and the school. It wouldn’t be an easy task and there would be a lot of bumps in the road during the first few years. Overall, allowing pets to live in limited areas in on campus housing could be a beneficial program for the local economy, the school and the students.
