I Can Stand Men, But Not in My Hall

 

                      Image Credit: Africa in Fact

“I can stand men, but not in my hall.” These were the words of a muslimah to one of her roommates who accused her of being a misandrist because she said she didn't want men in the hall.

It is customary for the University of Ibadan to certify its students in both character and learning, at the end of their educational sojourn. To distinguish: certification in character includes qualities such as community service, civility, conscionable living, and the ability to engage in intellectual conversations with people without imposing on them or ridiculing their stances. On the other hand, learning entails a wide spectrum of academic pursuits. In other words, academics is not just education, it is character too. It would indeed then be strange if an individual possessed the knowledge of formulas, codes, procedures, principles and chemicals to ever exist but lacked the ability to hold civil conversations or engage with persons outside of their immediate network or mental frequency. Certainly, such an education is distorted, but this is only the precursor, not the cursor.

In the University of Ibadan like other federal universities, gender integration is an inherent part of campus life, integrated into various academic and extracurricular activities. Many a time, it appears to be the least highlighted; however, it wields its own importance. Gender integration is present in lecture rooms, places of worship and in school premises. However, the halls of residence can be termed the “drop out” in displaying the reality of gender integration because of stringent visitation policies in places like Queen Elizabeth ll Hall. Here, only ladies are allowed to visit within the hours of 4 and 8pm with the curfew pegged at 12pm. This policy is without regard to co-educational halls of residence such as ABH and no, medical students are not special. This then shows an inconsistency but, is it without reasons?

In the early hours of Saturday, September 6, a Google form titled “a survey on visiting policy in Queens Hall“ was sent across the hall’s groups by the Vice Hall Chairperson, to get the opinion of Queenites on letting men into the hall to visit residents. Although the form did not allow Queenites the opportunity to explain their choices, it garnered a lot of responses. Queenites took to the finalist and freshers’ page to explain why they want or do not want men into the hall. A lot of people who thought it was not a bad idea expressed reception only if the men would not go beyond the hall's quadrangle. Some other Queenites discussed in small groups within the hall, stating whether or not the visitation policy should be changed. However, for Muslimahs in the Hall, there is no two ways about it, as much as the hall is their home, they would not condone any form of intrusion. But the question is: should more men be allowed into the hall? Because we have a number of them already: porters, security men, laundromat attendants and domestic workers. After all, it is enough they have to cover up in fright of being seen, adding more individuals of the other gender might pose a “gentle” threat or perhaps, something more. This editorial will not dwell on such musings, it will only explain the reasons why the answer should either be a no or a yes.

One major concern with allowing men into the Hall is the potential compromise on security. The hall's past experience with a disturbing rise in robbery and theft in the 2023/2024 academic session is a clear pointer to the inherent risks associated with external threats. Notably, many of the perpetrators were men. This raises doubts about the safety of female residents if more males are admitted into the hall. The aftermath of these incidents led to the implementation of a more stringent visitation policy, which significantly limited residents' freedom to receive even female visitors. This measure was necessarily a step towards restoring a level of security and safety within the hall.

Now, introducing men comes with significant security concerns and creates a more vulnerable environment for residents. The fact that the previous incidents were largely perpetrated by outsiders shows the need for caution when considering policy adjustments that could increase the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future. This Editorial acknowledges that vices are not exclusive to any gender, it would also be dishonest to deny that female students also constitute a level of nuisance in male halls of residence but the physical dynamics between men and women makes a male threat in a female hostel more dangerous.

Power is central to abuse and it is easy to point fingers at it but when rights are the villain, who irons out the rumples? Adjusting the visitation policy is prone to abuse because residents will consider receiving male visitors a right with the system as a platform to explore such a right. This may result in situations where residents house male guests in the rooms and even overnight. What then, is to become of the other girls in the room? Even being fully covered in the largest iro and buba would do little to ease the discomfort that a male presence might bring.

It is easy to lay down rules but it is not so easy to follow them. In one of his theories of law, Jeremy Bentham posited that laws should be based on the principle of utility, ensuring they produce the greatest possible amount of pleasure and the least possible amount of pain but, how possible is it to weigh Raimat’s pain against Cassandra's pleasure? Matter of fact, Raimat's pain can be Cassandra's source of joy. Sometimes, human behavior is fueled by instincts and just like animals, laws have no breeding grounds. So, is law the problem? If the resident and not the visitor is the problem, that's one nip off of law. 

The Hall is a home to its residents; a place where they live to and from. It is expected that in one's home, every form of self-preserving principles and moral codes are relaxed. Speak of Muslimahs who leave their heads bare in the hall, except at the sight of the other gender, and some others who wear comfortable but revealing dresses "at home". Basically, clothings that they would not wear outside their home: the hall. Once men begin to enter into the hall, these homely dressings will automatically be phased out with full-length jeans and sweaters beclouding Monday evenings. Without a doubt, even the Christian sisters would recoil at the thought of their bodies being exposed to those undeserving of the sight.

Despite the concerns raised, allowing males into the hall would encourage more integration, one that goes beyond the usual interactions in classes and places of worship. If the visitation policy is adjusted to allow men, certain measures must be put in place to regulate the adjustment. The first step to implementing this adjustment would be to establish a stringent regulatory mechanism. Male visitors would only be allowed to see residents at the hall quadrangle. Proper documentation of visitors and appropriate registration of identity must be strictly adhered to by the visitor and the resident. Furthermore, security in the hall must be heightened. If feasible, the defense team should be stationed at strategic locations in the hall during visitation hours to question the presence of any man not found at the designated visiting area. With these measures in place, the transition into the new visitation policy would be smoother for residents, their fears would be allayed and muslimahs would know where to cover their heads.