With a meager attendance that barely met quorum last night, the Student Government Association Senate supported a trial period for a 24-hour residence hall visitation policy.
"It's about time," said Senator at Large Drew Alvarez, who was joined by 17 other senators in support of the resolution that would allow students to check-in at any time at Blanding II residence hall starting next fall.
SGA Vice President Heather Hennel said UK officials would monitor whether disciplinary actions or acts of vandalism increase throughout that semester.
If either statistic remains level or drops, Hennel said the residence hall officials most likely would allow open visitation the following spring at Blanding II, as well as a few other halls.
"This proposal will potentially increase revenue for the University, the retention rate, and increase student satisfaction with on-campus living," the resolution says.
Only one senator, College of Architecture Senator Michael Uyhelji, voted against the resolution.
"If it's for studying, usually bedrooms are not very good studying environments in the first place," he said, "especially for the opposite sex. ... I'd rather be able to study in my room than hear people through the wall."
Uyhelji promised to raise his objections next month when the resolution reaches the University Senate, which can either support the bill or vote it down.
Either way, the plan can still go to the Board of Trustees for a vote.
But as the final vote indicates -- 18 yeas, one nay and one abstention -- there were only just enough senators present to allow a vote.
The SGA Constitution mandates that at least half, plus one of the entire Senate must be present for any official action. There are 38 senators, which means 20 senators have to attend a meeting to reach quorum.
But since the Senate managed to reach quorum, one student group got their wish.
The Senate voted to spend $1,100 of their remaining $18,000 budget to help the UK Arts Administration Program and the UK Theatre Department to help bring Pulitzer prize winning playwright Robert Schenkkan to campus next month.
Schenkkan wrote "The Kentucky Cycle," a play covering the history of the last 200 years in Eastern Kentucky.
During his three-day visit in late January, Schenkkan will meet with the cast of UK students who will perform the play in February, host a seminar and give a public presentation, the bill's proposal said.
"I applaud you when you bring people to campus to enlighten us all," Senator at Large Tim Niebel said.