Sabbath Observers
Introduction
Columbia Housing recognizes the religious diversity of the student body. Students who are sabbath observers should note in their Housing Application that they will need a mechanical key.
Mechanical keys must be returned to the 24-hour Hospitality Desk when a resident has officially checked out of their room.
This requirement also applies to room transfers and rooms swaps. Students should not turn it in to the new resident or include it as part of the room transfer process.
Failure to return a mechanical key will result in a $15 fee for the unreturned key and a $50 charge for a lock change.
Request Mechanical Key
Students should request a mechanical key when they complete their New Student Housing Application or during Room Selection Registration. For assistance during the year, students should email Columbia Housing.
Students are responsible for retrieving the key once they receive notification from Columbia Housing.
Guest Procedure
If a resident expects Sabbath guests, they must submit a guest list to the Public Safety guard at the building entrance. Each Sabbath or religious holiday requires a new guest list submission. The guest list must include each guest’s first name, last name, UNI (when the guest is a student), hometown, and zip code. Upon arrival, the guest should inform the Public Safety guard that they are attending a Sabbath/religious meal. The guest must know the first and last name and room/suite number of the host.
All guests of Sabbath observers must be met in the building lobby by the host and be signed in by the Public Safety Officer. The resident must be present to sign a guest into the building. If the guest is also a Sabbath Observer, they will not be required to leave an ID.