Background checks may be required of new students from MWSU Campus Watch on Vimeo.

Midwestern State University houses approximately 1,300 of its students. But, with the recent passing of a state law, students may now be required to have background checks before living on school grounds. However, campus officials say they have not determined if, or how, the new law would be implemented.

“We would definitely have to set up some policies and some parameters before we stated this, on what offenses may lead to someone not being allowed to live in university housing, and be pretty clear because we would want to make sure that we’re not denying anyone university housing that doesn’t need to be denied university housing,” said Michael Mills, director of housing and dining services.

Along with giving everyone enough notice, housing also wanted to ensure one more thing.

“We haven’t even figured out exactly how we would check everyone because some of the sites that we have access to, like the Department of Public Safety, would only search students who would be from the state of Texas who are 18 year or older, would not cover anyone from the state of Texas, it would not cover anyone that’s seventeen years or younger,” Mills said.

This bill not only requires checks from incoming students, returning students. Officials would also be obligated to check resident assistants and hall directors as well.