The 1960s was not only a time of free love, but also the beginning of freedom for Ohio University students.

Before the '60s, OU played a large role in students' daily lives. This idea is defined as the term in loco parentis - college serving as stand-in parents for students. Students had strict curfews and restricted visitation privileges.

But through the years, this type of supervision faded along with the tie-dye - until now.

A clear example of the university's increasingly watchful eye is pilot one-year parental notification policy. This policy notifies the parents of freshmen and tells them of their child's judiciary records.

Students, OU is watching you.

Playing "Mom and Dad" is not OU's responsibility and students do not need the university holding their hands as they jay-walk into our futures.

College is a transition period when students begin lives of their own. Guidance, counseling and other services need to be available, but not mandatory. Students must be able to make decisions independently, otherwise they will not mature.

A public university still is responsible for student's safety and people who commit crimes need to be punished. But this does not mean the university should go back curfews and visitation limitations.

The university offers a facility where students can learn and live. Students need to be equipped with the finest education and have someone to go to when problems arise.

People attend college because they choose to. And they need the chance to be independent and responsible. Universities should not assume students need strict rules - that implies they will fail.

The university has a job to do - giving its students the best education and keeping them safe.

Sending letters home and tattling oversteps the bounds of the university. OU is an educating institution, not a babysitter.