<p>I am a CA mom of two girls and I am not at all surprised to hear of this. UC's have been notorious for years for these behaviors. I strongly urged my daughters to NOT attend a UC although they were accepted and the CA in-state tuition was appealing. Let's face it, most of the campuses have 20,000 plus students and only freshman are assured housing at the premier schools such as UCLA, UCB, UCSD, and UCD. I have a friend whose son was living in below poverty conditions and she had to physically go there to get him moved. He was sick and although they paid for a co-op meal plan he had not been given a meal in his first three weeks on campus (UCB). From all I've learned living here for 20 years I shall gladly pay the cost of private tuition. I realize there is drinking and drug misuse at most colleges, my belief is that there is more "policing" of it at smaller private schools.</p>
<p>I don't doubt that Berkeley, as well as every other state school that I know of, has a "sink or swim" character to it that differs from many private schools. You don't get a lot of hand holding for your $7000/yr. tuition payment - and lots of kids sink. In a sense it's an "education" on a whole different level from what happens in the classroom. I actually wouldn't be too surprised if the official response to this roommate issue was something along the lines of: "You're legally an adult now. Deal with it."</p>
<p>Back in my day parents like Oldhat sent their kids to Stanford, where they couldn't flunk out no matter how hard they tried. Those of us who went to Berkeley had to make it on our own. Not all did. I guess things haven't changed all that much.</p>
<p>I agree that housing in publics is pretty hard to come by.
But even in privates unless someone is actually at risk- they won't be moved- my LDS niece @ a east coast top LAC had to share rooms with girls that she wasn't a good fit with until senior year, when she got a single. ( there I think it was more noise and bringing boyfriends back to the room- nobody wants to feel like a voyeur especially a nice Mormon girl)</p>
<p>However Evergreen which was Ds 2nd choice had cool apts- suites with shared kitchens and private bedrooms which were more like apts than dorms. I have a feeling they probably have drug use there too though.
But I am glad that lovetocamp is cooling down- part of having our kid grow up is finding out that we can't control so much of their environment anymore. it can be hard- but I admit that D has had an easier time at her school. She attended a nice private school- but when she started at Reed it was " I have found my people!".
its pretty cool when that happens
Berkeley is also big enough that his people are around somewhere, it just might take a while to find them</p>
<p>I agree that Berkeley is a sink or swim school and that one must be proactive in dealing with problems at Cal, even if they are not to blame for the problems and even if they are only 18 years old. My son is a freshman there, living in the dorms (a quieter one), and has had very few problems getting along with roommates, suitemates, floormates, etc... but he is a very independent young adult. When he does have problems that he needs help with, he finds the appropriate person in charge and figures out how to remedy the situation.</p>
<p>Some students can get into Cal but shouldn't go there because of this reality. I'm sorry for the OP's young friend; it really sounds horrible for him. Hopefully, he will be proactive and not just wallow around in pity or resentment over some bad luck. His parents should get involved if he feels that he cannot make positive changes for himself (i.e. room/dorm change). </p>
<p>But, as other people have pointed out, there are alternatives to bad roommate situations (which do occur at every college that assigns roommates). To come on a public board and generalize about a school in three different postings (see the Berkeley forum for more two threads with the OP's same remarks) and to then label as "cruel" and "insenstive" those current Berkeley dorm residents who respond, well, the OP seems a bit hyperbolic at best and like a troll, at worst.</p>
<p>well, for the record, similar things have happened at the CA State U's - I have a young relative who had 2 roommates who did drugs. she complained 4-5x, including 2 written complaints... each time was told that unless they could catch them in the act, there was nothing they could do.... she left!</p>
<p>There was an interview clip produced by Stanford student on internet before last years big game (football between CAL and Stanford). It was appalling even you consider it biased. It was showing Cal's party scene, dorm (peeing from window), and a lot of others. Look it up.</p>
<p>As I mentioned to you in a previous post, colleges have policies. I have read them at my own kid's school, also a large university. I just looked them up for Berkeley and it is similar. There is a Residential Code of Conduct at Berkeley. Violations go through a judicial process. These students broke the rules/policies. I would think if this student is vigilant about it, he can report this problem to housing staff as well as other college counselors on staff. Once alerted, they can go out of their way to catch the individuals if it is a frequent activity in that dorm room. The RA can check in frequently, etc. to catch the violations. The consequences for these sorts of violations often include loss of housing privileges and other things. There are policies and staff on board to help students deal with these matters. I would suggest this student explore every avenue and to familiarize himself with the policies and procedures and his rights and use those in discussions with the proper personnel.</p>
<p>Peeing out the window is tacky. Splashing on some body paint and running naked through the Stanford quad under a full moon is at least entertaining, if not downright classy. ;)</p>
<p>By the way, anyone at Berkeley can file an incident report of a violation of housing code of conduct. Has this student filed reports? If you read the policies, the roomies broke several conduct RULES. </p>
<p>The procedures state: "Anyone involved in, witness to, or with information about an incident may choose to write an Incident Report to document the facts of the incident. Incident Report forms may be acquired from any Office of Student Development staff member."</p>
<p>Again, there is a judicial process for violations. This is just ONE thing this kid could pursue. The other was dealing with housing and resident directors about a room change or other solution. There is the rooming issue and there is also an issue of violations of student conduct which has judicial procedures in place. Another avenue is talking to advisors and counselors on staff as to how to handle this on this campus in the proper channels. </p>
<p>It is very hard to comment here without hearing exactly what this kid has done to mediate this problem and who he spoke with and what procedures he followed and what each staff person said or did about it. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>fyi. the UCs seem to be changing the limitation of only guaranteeing one year of on-campus housing...</p>
<p>From the UCLA website
[quote]
The completion of the two new residence halls brings the campus closer to achieving a significant goal in the UCLA Student Housing Master Planto extend the current housing guarantee to freshmen from two to four years.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>UCSD guarantees 2 years. If you are a National Merit Scholar, 4 years are guaranteed</p>
<p>UCD provides 2nd year, as possible, but not guaranteed.</p>
<p>UCB guarantees just 1st year.</p>
<p>I couldn't find out the info for UCSB</p>
<p>UCB now guarantees two years, FYI. It just changed this year, for the Class of 2009.</p>
<p>No, UCB now guarantees two years, I believe. As of this year. My S got a letter stating that if he asks for oncampus housing by mid-Feb. date, he will be assured of it.</p>
<p>perhaps you guys should note that this isnt just UC schools, pretty much every public university has the same problem and their is a long list of schools worse than the UC system</p>
<p>momof2inca, I suspected the same thing about the OP when I read the post. After replying, I felt that it just didn't feel quite authentic. Looking at their other posts, I'm pretty convinced now that this person must have some personal beef with Berkeley. It's just a little too much 'outrage' to be real.</p>
<p>this is awesome if its true, i hope i get into ucb!!</p>
<p>I don't think this mom is a troll- but perhaps someone that up to now, has been pretty comfortable with the situations her son has been in, and the thought of him being in a less than controlled situation is driving her mad.</p>
<p>I agree that to be a new poster and to come in ranting about a certain school and calling people names who are trying to be less judgmental is not the way to win friends and influence people, but I think she has calmed down a bit now, and is hopefully able to recognize that some issue are universal, and just because you pay what for you is a lot of money, does not mean they are going to vanish.</p>
<p>as avoidingwork pointed out, you get more than a one year guarentee at most of the UCs. As others have pointed out, Berkeley now has a two year guarantee.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Fall Freshmen</p>
<p>NEW! Freshmen admitted to the fall semester 2005 receive a 2 year housing guarantee!
[/quote]
<p>If you are a Chancellor's/Regents Scholar, four years are guaranteed.</p>
<p>
[quote]
UC's have been notorious for years for these behaviors.
[/quote]
And others schools have been, more so. I'm not sure about the meal problem you refer to, but it sounds rediculous. Something is wrong with that situation. </p>
<p>Also, the smaller, private schools tend to have less policing. When I visited my friends at Stanford, kids were doing Irish car bombs in the lounge. Other students were doing shots in their room, and I think their alcohol policy is "keep the door open, and you're fine, RAs shouldn't participate." Personally, I think their policy is more reasonable, but that's another story. This is just one example of a private school, of course, but other schools have been far more infamous for various drug problems for a long time. Perhaps the UC system is guilty of this, but it is unfair to single it out, as it doesn't seem particularly bad. </p>
<p>Also, somebody mentioned it's harder to get into courses required to graduate at UCB. Perhaps, but I guess it depends on what you're talking about. Where I got into all of the classes I wanted this semester, my friend at a small, prestigious LAC got into 3/5.</p>
<p>What on earth are Irish car bombs? Let's see, based on contextual analysis . . . maybe an Irish whiskey shot in a Guinness? Pleh!</p>
<p>Drugs and Drinking at Cal Berkeley. I'm shocked. SHOCKED! :). </p>
<p>As has been pointed out already-- These kinds of roommate situations can happen anywhere. Although it wasn't the norm at the first school I attended, there were a couple of pretty heavy duty party animals in the dorm at the first college I attended back in 1975-- and this at a private Lutheran school in MN! Fortunately, they were not my roommates, though. And I think I remember that one of them didn't come back second semester (flunked out). The other one figured out that she had to cut back somewhat on the drinking in order to stay in school! So, it could be that second semester will be a bit calmer . . .</p>
<p>My advice is, though, if it is truly that bad, get out of the dorms at Cal. It is difficult to find housing in Berkeley, but do it. It will make all the difference. Other than that? Change roommates. Make friends, find someone else who has the same problem and work something out.</p>
<p>this might be an aside, but i have a couple of ?s -- 1. Would living in El Cerrito be too far away to attend Berkeley (there's a BART stop) and 2. what is an Irish car bomb?</p>
<p>oops! just realized Moominmama asked the same ? let this serve as a bump!</p>