Telling me to get a life is helping me? Ok
The person in need isn’t always coherent to call. The right folks can come in with the right concerns (including for the building and for others’ well being, not just the room occupant’s.)
That’s how it is, in this sort of shared space.
Taken/stolen or taken/confiscated…the difference doesn’t matter. You really may not know which.
What gouf said was:
- which is very useful advice, even if it came with a “get a life”.
Seems you don’t really want to hear any answers to your question.
So with my advice in trying to help you by telling you why it could be a legal search, what to do in the future etc…
where to look for a bit of education to stay out of trouble…your take-away is I’M OFFENDING you?
Your problem is you were close to being caught red-handed and I don’t have any sympathy.
You are the one who posted on the PARENT forum. Don’t expect less.
I have trouble getting upset over a half can of beer. Yes, it could have been more, if some mystery person came in with the intent, say, of taking a laptop. But OP said half full can of beer.
One option is to do what he would have, if this had been a more valuable item or, if he’s as outraged as OP is: report it to housing.
See what that gets him. Yeah, huh.
“Some items were taken” - thinking a bowl and something else as well…as one beer isn’t “some”.
What kind of beer was it? Pliny the Elder vs Coors Light could make a difference.
If there are other dorms not participating in the fire drill, maybe the housing department or other dorm RAs/RMs did the search. When I did audit work, the real object of a particular review was not likely to know. You were watching your RA/RM, but not others who may have been waiting to check rooms.
@ Christian1999- “You are the one who posted on the PARENT forum. Don’t expect less”
But this is a safe forum. Go ahead and ask whatever you like. Just don’t expect every question or comment to be to your liking.
Don’t know your university but here is a random housing policy.
A staff member may enter an individual room, or suite, or apartment under the following guidelines:
· Belief that a policy violation may be occurring
· Belief that someone may be in danger
· Facility or maintenance needs
· Safety or health inspections
I see two possible violations in your scenario. A staff member can check to see if someone stayed behind during a fire drill which would be a violation and a staff member could enter your room if there was a belief of an alcohol or drug violation.
OP - People were trying to help you in their responses but you were purposely being misleading and only providing part of the story. Most parents will reply and give you some good honest feedback. There would have been no harm in saying - During a fire drill it appears someone entered my neighbors room and took a opened can of beer he was hiding. Is the school allowed to do that?
^^^ And we would have responded, “Yes, they can do that.” If the beer was gone and the neighbor wasn’t reported, consider it a warning.
Remember that during an actual real emergency, you will want the knowledge that rescue personnel are unlocking each and every room to ensure you are not being left behind unconscious to die. This is a good thing.
So, yes, they have every reason to unlock your door. And, if your underage self is stupid enough to leave behind an open container or illegal substances, then the people in charge have every right to “take” it. (Also, be forewarned, that if you are “of age” and your roommate isn’t, then you still aren’t allowed to have alcohol on your side of the room. Personal experience here.)
I have no idea what went down with your friend’s beer, but I can tell you what you need to know from here on out. Find a good place to stash any contraband, if you continue to use it. Hint: a drawer is a lousy place.
^Or a better idea. It sounds like the school is onto him. Clean up your act if you want to stay in school.
OP probably signed away his privacy rights in the school contract.
I was not trying to come off as my neighbor was upset over the half of beer, more as I was upset for him that his dorm got searched from what I am told by the police as they were the only ones left in the dorm building while we were being evacuated without consent. Along with my dorm being searched. He did not get robbed as you I may have made it seem, the beer was taken by whoever searched his dorm (Most likely the police)
@Christian1999 It’s extremely likely that you all signed away your privacy rights to live there. It is a rented space not your private property. The school is not going to screw around when they are legally on the hook for a group of minor. Now you know they DO search. Plan accordingly.
OP- this isn’t an episode of Law and Order, and no, you do not give your consent to being evacuated during a fire drill. You are living in a college dormitory, not your private home.
If they were onto the OP or the friend, I don’t think they would create a fire drill as an excuse to search the room. They would just knock on the door.
My guess is that someone has to enter each dorm room to ensure that no one is sleeping through a fire/drill.
Such is the price of having the protection of a dorm.
OP- you sound sorta paranoid–“fake fire alarms”? “unwarranted search and seizures”?-- time to take a break from it.