<p>My daughter is a freshman at PSU University Park. Both her brothers graduated from University Park with excellent grades and very good jobs and she is there for those reasons also. Both boys went out but were not heavy into partying. Daughter does not drink at all and I am proud of her for making that decision. She is there with no friends from high school and is having trouble finding non drinking friends. She goes to football games, women's volleyball games and joined an organization, goes downtown occasionally for a meal or coffee or to shop - alone. Because of the recent rise in sexual assaults she is afraid to be out at late night at the HUB and have to go back to her dorm with the drunks on the bus alone. She would love to meet other non drinkers but how does she do that if she is not in the special housing option for non drinkers. Surely there has to be other non drinkers out there at University Park. Is there some way to get together? Put out a tweet for a gathering at a coffee, find a meeting spot before games to go in with other non drinkers? Form an organization? Any other suggestions would greatly be appreciated. </p>
<p>She might want to get involved with THON. Even if some of the kids are drinkers, they are supposed to stop to get ready for THON weekend. My DD says a lot of the kids involved stop drinking too, as a way to support the dancers. They have a lot of meetings and events. Her college probably has a group she could join.</p>
<p>Thank you. She has joined an organization that is supporting THON. They havent gotten too involved though. I should say she is very introverted also. We were surprised to see she wanted to go to such a large school. It’s really hard on her to be alone but she insists she is staying for academic and career opportunities. I do give her a lot credit. </p>
<p>Perhaps “non-driker” should not be the primary search criterion. That may not be the best filter. Selecting friends with other similar interests, and than applying a secondary filter for those who do not drink in excess should be considered. To eliminate someone because they drink moderately may be too stringent. She could go out with these people and decide not to drink. many years ago when I was in school I hung out with kids who were moderate and non-drinkers. The non-drinkers just choose soda and still enjoyed the company of others. Towards the end of the night when the real numbskulls overdid it, or worse, we’d all leave. Even us moderate drinkers don’t want to be around that nonsense.</p>
<p>@PattyO131 good luck to your daughter and I’m sure she will find like minded students eventually. I think freshman year is probably the worst for drinking because of the first taste of freedom the kids are getting. A few bad test grades tends to lead to some moderation for the majority. </p>
<p>I foresee having similar issues with my DD that will be a freshman next year. My older DD, now a junior, is very outgoing, hasn’t met a club she didn’t want to join, and likes everyone. She wasn’t a drinker when she started college and found that she could go to parties and as long as she had a red cup in her hand nobody bugger her to drink. Although, she would say they weren’t “bugging” her, just being nice to offer her something to drink :). I think I’ll bring up the substance free dorms for my younger DD, it may be a good fit for her.</p>
<p>Thank you all. I was happy to see an article online in a PSU newspaper this week with some things to do if you don’t drink. Swing dance club was one and I have talked to her about that. She loves to dance. But those are until 10 or 10:30 at night. She has to get over her fears. Kvillemom I wish my daughter would have chosen substance free housing. Her current roommate is just as shy as my D and doesnt talk much and only hangs out with her own friends from high school. And they are in a back corner dorm room so no foot traffic past their door. Fortunately her roommate is respectful and they coexist well, no problems. We just found out today that her cousin is transferring to PSU next year so she is looking forward to that. We have talked about just making friends and filtering from there. It’s so hard having an introverted child at such a huge school. It seems to her that most people are sticking to their high school friends right now. Hopefully that will change. In the meantime I welcome any other suggestions. </p>
<p>She needs to learn to say she needs someone to walk with her, which is understandably a learned skill. In the meantime, campus police do have a service she can call for a walking escort, dawn to dusk, 365 days a year:</p>
<p><a href=“http://auth.abservices.psu.edu/transportation/alt-transportation/walking.cfm”>http://auth.abservices.psu.edu/transportation/alt-transportation/walking.cfm</a></p>
<p>I do forget about the escort service. Thank you for the reminder. </p>
<p>My daughter is also a freshman in the same position. She wants to find other girls like her who are not into going to frat parties and drinking every weekend. It’s been frustrating for her especially since her roommate is out partying 3-4 times a week. </p>
<p>Maybe you two could set up a play date. 
Patty, would your daughter consider a move at the end of the semester. (There are other SLOs that attract some of the more serious students with particular interests.)</p>
<p>Thank you. We are discussing that possibility. </p>
<p>My daughter has the same situation with her roommate. </p>
<p>Does she like playing sports? Intramurals is a lot of fun and is a good way to bond with others of similar disposition. Tons of clubs don’t involve drinking and there is a club for everything under the sun. I joined the unicycle club at one point and spent two years riding one to class :)</p>