<p>I live in a suite with 3 other freshmen. The two girls in the other room have alcohol, and there is some in the shared kitchen. If the RA found out of if they got in trouble about it, would I be 'guilty by association'? I don't really care that they have the alcohol in our room, but I just don't want to get in trouble.</p>
<p>In my opinion, it’s going to vary college by college and RA by RA and maybe even dorm by dorm how alcohol punishment is implemented.</p>
<p>Depends on your dorm/school rules and city/county/state laws. mo3b is right- it really, really depends.</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience with this happening to them or to their kids?</p>
<p>I dont want to rock the boat with my otherwise fine roommates, but I dont want to get in trouble either. Any suggestions on how to respond?</p>
<p>I would review your orientation packet - at DD’s school, I believe that I read that everyone in the room gets written up. Chances are low unless they are also misbehaving, although if it is that blatant the chances go way up. The first thing I would suggest is that they put it out of sight if they haven’t already. The second thing is to check your rules. If your school isn’t completely clear, I would consider an anonymous call to the housing office to find out the policy. I can understand your reluctance to involve the RA, and probably wouldn’t unless their behavior was unpredictable enough that you felt the risk was high.</p>
<p>“Residents are required to abide by all State and University regulations regarding the use of alcohol. These rules specify that persons under 21 years of age are prohibited from possessing or consuming any alcoholic beverage. In residence halls, persons under the age of 21 are in violation of policy if found to be in the presence of alcohol.”</p>
<p>So I guess that means I would get in trouble too.
They aren’t that unpredictable in the dorm, its just that they are planning to have a decent amount of alcohol. I’m usually never there when they’re drinking, but these are not the type of girls to be like “Ok, we won’t drink when you’re here.” I feel like these rules are a little stupid.</p>
<p>OP…think of it this way. If the alcohol is found, would the roommates say it was theirs? Probably not. How would the residence life staff figure out who had brought the booze into the dorm suite? Personally I believe it is a risk to all in the suite/room for any illegal substance to be on the premises.</p>
<p>“In the presence of alcohol” got * a citation in PA once upon a time. Cracked seal on bottle of rum, no alcohol had been consumed, (police never questioned that), citation was for disorderly conduct, which was a lesser charge than “underage in the presence of alcohol”. Every kid in the group was cited, even though the owner of the bottle said it was his alone. Underage drinking citation in PA carries fairly harsh penalties. Lowest level of disorderly conduct is considered on par with a traffic ticket. The group did a first offenders diversion program involving community service and alchohol ed. </p>
<p>*person who will remain unnamed here</p>
<p>Could you ask them to keep it in their room and not in the common area? If the dicussion was handled carefully, they might be OK with that. Just say you are paranoid and you feel silly about it because they are great suitemates, but it would put your mind at ease…</p>
<p>“If the RA found out about it, would I be guilty by association?”</p>
<p>No, not if the other two girls pointed at you and said “The booze belongs to her!”</p>
<p>OP, nearly all colleges I know of have that sort of wording- whether it’s real or to seemingly comply with outside laws, I don’t know. They have that wording where my kids are- and do not pursue alcohol or underage drinking in the dorms. Not at all. Out of the dorms is another matter. Getting so drink you end up in the hospital triggers personal consequences (a warning.)<br>
It’s important to determine the specific policies *and * their implementation at your school.</p>
<p>My advice is to ask people you trust confidentially what they are hearing…you’ve been there awhile, by now certainly some kids have encountered situations that can give you some straight answer how the college is handling these things.</p>
<p>and hummm yeah…the roommates would be smart not to consume in common areas or try to “hide” it in common areas…that seems like common sense but maybe freshman don’t have common sense?</p>
<p>My oldest son’s college didn’t care what was going on as long as they didn’t leave open containers lying around in the room, they were loud and rowdy or they had open containers in public areas. My second son got dinged when he trotted over to a “strict RA/strict dorm” and was lounging in a friend’s room watching quietly a movie and drinking a beer and the RA walked in. Find out what the scoop is where YOU are. Meanwhile I’d ask the roommates not to stockpile a booze arsenal.</p>
<p>I am so glad I grew up and went to college in a different era. Seems these days that everything that previously was seen as an infraction that needed correction, is now hanging offense. The so called adults are the ones at fault. </p>
<p>I feel very sorry for the present young generation, for many reasons. Maybe we need a 60’s like youth rebellion to address the situation. But I’m not sure they capable of even understanding what is being done to them. </p>
<p>The younger generation needs to get their heads out of their iPhones.</p>
<p>Sounds like you can’t be in the presence of alcohol. I would consider politely asking the owners of the alcohol to remove it from your presence - for starters.</p>
<p>The downside to this is they can just say, “NO”. And then what to do?</p>
<p>If that happens, I think it puts you in a terrible spot. You can request a change of rooms/dorms - but the “why?” question will be a problem. </p>
<p>Think ahead a few steps.</p>
<p>Something simliar happened to my oldest daughter think it largely depends on the school and how lenient they are with their alcohol policy. In her case her roommate was a heavy partyer and didnt’ try to deny that it was hers, therefore my daughter was off the hook. This is an ivy and even with the girl in question she was given a warning. Ironically she eventually got suspended for a semester for something else.</p>
<p>interesting observation, toblin, but let’s remember many of those rebellious 60’s youths are the ones in charge now!</p>
<p>Well there is still a decent amount in the dorm, but I asked and its all in their closet, which is separate from my closet. They’re not heavy partiers but did have one party, and want to have the alcohol around. The RA isn’t going to go look for it in their closet, and I can avoid the occasional party they have. </p>
<p>I don’t really want to switch rooms - it isn’t that frequent. i just don’t want to get in trouble. I’m glad I heard about other people’s experiences, because I didnt realize it was as big a deal as it is.</p>
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<p>My point exactly!</p>
<p>“i just don’t want to get in trouble.”</p>
<p>Everyone gets into trouble at times. But letting other people get you into trouble … well there’s no honor in that.</p>
<p>Ok, please. I don’t want to get in trouble for something I did not do, like any other reasonable adult.</p>