<p>Thunderstruck2=Gdad. Seriously both use the term “typical St oalf” </p>
<p>■■■■■</p>
<p>gdad - I was visiting a college classmate who is teaching at St. Olaf. It SEEMED like a great place – intelligent-appearing, well-mannered and motivated students, modern-appearing buildings, seemingly upbeat mood – and much less nerdy than that place across town – but when I went to park at Bunt-rock, they put not one but four boots on my car. I could not believe it. Then when I clarified that I was an important visitor here to sample their cheez sticks, they seemed slightly apologetic. I demanded a complimentary annual planner to partly compensate me for my troubles. Can you believe it? They turned me down? What kind of college doesn’t give out complimentary annual planners. I hope USNWR catches wind of this substandard annual planner gifting fiasco. </p>
<p>“Students go to bed too early and have no idea how to party.”</p>
<p>Siseng, that’s horrible. I hope they offered you a complimentary annual planner.</p>
<p>I think Siseneg is writing tongue in cheek because that post reads a little like “lazy, entitled kid writes from college” in The Onion, or the college version of “hullo father, hello mother” by Allan Sherman,“I went to college to party and I don’t understand what I am supposed to do in all these discussion-based classes.” :D</p>
<p>Re: just in case this isn’t totally tongue-in-cheek or Siseneg isn’t a ■■■■■ (3 posts… so… there’s a doubt) “she found out I slept with a local woman in the country we were staying in”… That has probably nothing to do with the professor’s morals and a lot to do with insensitivity on the student’s part -ie, where that was, how old the woman was, what her family ties were, whether you were dating etc. I can think of a host of complications for her is the “local woman” lived in South America, the Middle East, half of the Asian countries and most of Africa.</p>
<p>I actually came accross it because Siseneg had replied in another thread in a way that wasn’t so clearly tongue-in-cheek.</p>
<p>Just a note regarding the 16 vs. 4 credits, not sure once again whether this is in jest, but St Olaf (like many LACs) counts credits by course, ie a full load = 4 credits. (ie, 4 credits at St Olaf = 16 credits at a state university). It’s a strange mistake to make.</p>
<p>Thunderstruck2 = gdad = sisneg. My guess is all the same person… And, uh, “demands a complimentary planner”? Why would you do that/think that is something you could get? That is just a completely weird post… I think trolls abound on this thread. Not sure why this one person has such a problem with St. Olaf. By the way… I have parked there about half a dozen times, and never gotten booted or seen a booted car. Of course, I make sure to park legally…</p>
<p>Sadly, I must agree with Thunderstruck2, gdad, and sisneg (even if they are from the same poster, and FYI: I am not connected to him or her). While my son has had an amazing academic experience at St. Olaf with incredible professors, the campus life has been – to say the least – extremely disappointing and very bizarre. </p>
<p>In the first month of dorm life freshmen year, the JCs planned a boys-only event for all of the guys on the floor to attend an opera in the Twin Cities as a “get acquainted” activity. Yes, St. Olaf has a strong music program, but might an opera event (and why for only boys?) be better planned by the voice program? How many colleges have male-only opera outings as freshmen floor activities?</p>
<p>Then, an ambulance was called to his dorm for students suffering from alcohol poisoning four times (that we know of) the first semester alone. According to our son, the JCs were so militant-like in trying to “catch” students drinking that kids kept their dorm room doors closed at all times and evidently did lots of binge drinking (which presumably led to the ambulance calls). St. Olaf has a bizarre drinking policy: If a student calls for help for a friend, that student is also punished. And if a group of students are hanging out and some are NOT drinking, the non-drinkers receive the same punishment as the students who are drinking. My son also told us about attending a party in which a student who had been drinking got up to leave and an overzealous staff member from Student Life actually chased the student and tackled her to the ground.</p>
<p>My husband and I contacted the Director of Student Life (who said to do so ANY TIME at the new parent orientation) to share our concerns: (1) could more mainstream events be planned for a freshmen floor that might have more appeal than boys-only opera outings? (2) might there be a connection between the closed dorm room doors and the ambulance visits? and (3) if the JCs roles were changed to mentors, rather than disciplinarians, might that promote a healthier culture? We sent our concerns in writing so the Director of Student Life could have time to respond. We received no response. When we contacted him again six weeks later, he said he needed “time to check with staff.” About 30 minutes later, he replied by email that, from his point of view, all was well. </p>
<p>As the year went on, the overly strict culture and lack of mainstream activities persisted. The St. Olaf that we saw on campus tours and information sessions was drastically different than the experience our son has had. Students who don’t participate in the nationally renowned music program can have a tough time fitting in here (even though we were told otherwise by admissions). The “catch a drinker at any cost” policy creates an unhealthy “us versus them” culture. Admissions does a stellar job marketing this school. Buyer beware!</p>
<p>I want to clarify that I am not the same poster as gdad, sisneg, or any other poster. I am a mother of a senior at St. Olaf and have put another child through a different college. The environment and culture described by HighEd 123 is the same that my son has encountered there. It seems to have become more “us vs. them” as High Ed 123 mentioned over the past four years. My son has many good friends and has had many great educational experiences. He is 22 years old and the school environment is not geared to treat the students as young adults. They shout down and have called the police on campus to arrest students with opinions that are different than than those of the administration. It is identical to what is occurring here in this discussion. There are always different experiences at colleges, I am just sharing what we have encountered. Agreed, from a parent who paid for the experience for four years hoping it would get better…beware.</p>
<p>Now that I’ve had a chance to read thunderstruck2’s initial post, I have a few more comments. My sense is that her concerns (and mine) go way beyond how parking is enforced or whether or not St. Olaf provides complimentary planners (I didn’t even know they once did so :)). And I think we both agree that St. Olaf has many strengths and that not all colleges fit all students. But something is very wrong with this school’s administration and its campus life. </p>
<p>We also had another child attend another college, and the difference between how parent concerns were addressed, how students were treated on their freshmen floors by RA’s (PC’s at Olaf), and the campus culture was night and day. I am still perplexed that the VP of Student Life at St. Olaf actually handed out wallet cards at the new parent orientation with printed “values” for how to act (Respect, Integrity, Celebration, Honesty), invited parents to contact him at anytime, and when we did so several months later, ignored our request for six weeks and then completely shut us down. Given he didn’t share our concerns, we had to agree to disagree, but it felt like the feedback we thought would be helpful to share was never even heard. I think students must feel this way, too.</p>
<p>Of course, colleges must find ways to deal with helicopter parents, and schools can’t change because one parent raises a concern. But I think St. Olaf would benefit by listening to and partnering with its students and their parents, rather than following such a dictatorial approach. So, in addition to cutting back on those complimentary planners, maybe it’s time to cut the wallet cards, too, and make a concerted effort to put these wonderful values into ACTION. Didn’t someone once say that actions speak louder than words?</p>
<p>HighEd 123 described it much better than I did, but yes there is something very wrong with the school’s administration and campus life. I posted originally to the parent forum as I am a first time poster, and I have never found a reason to post previously. Our family used this sight when our children were searching for colleges. Given that is is college selection time of the year, I wanted to relay that if we had the choice again, we would not choose Olaf for our son because of the environment you described. I wish we had read a posting like yours when we were choosing. </p>
<p>I stumbled into this thread as a lark. I’ve never seen St. Olaf. I have one kid, and she hasn’t even applied there, no particular reason. So I have no dog in this fight. But it does seem really weird to me to read a bunch of really negative posts from all these new members. They treat the 21 year old Seniors as if they were still 16. This is the kind of thing a student writes, not a parent.</p>
<p>WasatchWriter, If you were a St. Olaf parent, unfortunately, this statement would definitely sound like it came from a parent. And this thread contains many “happy” posts, too. Clearly, not all students are unhappy. However, there is nothing worse than having an unhappy student at ANY college. And there are many reasons for wonderful students to be unhappy at great colleges. But I think there is something strange going on at St. Olaf. I stumbled onto this thread as a lark, too, when I began googling “Are students unhappy at St. Olaf?” I wanted to know, was my son’s negative experience unique (which – although I am biased – he just isn’t the kind of kid who should be not enjoying campus life. Academic issues, yes, but not fitting in socially, no). I wanted to find out if more students/parents/families felt the same way. Lo and behold, I found College Confidential, became a first-time poster, and discovered that we are not alone: Other students’ and parent’s concerns echo ours.I believe the root of the students’ unhappiness is the top-down, us-vs.-them, rules-rule, dictatorial,discipline-style, zero-tolerance,students are guilty until proven innocent, and over-the-top marketing approach (based on a fantasy college that doesn’t exist). </p>
<p>The statement you referred to could be changed to say, “They treat 30- and 40-year-old alums as 16 year-olds.” Now this is a heard-from-another-St.-Olaf parent story (so I have no first-hand knowledge), but evidently, at alumni weekend held last May, in which alums are invited back to campus for reunion events and may elect to stay in dorms, some 30- and 40-year-olds had the audacity to meet with their fellow alums in a dorm lobby (school not in session, all students gone) and drink some beer late in the afternoon on a very hot day. Campus security was called immediately. I’m not sure if the alums tried to escape, and if so, if they were tackled, or if the non-drinking alums were also punished or kicked off campus. </p>
<p>I’m with thunderstruck2: More parents and students should know what is really going on.</p>
<p>To WasatchWriter and any other of those questioning whether or not I am a mother of a St. Olaf student. If you post your email address, I am happy to send you copies of the cancelled checks for tuition for the past four years. If I could upload one here, I would do so. </p>
<p>■■■■■ </p>
<p>Thunderstruck2 = gdad = sisneg=highed123…</p>
<p>I shared my experiences as “HigherEd123,” and I am ONE person and ONE poster. I have no idea who the other posters are and whether or not they are one and the same or three other people (I suspect the latter). I think one would find our “voices” via our writing styles to be quite distinct (I can certainly tell a difference). What is a “■■■■■?” This is the first time I have posted on this site online. I felt compelled to do so after reading the other comments because I truly agreed with thunderstruck and gdad and sisneg: Something is very wrong at St. Olaf. I am glad Iowa Dad’s daughter hasn’t had a negative experience, and I respect his point of view. TigerCC: Please respect the different opinions shared here by various students and parents. Isn’t that the point of College Confidential? My hope is that St. Olaf will take note and make some positive changes! That would be a win-win for all involved.</p>
<p>Clearly TigerCC1234 has no interest in adding concrete or real information to this discussion thread. There are students who have probably had different experiences, so if you know specific and first hand information then add it. Calling me or any of the other posters a ■■■■■ is really not productive. Again, please message me your email address and I will send you copies of cancelled checks. I am just a Mom of a current student. </p>
<p>I love how you write one post after another. 2 minutes??? But it’s just a coincident right? How many profiles are you going to create? 
pay your fine and study harder. </p>
<p>Time to close this thread. It’s just the same poster using different names. </p>
<p>I started this thread a couple of months ago but have not followed it. I am not surprised that others have the same impressions our family does. I agree with HighEd123 and thunderstruck2 (by the way, we are definitely not the same person), but I disagree with the Siseneg that St. Olaf is worthless. As I have said previously, there are many positives about the school, including a beautiful campus and many good and dedicated members of the faculty. I do not think that the typical St. Olaf student attends thinking that there is a major “party scene” at the school, so I don’t see the lack of one as much of an issue. However, the problem is that the school’s administration is overly rigid and the environment on campus is punitive rather than being supportive. The specific examples may seem minor, but they occur so often that they sour many students on daily campus life. That is why I say that it is important to visit campus and talk to upper classmen. My experience with my daughter’s friends is that half or more will provide you with numerous examples of odd and negative encounters with the St. Olaf administration. The sad part is that there is no reason for this. On the whole, the St. Olaf student body is comprised of high achieving young adults who do not cause trouble and should be trusted and respected by the administration. I do not know why the school is run the way that it is, but I suspect that it has to do with the St. Olaf’s leadership. I note that the president, provost, dean of students, and many other senior administrators at the school had no prior experience in those positions before assuming those roles at St. Olaf. Small organizations frequently take on the “personality” of their leaders, and rigid reactionary decision making is sometimes a symptom of insecurity and lack of experience in leaders. Maybe that is the case with St. Olaf. In any event, the school is not worthless, but it falls short of what it can and should be. One final comment. My daughter’s perception is that students whose homes are close to St. Olaf like if better than those from further away. The students who live close have the ability to regularly leave campus. Those from further away (like my daughter) are able to leave campus only during breaks. St. Olaf aspires to be a national liberal arts school, but is not really there yet, and the students who are subjected to the punitive actions of the school’s administration without reprieve feel it more keenly than those who live nearby.</p>
<p>Back under name number 3! So tomorrow highed123 agrees with Gdad and thunderstruck2 then thunderstruck2 agrees with Gdad and highed123…all the while still claiming to be three different people. “Typical St Oalf”…all together the three profiles all created all to bash the same school at same time. Sorry busted. </p>