<p>I am not sure it matters either way. No one says you HAVE to drink or do drugs. I knew people in college who chose to do those things and were still friends with those who chose not to. You can certainly attends parties where alcohol is served to those of legal age and choose not to do so yourself. It is more about being independent and living apart from your parents for probably the first time in your life and the associated choices that brings.</p>
<p>Some handle their new found freedom well, some do not. I don’t think it relates to which dorm you happen to live in. Much like with studying, your parents aren’t there to tell you to study/do your homework and prepare for tests…you have to have the self-discipline to do that on your own.</p>
<p>My experience was that many who came for the strictest homes, tended to be the first ones to go out and party/get drunk the weekend they returned to college and were again away from their parents.</p>
<p>For me at least, it’s not a question of using the dorm to prevent a kid from drinking or experimenting. It’s a question of, if the kid thinks in advance that they would prefer not having people puking in their halls or partying in their dorm (even if they do want to sometimes partake elsewhere) or if they feel they don’t want to party in that way and would like to meet more like-minded students – is the substance-free dorm a good experience or does it end up overly-stigmatizing those who choose it? I’m sure that answer varies by school.</p>
<p>My experience was that many who came for the strictest homes, tended to be the first ones to go out and party/get drunk the weekend they returned to college and were again away from their parents.</p>
<p>I’ve certainly seen that with some kids, the ones whose parents had the tightest leash on them growing up were the ones who had difficulty making appropriate choices for themselves and went pretty close to the deep end.
But that wasn’t relevant to the sub free climate at Ds school, because if they were eager to attend a “party” school, it sure wouldn’t be Reed.
Except for Renn Fayre.</p>
<p>The substance free dorm might be stigmatized but usually colleges are so large that nobody really cares if you live in the substance free dorm. At son’s school, he joined a zombie club, honor societies, church group, and physics club and made many friends that way. One of son’s best friends is anything but substance free but they met freshman year in the honor’s lounge and still keep in close contact even though his friend graduated last year. They had so many other things in common that the fact the son didn’t party as hard wasn’t a problem. The substance free dorm did also sponsor many activities including trips for apple picking and hiking to encourage social activity. When you visit ask around at the school to see what the vibe is and ask to talk to students who are in the substance free dorm and walk through it.</p>
<p>I would think it makes no difference and there’s no stigma attached, because no one follows the rule. The individual makes the decision over time, with no regard for whatever policy.</p>
<p>My sons sub-free dorm was quieter and he always had much less damage costs than the others. One was noted for wild parties, etc. and they got hit with high costs for damaged items, etc He did sub-free 2 out of 4 years, freshman and junior, and I think he regretted it sophomore because of the noise. Senior year was singles or apartments and most of the students were more removed from the actions of the freshman and more mature.</p>
<p>Some schools have different policies on what they do with students who drink underage or do drugs that is for sure.</p>
<p>My school is a completely dry campus, it’s a small two building school in Boston, a professional healthcare university (currently in the 6 year PharmD program). Freshmen are the only ones allowed to dorm (upperclassmen can apply, but for the most part it is just freshmen). I’m a second year student, so from my experience last year, my school took a hard stance against alcohol and substance abuse, a few different people I know got caught with alcohol and marijuana and had a hearing with the Dean, for the most part they didn’t get into a lot of trouble, but I do remember they had to pay a fine. And I think they had to take a class or something (I completely forgot, so don’t quote me on that), but it being a dry campus did not stop kids from smoking or drinking, although most of the smoking and drinking occurred off campus. RAs were pretty strict on this policy though, it didn’t really matter whether you were friends with the RA or not, they usually reported you. Although, I have to say it didn’t come without flaws, if the RA caught you with a bunch of other people with alcohol whether or not you were partaking it in it, you would get in trouble.</p>
<p>Probably another good reason to visit any college you seriously consider attending. Then you talk to students in those dorms and determine exactly how that college defines ‘substance free’ dorms, since then in no common definition of that term.</p>
<p>my son took advantage of the sub free at his school, as parents we were relieved. He loved it, kids can partake but they just can not do so in the dorms, or to excess and go back to the dorms. </p>
<p>No vomit in bathrooms or drunk kids making noise at 2 AM. The kids are the same as the mainstream although he went to a very selective school so the kids may be a little more studious than most.</p>
<p>Yes, Parent50, the cleaner bathrooms were a plus also. His friend who had a regular freshman dorm was unlucky to have vomit and broken toilets, etc. welcome him many mornings.</p>
<p>My daughter did substance free housing her first 2 years at a small LAC. The kids had to sign an agreement that they wouldn’t drink or smoke inside or come back to the dorm under the influence (or bring anyone else back under the influence). There was no stigma, just a nice quiet dorm without wild parties. Like others said, no vomit in the public spaces or vandalism damage. Best part was no one ever pulled the fire alarm in the middle of the night!</p>
<p>I am in a substance free dorm right now as a freshman at the University of Michigan (Bursley). To be honest, it sucks and I really regret choosing this option. It’s so boring. Our hall is pretty tight but the kids rarely feel like doing any social activity that involves leaving the dorm, such as going to parties or even school-sponsored events. </p>
<p>I have also found that kids in substance-free dorms tend not to be as involved on campus. Almost NONE of the kids on my floor are in clubs. They are pretty good students (mostly engineering) but nothing special (like 3.2-3.5 gpa). </p>
<p>They are socially awkward too, not making effort to get to know people outside of the floor. But still some think they’re the S**t and constantly brag of how “cool” they are. In reality, they’re just insecure. Plus its all dudes, so it has been hard to meet girls. </p>
<p>There are a few benefits, such as not having to deal with drunks every weekend. Also, the people, on average, are less superficial and more down to earth. However, for the true college experience, try to get a non substance-free, co-ed floor if you can.</p>
I can. Many students, even those who opposed drinking in high school, start partying when they get to college. If those students decided to sign up for a sub free dorm under the rationale that when they arrived, they wouldn’t imbibe and wanted a roommate who shared those values, start it could cause serious consequences for that student. Depending on how strict the sub free dorm is about underage drinking, it might mean the student is kicked out of the dorms and must find another place to live.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad, sub-free seems great to parents who don’t investigate, some of whom may induce the kids to live there. It may not be so good for the kids.</p>
<p>In some schools, kids who a) have not separated from their parents and will do whatever the parents want; b) have a fundamental belief, often religious, about evils of drink (and often much other behavior); or c) are socially awkward are overrepresented. If your kid is not in Categories a through c, he or she may be relatively unhappy surrounded by a kids in those categories. I think that is what bluedevilsfan is observing and is consistent with what my son has described at one school. This is not so great for the middle-of-the-road kid who does not fit in Categories a through c. But, it may not be great for the kids in Categories a and c, who might be induced to separate themselves more easily from their parents or become more socially active in a setting that did not overweight Categories a through c.</p>
<p>At the other school my son described, the kids in the sub-free dorm were still somewhat socially awkward but the overall composition was more weighted towards kids who did drink but didn’t want it in their hallway. Not so bad for the middle-of-the-road kid.</p>
<p>In my particular experience, it is not all it’s cracked up to be and is more used as a marketing tool to comfort parents sending their kids to school.</p>
<p>There were plenty of “subfree” kids who drank and parties and used drugs, and plenty of normal kids who did not. I did not live on a subfree dorm but never touched alcohol, drugs, or tobacco my freshmen year. Plenty of my friends who lived on subfree floors ended up in my bathroom with me taking care of them after too much partying.</p>
<p>Yes, there are more rules for the subfree kids and there are harsher consequences to partaking in substances if you are a member of those dorms. But in my experience, it really didn’t matter, and remains only as a marking tool. (I was on a board that was considering the elimination of subfree floors on campus, but we ultimately decided that keeping a few would not be a bad idea if the demand were there. We also now give students the choice to enter in their roommate agreements the wording of a subfree suite)</p>
<p>i think substance free housing is the better choice if you dont want to participate in drugs or alcohol. you’ll feel secure to know that none of that stuff is there with you in the building, Plus you can make friends that have a similar mindset as you about life.</p>
<p>On my Ds campus, all the dorms are “sub free”. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed inside any dorm for anyone for any reason. If you come back to the dorm drunk, and are detected by an RA, you could be reported and get in some trouble, especially if you’re underage. Of course if campus police catch you, you’re in serious trouble - you might be charged with public intoxication. For sure you would have to go to classes about drug and alcohol use/abuse.</p>
<p>Someplace, not sure if it was one of Ds schools or on CC, I remembering about all freshmen being obligated to participate in a health workshop that covered resources on campus & in the community about safe sex, drug/ alcohol use, mental & physical wellness.</p>
<p>Don’t think it was a credit course, but perhaps held in the dorms?
I think it is a good idea, many kids have had the information in middle & high school, but an update can’t hurt as they may listen closer when safe sex & the like is more relevant than when they are in 8th grade.</p>
<p>I’d also agree that for sub free dorms where students are pressured into choosing are not as successful as when the student chooses for themselves.
I didn’t have the impression that any of the students in older Ds dorm had it forced upon them except for one student who chose it because the theme dorm they wanted was full & it was more appealing than the dorm that was available.</p>
<p>The RAs, the HAs & security staff weren’t there as parental substitutes or enforcers, but as supports for students. They were of the belief that adults can & should make their own choices as long as it does not detrimentally impact others, and they used peer pressure, not fear of administration to regulate behavior. Which works well some years, less so other years, but I haven’t seen that a university where students are more dependent on crackdowns by administration to regulate behavior have fewer incidents of drug & alcohol abuse.</p>
