<p>CIW and Crackheads and Hippies?
I've read in some places that CIW has hippies and "crackheads". To what degree is this true? Of course, I'm sure drugs will exist on every dorm but is it more prominent at CIW than at other places? On the economic spectrum, I am moderate. On the social spectrum, I am also moderate but lean right. As such, I would prefer not to be in a dorm that is majorly liberal or Left leaning as others' statements would have me believe.</p>
<p>Chemical Free Floors
Are those floors reserved only for thsoe who apply for chemical free housing? About how many people apply for chemical free housing in general or, better yet, at each dorm? I wouldn't be doing drugs or using alcohol anyhow.</p>
<p>Hi! My name is Rob and I’m a Binghamton University Student Ambassador.</p>
<p>There’s an interesting story behind why CIW has a reputation of housing “hippies”. CIW was built in the 70s, and as such, there were a lot of hippies around campus both as students and on the faculty. When the university announced that they wished to tear down a portion of the forest where CIW currently stands and build residential halls there, this portion of the student population was absolutely livid. They protested the tearing down of the forest. As an agreement between the administration and the students, the administration agreed to preserve as much of the trees in the area as possible when building CIW. This is where College-in-the-Woods gets its name and also why there are so many trees and plants all over the place in the community.</p>
<p>This is where the reputation of College-in-the-Woods as a place that houses hippies and weed-smokers comes from. It’s based in distant history, not recent fact. I do not find there to be a greater concentration of people that party, do drugs, or drink alcohol in College-in-the-Woods than anywhere else on campus, and I live in CIW.</p>
<p>On the topic of chem-free housing, I’m not sure exactly how many students sign up for it, but if you sign up you are extremely likely to be housed on a chem-free floor. Chem-free floors exist in various residential communities and are made up of other students who wished to be housed in a floor with students who all agree not to partake in alcohol or drug use.</p>
<p>While I’m talking about this, I just want to explain the university’s stance and policies on drug and alcohol use. First of all, the university recognizes that drug and alcohol use cannot be entirely prevented. In an ideal world, none of our students would use drugs or alcohol, but it’s impossible to enforce those policies. As such, the university has shifted towards educating our students in the risks of these substances and arming them with the information necessary to make an informed decision on whether or not to partake in them. As part of this, all incoming freshmen complete a short online course during the summer before they arrive at the university called AlcoholWise, which helps educate them on this matter. The Student Code of Conduct is very clear on the use of alcohol or other illegal substances. Underage drinking and the use of illegal substances are against the Code of Conduct, and breaking the Student Code of Conduct can lead to various sanctions.</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any other questions!</p>
<p>I’m starting next fall and I signed up for chem-free. I obviously don’t have any prior experience with it but I believe it will be a good experience as I will be with similarly minded people. And I’m not anti-social at all, I’m just against underage drinking and drug use.</p>
<p>Crackheads?? That’s a first. If you sign up for chem-free, you’ll probably get chem-free. But honestly, even if you don’t get it, it’s not like people living in non-chem free are forced to drink and smoke.</p>
<p>As far as your not wanting to be in a liberal dorm, good luck. The student population (and faculty) is predominantly liberal.</p>
<p>I am fortunate to be dorming with a friend of mine so I know I won’t get stuck with anyone problematic. My only concern is my neighbors.</p>
<p>“As far as your not wanting to be in a liberal dorm, good luck. The student population (and faculty) is predominantly liberal.”
I don’t mind liberal people. Just no extremists or very left leaning people or very right leaning people either for that matter.</p>
<p>Worrying about an unknown over which you have no control is a waste.</p>
<p>If you sign up for Chem. free, your neighbors on either side of you have the same concerns about you.</p>
<p>So if you go Chem free, all of you will most likely end up being very happy in meeting each other’s expectations because you all signed up to be there for the same reason.</p>