<p>ellemenope- as a unc student, i can tell you that thursday is indeed a big party night (arguably the most active night of the week), but according to the report there was no evidence of alcohol consumption (yet). Just seems to me like a bit of horseplay that ended in an accident. Such a tragedy.</p>
<p>Hey, I could see either one of my kids horsing around like that without any drugs/alcohol being involved.</p>
<p>As a teacher, I stop kids from horsing around in the hallways all the time. They don't see the danger. They pick someone up and toss them in the air, sure they will catch them, or run in the halls where there is a balcony with a railing, but... Or they do something else that puts someone in danger. I tell them that I have already been to one funeral for a student who was just horsing around, and don't want to go to another. They look at me as if I were crazy. They just don't think about possible danger. Nothing is going to happen to them. Horsing around can be extrememly dangerous. I just can't imagine the parents and their lives after this tragedy. What a horrible accident. My heart goes out to the families and friends. I will keep them in my prayers.</p>
<p>S has often said that "Thursday is the new Friday." </p>
<p>This is so sad and has put a pall over a big weekend on campus. Dance Marathon, the school's largest fundraiser, began last night at 7PM.</p>
<p>It all goes back to a discussion had here on CC many times about the feeling of invincibilty held by so may kids. I agree with Garland, and it is unfair to the boys to automatically assume that alcohol played a roll in this.</p>
<p>I can remember when I was in school several avid hockey players used to do slap shots up and down the dorm hall corridors, sort of "playing catch." What could have happened if someone walked out of their room at the wrong time and caught a puck in the temple or eye? At the time, I know that no one ever gave it a thought.</p>
<p>Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these two young men.</p>
<p>Heartbreaking. I don't know what solution is. Remember when you had an infant, and were told to childproof your house? I recall sitting on floor and trying to view dangers from a crawling baby's perspective. When a NY celebrity's baby fell out a window, more people took the time to put locks on so windows could only open so far. or grids, stronger glass...
Rooftops are a common meeting ground at some schools.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent kids from doing stupid things. It's heartbreaking and I feel for the families and the friends of these two boys.</p>
<p>If the dorm was built in the 30's, it is possible those windows originally lead to a fire escape. I agree, some sort of wrought iron railing needs to be installed....replacing with the same glass doesn't seem the best choice.</p>
<p><<hey, i="" could="" see="" either="" one="" of="" my="" kids="" horsing="" around="" like="" that="" without="" any="" drugs="" alcohol="" being="" involved="">></hey,></p>
<p>Ditto. They were just a couple of kids, screwing around and having fun. This wasn't some out of control drunken party. Just some running around in a hallway. I wouldn't even call it stupid. Just . . . normal. And very, very sad.</p>
<p>I still hope that every college takes a serious look at their windows and roofs, and takes some prevention</p>
<p>H (who has experience with living in a dorm, while I do not) says that, in his experience, the kind of horseplay that the UNC guys were involved in is not unusual.</p>
<p>--Ellemenope (mother of 2 girls who lived at home while going to college, so I have NO idea about how guys behave in a dorm)</p>
<p>News today said the freshman's condition has been upgraded to fair. I know that all of our prayers are with the families of both these boys.</p>
<p>Hey, I could see either one of my kids horsing around like that without any drugs/alcohol being involved.
Not my older daughter- but my daughter who when she was "5" we had to take down the swingset because she was jumping off the top- my daughter who surfs/snowboards/mtbikes and is looking forward to taking up the luge?
I told her and a friend about the accident- have to keep reminding them and perhaps sometimes they will remember.</p>
<p>my older daughter hasn't lived anywhere with windows of that description, but my H and I stayed in a * great * hotel with floor to ceiling windows, which were very 'inspiring'. ;)
but I tell ya, I am going to be a lot more careful around windows.</p>
<p>DH is a CH alumni and spent a lot of time in that particular dorm. He said they are pretty much floor to ceiling windows - Definitely NOT 30" off the ground. It's sad it takes something horrible like this to call attention to the dangers of these window placements. I remember when Eric Clapton's son fell out of an open window in NYC and felt the same horror at such a terrible freak accident that could have been avoided. Here in Westwood, a girl fell out of a similar window (older building) at an office Xmas party several years ago. I hope this can be a call to upgrade these old windows. My thoughts are with the families of these boys. I can't even imagine what they must be going through. I can't stop thinking about it :(</p>
<p>soozievt- one of the girls in the accident at bennington last year is a close friend of mine. thankfully, she has recovered completely, despite the initial severity of her injuries.</p>
<p>hopefully the boy at unc will make a similar recovery...</p>
<p>I first discovered and joined this group only this morning because I had a fafsa question. I read this thread and was as heartbroken as you all were to read this, especially since a friend of ours lost a son on Friday after falling from a balcony. (at a party, I assume.) A few hours ago, my daughter called me to say that a boy from her dorm had jumped from the 9th floor balcony today. This is so terrible. My heart breaks for every parent and loved one in all these tragedies.</p>
<p>Kelly</p>