<p>Is there much of a stigma about being in the chem-free dorms? I’m not a huge drinker/partier, and though I do want to branch out in college, I think I might be happier in chem free dorms. But I would rather be in a normal dorm if there stigma attached to substance free dorms. I do want to go to parties, I just don’t really want to deal with them all the time. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>My son has had a number of friends in the substance-free dorms. Some don’t partake but many want to be around parties/partying when they want to but not all the time. He hasn’t mentioned any stigma.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that there is a bit of a stigma. Honestly, there is not a great amount of mixing between the sub-free kids and the kids who aren’t (which is a big assumption, but that’s what it is). It’s been the topic of our Elephant in the Room discussions, which are sort of college-wide lecture/discussions that occur every once and a while.</p>
<p>My kid lived in the sub-free dorm his first year and just loved it. The friends he made there are still his best friends and he has very great memories of that freshman dorm experience. He’s also an athlete, so he had a foot in two worlds in a way – one sub-free, one drenched in alcohol. I think the alcohol-drenched world was quite a bit easier for him to deal with because he had a dry dorm to call home. He has not experienced any stigma and has friends on both sides of the drinking divide.</p>
<p>It’s important to note that, as a first year, you likely won’t have to deal with parties “all the time.” All first year dorms are dry, meaning alcohol is not allowed in any of the dorms, even if a resident happens to be over 21. (Yes, some might say this makes sub-free housing somewhat redundant.) </p>
<p>To speak to your concerns, skater: I definitely was not a drinker/partier before starting school. While I also was willing to branch out, I was concerned about living in an “Animal House” sort of environment. I chose NOT to live in sub-free housing and loved the experience. As I noted above, parties really don’t occur in the first year housing. I liked living in the “regular” housing as the students were generally open to all kinds of experiences.</p>
<p>Quite honestly, there is a divide between sub-free and non-sub-free housing, with the “sub-free” students (at least in my year) tending to self-segregate. As Lyle noted, it has recently been the subject of quite a lot of discussion on campus.</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any other questions. Remember: Regardless of whatever housing situation you are in, there is always support on campus to change if it isn’t working out.</p>
<p>ACKB12, do you think the sub-free students should not be able to self-segregate? I know for my kid the sense of community in the sub-free dorm was very, very strong. Maybe that’s just looking at “self-segregating” from the other side. Still, the students there seemed quite identified with that community. They did a lot together, games, pranks, movies, fun stuff. He just loved it. I know there was a sense of ‘fellow-Northies’ that the sub-free students shared. (Did I hear that they’ve since switched the sub-free hall and it’s no longer North? – If I recall some of the old Northies of my kid’s freshman year were aghast at the prospect. ;)) Back then, at least, there was also a disproportionate share of international students in the sub-free hall, which my (non-international) kid also really loved.</p>
<p>I understand why sub-free kids would feel connected, but is there prejudice against them from other students, or is it mainly self chosen? I’m not a huge partier, but I do plan on some partying at college, I’m just not sure how comfortable I’ll be with it at first…</p>
<p>Skater, the current Amherst students on this board will be the most authoritative source, but I think you’d be just fine in a regular dorm. Like ACKB12 said, the freshman dorms are not heavy drinking zones anyway.</p>
<p>By all means, students who choose sub-free housing are perfectly entitled to “self-segregate.” I mention that only because it occasionally becomes a source of tension between sub-free and non-sub-free students; that is, each group sometimes feel judged and unwelcome by the other. </p>
<p>It should be noted, however, that plenty of groups form on campus. It’s not just the Northies who had a close connection my freshman year ('rentfor2, I’m fairly certain I know which group of people you are talking about–they did have a great community); I lived in non-sub-free housing and had a group of friends from my floor that was just as tightly knit. Our “activities” rarely included alcohol. </p>
<p>And, yes, North is no longer substance-free. Stearns was one of the sub-free housing options this year (instead of North) and may continue to be next year. </p>
<p>I do think there is some prejudice between the two groups. Some students regard the sub-free students in a negative light (“dude? you don’t drink?! lameee”). On the flip side, some sub-free students become rather self-righteous about their choice. ('rentfor2, this probably doesn’t speak to your student, but there are some sub-free students who will routinely repeat that they are making the “right decision” in contrast to the crazy, lawless and corrupt masses.) </p>
<p>From my perspective, the divide goes both ways. That being said, the two perspectives I just listed certainly do not apply to many students on campus. For most of us, we could care less where everyone lives.</p>
<p>I think you’re right about most students not caring where others live, ACKB12. From what my kid told me, students in the sub-free dorm were there for lots of different reasons. Skater’s reason – wanting a more party-lite type of dorm – is certainly one of the reasons students choose the sub-free dorm. Personally, I don’t think it’s a really good reason, and I think what you said about all the freshman dorms being a balanced environment in that way is exactly the impression I have too.</p>
<p>I think the rationale that is a better guide for a student making that decision is making an affirmative choice. That is, choosing to be in one setting or the other because that is what they want, not because they want something else, but don’t want too much of it, if you know what I mean: To be in the sub-free dorm because you want to build relationships and co-habitate with other students who tend to avoid drinking, rather than to think of it as a place where you can sort of have it both ways.</p>
<p>I mean, for some students that may work out fine as a rationale, but it’s worth thinking about. Also, I’m not sure it’s the dorm for students who are too concerned about what other people may think of them. It’s not going to be filled with those kids who were the “popular” ones in high school, although there are at least of few of them there. ;)</p>