<p>Williams has no themed dorms, and the entry system is one of its hallowed traditions – twenty to twenty-five frosh, two sophomore JA’s (unpaid student big brother and sister who want to be there for mentor students) and a lot of planned group (non-alcohol related) activity.</p>
<p>There were some on his entry who drank, athletes who totally abstained, athletes who drank, virgins, non-virgins, very rich kids, hipsters who smoked pot, kids who just sat in their rooms studying, and kids who just didn’t drink.</p>
<p>My S fell into the last category. And some of the other more abstinent ones too. Not going to invade his privacy. </p>
<p>He did not drink.</p>
<p>He did have a drunk girl crawl into his bed looking for the bathroom, and he escorted her out and helped her find the bathroom after grabbed some of his Latin textbooks and threw up right next to them where she placed them on the floor in the hallway.</p>
<p>He 1) did not get involved sexually; 2) did not freak out or disapprove of the girl but did counsel her the next day to drink less and she listened 3) did not become her drinking buddy and 4) did not use his Latin text books for week until he got the courage to pick them up off the floor and to find out they were unsoiled.</p>
<p>What do I think of this? I know some mothers of sons are very considered that their boys will be accused of sexual impropriety in this situation. They were all friends in the entry, and thankfully this did not happen.</p>
<p>I think it was all fine, except for the poor girl and her embarrassment. However, having such a sober fellow at the end of the hall was really a godsend to her.</p>
<p>Being a good samaritan made him feel good.</p>
<p>Having a witness helped the girl get the entire story of her behavior (she was so wasted that she blacked out) and made her vow to drink less, a vow she kept.</p>
<p>Witnessing the scene made my son vow never to get drunk. A vow I think he’s kept.</p>
<p>And, as I’ve said, being around kids who drink nudged him into having a beer once in a while. Many of you might not agree, but I think this was good.</p>
<p>Does this mean he would have been uncomfortable in a substance free dorm? Probably not. It probably would have been fine for him. However, I don’t think he would have asked for one (not his style – doesn’t want to make waves or, I suspect, be seen as tne nerdy goody-goody he is) so he would have been left housed with even more drinkers.</p>
<p>I think many other options can work – I am not an apologist for Williams’ entry system. However, I was pleased that S got close to cross section of the entire community, became comfortable with everyone, and has maintained friendships with many kinds of people.</p>
<p>Mine is just one point of view. Nothing normative about it.</p>
<p>Binge drinking is obviously a health risk, and a serious one.</p>
<p>Having said that, I got obnoxiously drunk at 17, my first year at college, drinking Southern Comfort and trying to be Janis Joplin, and I think that was the last time I drank when in college and hardly ever drink now – maybe three glasses of champagne a year.</p>