<p>Well as far as I know James has been declared sub-free just this year, but there were substance-free floors in other dorms on South Campus, and that apparently did not work too well.
But as far as volume goes, not every substance dorm is loud, there are a number of quiet dorms without them being substance free.</p>
<p>My understanding of sub-free is that the residents agree not to use in the living environment or bring the effects of overindulgence back to the dorm. I don’t think sub-free housing was ever defined as an environment where residents agreed not to drink or use at all outside of the living environment.</p>
<p>Clarification- D did not live in sub free this past year.</p>
<p>
IIRC, Carleton (classic peer comparison) has never had a problem with running out of sub-free housing; they have mixed-year dorms with sub-free floors in almost every dorm, usually alternating with non-sub-free floors. I personally would choose a first-year sub-free floor over a mixed-year non-sub-free floor, but that is an institutional decision on Grinnell’s part.</p>
<p>I have a good friend who attends Grinnell and absolutely loves it. She says that the ONLY negative part of her first year at Grinnell was not being placed in sub-free housing; it was far from a deal-breaker–she LOVES Grinnell–but I think it’s significant that she remembered it a year later as a detracting residential issue. She does not drink at all for non-religious reasons, and I believe that she did get sub-free for sophomore year.</p>
<p>Talked with D last night about sub-free housing. There will be three sub-free dorms next year (all are small and house less than 80 kids). James is the one she’ll be in. The college positioned a subfree option at three different locations on the campus so students would not be isolated in a sub-free zone dormwise. The sub-free spots for upperclassmen filled quickly and there will be sub-free clusters (groups of five to six rooms on a hall) in other dorms as well. Her understanding is sub-free housing will be available for any firstyear that wants it (though, like the upperclassmen with bad room draw numbers, some may be in clusters rather than have an entire sub-free dorm). She feels that the number of students wanting sub-free has increased during her two years at Grinnell and it seems so now that there are three sub-free dorms plus clusters (still only accounts for about 200 kids total since the dorms are small).</p>
<p>On the topic of Sub-Free:
Next year Smith, James, and Kershaw will be sub free. One on each part of campus. I’m a current first year, who does not live in sub-free. My personal experience in a non sub free dorm has been great. There has been no issues. Many of my friends live in sub-free and they have talked about the reason that not all incoming get sub free is some parents fill out the housing form and check the box even though the student does not want sub-free. This makes sub free fill up faster. After first year, sub free has its own room draw process so if you really want it you can get it.</p>
<p>On the topic of single sex floors, you can apply for it on the housing form. Most are co-ed and some are gender neutral. You vote on bathrooms so if you don’t feel comfortable you can have single sex bathrooms. Even if you are on a single sex floor, that does not mean that people of other genders will not be on the floor during the day and such.</p>
<p>I have to say that I love the fact that Grinnell does not have all freshmen dorms. I’ve gotten to know so many upperclassmen and gain knowledge and advice from them.</p>
<p>This is in latest Scarlet & Black, so I wonder if there are updates/insights into the substance-free housing issue (NOT a discussion about how/why students choose to transfer).</p>
<p>Is the new administration responding to student concerns or desire for less substance use in their housing? Isn’t that a good thing for those so inclined, like non-smoking sections?</p>
<p>[Administration</a> studies student attrition rates | Scarlet & Black](<a href=“http://www.thesandb.com/news/administration-studies-student-attrition-rates.html]Administration”>http://www.thesandb.com/news/administration-studies-student-attrition-rates.html)</p>
<p>February 11th, 2011 | By Armando Monta</p>