Comments on: Why substance free housing is a bad idea

By: Clara

Clara — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:36:34 +0000

Sorry, I don’t agree wtih you either. Diversity, in terms of consuming alcohol, is a purely personal choice. It has nothing to do with say, if you were born a certain race, grew up in a certain area of the world, etc.
More importantly though, I think substance free living is a great option, especially in a freshman dorm. Let’s get real here. I’m going into my junior year of college (at a college without substance free living) and have never encountered responsible, “purely social” drinking, especially among freshman. If students had even a small dose of maturity in this regard, I may have thought differently. I doubt you can show me three college freshman who just have half a glass of wine and sit and chat. No, it is usually binge drinking, to get drunk, because people are unable to deal with social and academic pressures, or are insecure. But that’s a whole different story.
Furthermore, from personal experience, all of the damage and loud noises living in a freshman dorm came from other students’ drinking habits. Ripping down signs, puking in stairwells, slamming doors late at night… yes, I had to deal with all of this, and contribute to paying for damages, though I had nothing to do with any of it. A huge pain if you ask me.
And if some people want to make fools of themselves and be obnoxious, go right ahead, but on your own time. Some people are actually in college to learn things other than how to do a keg stand. Having the option to live with like-minded individuals should be available. Again, if freshman (or rather anyone for that matter) could drink moderately, maturely, and responsibly, it would not be an issue.
And you’re right that college is supposed to prepare you for the “real world”. But in the real world if your neighor is ripping down your fence posts and being overly loud at 3am, you have a right to do something about it and live peacefully. If anything, the drinkers should learn that they aren’t the only people on the planet and there are people with different lifestyles and viewpoints — that includes not drinking (or doing drugs, etc.) There is a time and place for trying alcoholic beverages in moderation. But the purpose of substance free housing is not to prohibit that, but to give students a sanctuary for the disgusting, immature, rude, and obnoxious habits that 99% of drinking college freshman have.

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By: Housing Forum

Housing Forum — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:46:53 +0000

Thanks for the Awful Information, At a glance!! I see, You are a man of Letters.

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By: Schmau

Schmau — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 05:59:00 +0000

This really is not a very good argument. Just as you say, many people do have different beliefs than you, and those may very well be those who believe in sobriety as opposed to a more liberal standpoint. Some people just may not want to deal with drunk partiers as roommates. As you have also said, the students who are on these floors are able to drink in other areas. Even if a parent or some other circumstance foced them into a substance free floor, they can still go drink. One should be able to control themself enough to stop before getting totally wasted, and then he or she should be fine getting into hos or her room. If not, they should plan for a back up, such as staying in a friend on a different floor’s room. Finally, your argument about meeting people is ridiculous. Floors are hardly barriers, so limiting yourself to your own floor is just your own fault. You can meet whomever you wish to with just a few steps. And hey! you can burn the calories it takes to walk up the stairs, too. Just because someone lives in substance free housing does not mean they are not receiving the full college experience and they won’t be prepared for life- it just means that they are living in a different way than how others choose. You are disrespecting those who feel substance free housing is a great idea by demanding that your college change its options. It is not even affecting you anyway, so why even make such a big deal about it? Let those who do get into substance free housing, by choice or otherwise, make the most out of their college experience without badgering them about it. To you (with your broken logic), substance free housing seems terrible, but to another, it may be a safe haven. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as it were. Why would you limit the choices that the school offers to the diverse personalities that attend it?

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