Recently, I discussed with several other residential assistants about the difference between freshmen and sophomores. For some reason those three summer months in between the two years makes a huge difference in the behavior of a class.
This is so true that, among the Res Life staff in Carrolton Hall, the upperclassmen dorm, is often referred to as the staff retirement home.
Staff and residents tend to enjoy a relatively quiet and pleasant atmosphere that doesn’t suffer from the inevitable disruption caused by large concentrations of freshman males.
Normally, there is little to no vulgar (and anatomically specific) graffiti in the elevators, vandalism, large scale drug busts, beer pong games or slip-and-slides in the hallways.
What makes those three months so important? Why are people who are often the same age as their underclassmen peers so much less trouble?
We came up with one answer: choice. Simply put, those who wanted to abide by the Res Life rules and live in a fairly quiet place on campus stayed. On the other hand, those who wanted to have big parties, smoke pot, and have slip-and-slides left and got their own place.
Under that system, everyone got to pick the most appropriate living place for their lifestyles and entertainments.
So, sophomores, what happens now? Do you change your behavior and give up your entertainment because you have to live in the residence halls again? Can we reasonably expect you to stop drinking and carrying on? Are you going to be grateful for your room and happy to see Res Life employees? As a staff member, I’d love to say yes, but that would be a lie.
This year, I’ve seen more ambulances outside Carrollton than I have in my last two years here combined. I’ve heard many complaints from fellow staff members that the numbers of incidents involving upperclassmen has jumped substantially, especially those related to alcohol and drugs. I have encountered many more angry, bitter students than last year.
Just as worrisome are all of the complaints I hear from older residents. They returned to the Res Halls expecting the quiet and occasionally studious community that they were used to. Instead, they have boisterous neighbors, double rooms in Cabra, and get beaten out of the better rooms by people who don’t even want to be there.
From my own experience I can say that this is not the fault of the staff. We have the best, most dedicated student and professional staff we could ask for.
Unfortunately, Res Life and the students have been saddled with a policy that we didn’t ask for and that was not created with us in mind.
What, I wonder, does this mean for the community that used to enjoy the quiet life in the upperclassmen floors?
For my part, I just remember that when a resident yells at me for doing my job, they are probably not mad at me, but rather frustrated by the lack of control they have over their experience here.
Alex Fournet can be reached at [email protected]
