Don't be afraid to be a stick in the mud.

My first night on campus - some girls on my hall talked me into attending an off campus party with some guys they "sort of" knew. Being lonely, I went. 90% of the way to their apartment, sitting on the lap of one of the guys (because there weren't enough seats in the car), I realized the driver and all the guys were drunk. By then we were out in a wooded part of town not anywhere near campus, so I waited the last two minutes until we got to their apartment. I walked inside, took one look around at the scene - many drunk upperclassmen males, three freshman girls - and I asked for a phonebook and called a taxi. Everyone in the apartment made fun of me, and I spent a lonely night back in the dorms. The next day I heard from the two girls about an extended night of drinking, drunk driving, and near sexual assault, and I knew I'd made the right choice.

Don't be afraid to be a stick in the mud.

Similarly, trust your instincts. If you're wrong, you'll miss nothing more than one night out. If you're right, you've protected yourself and maybe a friend too.

If you feel uncomfortable, leave.

-Keep your dorm room locked, and have a talk with your roomate about them doing so as well.
-Don't walk alone at night.
-Avoid drunken sex. There are so many ways that can go wrong.
-Know your limits when you drink. You CAN end up in the hospital from drinking too much, too fast. Or...you can end up dead. Don't avoid calling 911 when your friend is obviously not ok because you think you'll get arrested.
-If you're going to do drugs, do not mix them. This is something I keep hearing about and it's alarming. Taking a couple of Kolonopin that are not prescribed to you is a bad idea to begin with, but doing that and then drinking is just stupid. Mixing uppers and downers is dangerous. Just because it comes in a pill doesn't mean it's "safe".
-Get a ride when you drink, period. Do not drive yourself home.
-Herpes is treatable, not curable. You're not immune just because you aren't a "slut". Wrap it up.

Yeah, I should mention the ending to this story also.

One of these girls - the one who made the most fun of me in front of the guys - well, she also made fun of me the next day, in front of my whole hall at our first hall meeting. She also told everyone about how two of the guys were groping her, and she didn't want to "do" both of them, so she chose one of them for her "affections". All of this was related in an "I'm so mature and cool and knowledgeable" manner, with several snide remarks about how I "fled" the party.

I rushed as a freshman. She waited and rushed as a sophomore. I didn't forget, and apparently neither did the other girls on our hall who rushed as freshman. She did not receive a bid anywhere.

First impressions, even as early as the first night on campus, can last a LONG time.

Very true.

And seriously? What about neither of them?

Yeah, neither would have been my answer, but apparently she's a lesser of two evils girl.

I still remember the girl's name. And that was a long time ago. Taught me a big lesson about first impressions and trusting your instincts. I think the taxi driver was used to that sort of call, because I remember he only charged me $5 for what should have been a $20 ride and told me to have a safe night when I got back to my dorm.

I mean I'm open minded and all, but damn...what happened to self respect and being selective? (I've heard that same thing from friends of mine. Never understood it.)

Yeah it's a good story to retell because I'm betting many freshmen will be in your shoes. Nice taxi driver. :) Glad you were the smart one.

Loneliest night of my life, but I learned a lot from it. Also one of those nights that make you wish you hadn't gone far away from home to college (very much a Charlotte Simmons moment for me), but then soon after I rushed and pledged and made friends in other organizations and realized that most girls on campus were nothing like Miss Not-So-Choosy.

Right, of course. I was just pointing out that it's a law in most states. Ironic that you bring up the mutual drunk point though, as that's what my friend and I were discussing last night. It was a rather amusing conversation to say the least.

Also, thanks for all the tips everyone. Dunno if anyone has actually come out and thanked you all, but I know all of these will probably come in handy the first few weeks of school.

I <3 Greek Chat.

It's good to learn that some students at Texas are making the effort to get help for roommates / friends who have alcohol poisoning symptoms. Station KXAN reports:

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/educati...ts-ut-students

Excerpts: [I]
ALMETRIS DUREN HALL, 2624 Whitis Ave: Public Intoxication / Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor: A UT student heard her roommate having an extreme physical reaction to the over consumption of alcohol. The student found her roommate sitting on the shower floor not being responsive. UT Police Officers arrived and detected a very strong odor of alcohol on the UT student's breath and the wafting aroma of vomit. Austin EMS treated the subject at the scene for alcohol poisoning. During the investigation, the officers learned the student was in the process of pledging a sorority. Occurred on: 8-25-10, at 3:43 AM.

HARDIN HOUSE, 2206 Rio Grande: Assist Outside Agency / Public Intoxication: A UT student notified the UT Police Department that her roommate was involved in the pledging process and was bidding to join a sorority. The student reported finding her roommate inside their bathroom losing consciousness and foaming at the mouth. Due to the seriousness of the call, the UT Police Officers responded along with Austin EMS. Occurred on: 8-25-10, at 2:59 AM.[/B]

:(
I hope she's ok.

I wish kids understood alcohol CAN be dangerous and would give themselves a limit.

Update:

http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2010...008305371.html

From the above ^ article:

". . . the University of Texas Deans of Students Office has . . . launched an investigation into the incidents. The two girls had reportedly participated in pledging activities for a sorority prior to being found unconscious . . . . "

That's just so sad.

I have no sympathy for that kind of hazing whether it's in a GLO or other organization/team (if it was a result of hazing, and two girls in the same situation makes me think it was). I don't see myself ever encouraging someone to get alcohol poisoning for "fun". (And that's from someone who had her fair share of alcohol related shenanigans back in the day.)

They drank too much during bid day festivities. It's not like they were forced or hazed. Everyone knows who they are and what their affiliation is. Pretty embarrassing for everyone involved.

I can see how it would be embarrassing, considering -- among other things -- the Unanimous Agreement ( "Each College Panhellenic Association shall prohibit the use of alcoholic beverages in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities.")

Still, I'm glad that concerned people called for help. Better to have some embarrassment than a serious injury or death.

I wanted to bump this thread for all you girls leaving home for the first time. I have been following a very sad case here in Louisiana of a senior at University of Louisiana who was abducted and murdered in May. This case has been heartbreaking for so many people in the community. I did not know her although my son had met her a few times. I guess since I have a daughter the same age it hit very close to home. Girls please do not ever go out a night by yourselves. I know your parents have taught you all the safety rules, maybe you carry your little can of mace etc. But honestly no one can prepare you for coming in contact with a psycho. Most of us just will not ever understand how that kind of persons mind works.
I hate to bee Debbie Downer at this time of year when we are excited about recruitment and going to college but please, please, please be careful out there.

Especially at first, be cautious. Don't go back with any guys/invite them in to hook up the first few weeks. You have plenty of time at college to do whatever you want. You're with a bunch of people you barely know.

Carry mace on you, and don't walk alone. Get a ride if possible. My chapter compiled a list of girls who are available during the weekday evenings (between 5-11 or so) to give rides back to dorms/the house for safety purposes. We always express to NEVER HESITATE in calling a sister for a ride at night.

See:



http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...e6c_story.html

August through November is said to be the period when the most sexual assaults take place at colleges / universities. Also, freshmen and sophomore women are a lot more likely to be victims of sexual assaults than junior or senior women.

See

http://www.dailyillini.com/lifeandcu...a4bcf6878.html

good bump...

Basically, the first rule of the Post Office applies: Don't bend over. Remember, it isn't paranoia if they are out to get you.
(seems working as a casual at a PO one summer was more education that previously thought).