Advice to incoming freshmen on campus safety...

[TitaniumGene]

Never chase liquor with beer.

[Lightning Bug!]

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.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug!

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.

[Lightning Bug!]

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug!

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.

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.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug!

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?

[Alumiyum]

-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.

[Lightning Bug!]

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.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug!

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.

[Lightning Bug!]

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.

[Alumiyum]

I hope she's ok.

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

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

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 . . . . "

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by exlurker

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.)

[LadyLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

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.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

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.

[exlurker]

See:



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