| To reinforce what dietcokewithlime is saying, alcohol at Carleton is pretty much standard for its peer group. The administration accepts the idea that drinking will happen and simply expects responsible use. The only alternative anyway, draconian (and inevitably ineffective) zero tolerance policies, are just not the sort of thing you’d expect at a place this respectful of students and inclusive of their input. Maybe, WOA, this does contribute to more “responsible” drinking as the Oles you spoke with see it (maybe they just haven’t partied enough crosstown to know better?). While there are plenty of substance free living options around, a non-drinker would still feel very comfortable on any floor in any dorm on campus. As Limner has seen with her own son, “choices being respected” is an unofficial mantra.
Drugs though (especially hard drugs), I’d agree do seem less prevalent here than elsewhere. I’m not sure why. Dietcokewithlime may be right - this may reflect the particular personalities (fewer hipster/”downtown” types) and origins (more than usual from Midwest, small towns) of the students . IzzyD, you say “this is Carleton and Vassar we're talking about here...” and I presume you’re referencing the liberal vibe of both campuses. But you should understand that the true liberalism of Carleton’s student body is their level of tolerance, not their affinity for drug use. Campus democrats may outnumber republicans by a wide margin, but you might still be surprised by the “old fashioned values” so evident here. |