<p>My son is a sophomore and moved in to his dorm this weekend. He got a random roommate and met him for the first time when he moved in. During their first conversation, he pulls out what my son described as a “Marine knife” (he was in the Marine ROTC last year. During this conversation he asks my son if he is Catholic. When he replied in the affirmative, the roomie says “That’s good because if you weren’t Catholic I would have to cut you”
He also told my son that last year he was heavily into drugs and alcohol but now has found god.
I think this needs to go somewhere. I would like to see my son move out.
When I asked my son what his gut reaction was he said “not good”
He doesn’t want to start something, but says there is something off about the kid.
What would you do???</p>
<p>I would urge my son to discuss the situation confidentially with an RA or someone in the counseling center. It’s enough to deal with all the other aspects of college; I wouldn’t want him to be concerned about his physical safety. Good luck…</p>
<p>Listen to your instincts, report the conversation to the administration, and get your son a new room immediately. Good luck.</p>
<p>Don’t wait – get him a new room assignment.</p>
<p>Schools have strict rules about weapons in dorms. Threatening language ( even if your son answered to thwart the treat) is very troublesome. Report, to some adult in power, who will act. I agree all the posters above and I think this is actually urgent.</p>
<p>I totally agree that administration should be made aware of the situation and your son should request a new roommate. I believe it is important for you and your son to report the incident. In addition to reporting it to administration, I would report it to public safety on campus.</p>
<p>I’d have my kid in a motel by evening.</p>
<p>Yes.Son should talk immediately to the RA. You should talk to the offices in charge of residence halls, residential life, and security. </p>
<p>Don’t wait, and don’t allow yourself to be put off. You both need to be persistent and assertive about this. S needs to know that this is unacceptable; he may be concerned about appearing to be a wimp.</p>
<p>Agree with the others. Get out ASAP. Do what you have to do.</p>
<p>This is a “go with the gut” situation.
I would take this to the head of Res Life – or equal – ASAP.</p>
<p>Forget speaking to the RA, he/she has no authority. Go right to the top – the Director of Residential Services.</p>
<p>No no no–as the mother who yanked her son out of a dangerous roommate situation and into a nice hotel for a few nights until he was reassigned to a single–the RA is not high enough, the Housing office is NOT high enough. My son complained to Housing for three weeks prior to the escalation of his situation. Nada. RA? Nada.</p>
<p>Your son should send an email describng the knife and the spoken words to the Dean of his college. If he doesn’t have the nerve–you should send a note to the Dean of the college requesting an immediate room change.</p>
<p>ASAP.</p>
<p>agree with above^^. the RA is just a fellow student. This needs to be reported to and handled by an adult with authority to make the change happen today! The last thing any college administration wants today is another incident that smacks of V Tech.</p>
<p>I would advise you call asap, don’t send a note.</p>
<p>From your description I agree with the others that there’s cause for concern. Those actions aren’t normal by any means and your son’s ‘gut instinct’ is something to pay attention to. This needs to be addressed right away by someone with the power to do something about it.</p>
<p>Call and document in writing.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t even call until I knew my son was in a safe place. Anyhow, the order of things might be different, but it is safety that counts, not whom you happen to talk to or by what means.</p>
<p>Go to as high a level as you can as fast as you can.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. I followed my gut and talked to the hall director.
We live in the same city so son is coming home while they give him his options for moving.
They were very responsive and very concerned immediately.</p>
<p>GREAT NEWS! (though sorry your son and you have to go through this).</p>