@HeartofDixie — I appreciate the support. My family is pretty country, and I was raised in a pretty religious household, so certain things just weird me out, I suppose. I’ll abide by all campus regulations, and make due with what I’ve got.
Both of my s’s went to college in big cities. There will always be a presentation on campus and off campus safety, dorm rules and policies, etc. at freshman orientation. Always. They want their students to be safe.
@VinceLestrade -What posters are saying is take it down a few notches. You’ve been here 2 weeks and already started 11 threads. Thats a lot. Probably excessive. Calm down and relax. Perhaps do a bit more reading on the threads about the colleges you applied to, and the homeschooled thread, and perhaps a few about campus safety. But really, take a deep breath and listen to some music or something. It will help.
@jym626 — I’ll definitely cool down this week. This weekend has just been particularly tough — and inactive — for me. I’ve had a lot of time to worry. That’s why I like to keep myself busy with school or studying: it distracts me from anxieties.
Most of my engagements have been on three or so threads, and even so I don’t really plan on creating more until I pick a college and can talk with more specificity.
Ultimately, my concerns are limited to just two issues, and I am feeling better about them after talking with y’all. There are still uncertainties and anxieties — as is a continual phenomenon for me — but I feel more prepared than I did before.
You haven’t said which colleges you have applied to. After saying you were raised in very religious home, I wonder if you have applied to more religious schools. These may be more likely to have living options that you are more comfortable with. Based on your threads I wonder how you’ll do at a school that has more open living options. While a school would not put you in a room with the opposite sex unless you agreed, that may create an uncomfortable dorm vibe for you - as opposed to more conservative options such as same sex dorms. To be clear, most schools have a spectrum of living situations-just be sure you’ve looked closely at the options.
Beyond that, your threads make me wonder if you will be back here next year complaining about a roommate who dresses in front of you or won’t leave the room while you dress or won’t turn off lights when you’re ready to go to bed or has friends over while you’re there (just to hang or study, not BF/GF). These are all part of normal dorm life. Maybe talk to an older friend whose is at college now. Might also be good if you have a friend at college that you ask to come visit overnight to see what dorm life is like.
Again it would help with advice if we knew what colleges we’re talking about. Your threads make it sound like you think college is a scary place to be. Maybe you’ve been very sheltered growing up and just need an open mind to new experiences but you do sound overly anxious.
@scmom12 — Yes, I would feel far more comfortable in a male-only dorm — or at least floor. I’m not usually judgmental or requiring when it comes to others. Normally, only my own behavior is affected by my anxieties, and I hide much from others. I don’t think the behaviors of others concern me much at all. As long as my roommate is kind enough, recognizes dorm policies, and is not insanely loud or messy, I will be fine with them. My interest is only to alter my own behaviors, as to best live within a new environment.
There are states that do allow guns and other weapons on campus, but if you look more closely at the university’s policy, you’ll find that they aren’t allowed in the dorms or on university property. Colorado allows them, for example, but the U of Colorado and the city of Boulder do not.
Plan on NOT having weapons of any type on campus or in your dorm. Not mace, not a knife, not a gun.
My daughter went to U of Wyoming. They made a big deal about knives and guns in the dorms or stored in cars, but allowed you to check them in with university police and check them out 24/7. Why? because a lot of the students are hunters and the university wanted them to store their guns, bow, crossbows, knives safely. Because they provided this service, students complied. U of Florida doesn’t allow guns on campus, but I know a lot of people who have them in their cars.
My nephew is fairly big and had no fear of walking around his school. However he actually liked calling the campus escort service at times to walk with him. His reason was they told jokes to help people feel calm and sometimes he was bored and wanted to hear the jokes.
Some campuses have shuttles and apps to see when they are coming so you don’t have to wait outside much or walk around. Once you know where your most likely going you can see what they offer since it varies from school to school. Some may have a shuttle on demand for night time etc.
I looked up my DD’s college:
In the Student Conduct Code it says:
The following is a non-exhaustive list of conduct that does not meet The College’s
expectations for Student conduct. Such misconduct is a violation of the Student
Conduct Code and may result in disciplinary sanctions. Other conduct not found
in this code may still be deemed unacceptable and may be addressed by the
College
Weapon and Dangerous Substances
a. Possession, storage, or carrying of a firearm or other Weapon in a
residence hall room, on a person, or in a motor vehicle on College
premises or at any College- affiliated activity or event. Knives of a
standard size and utilized for an ordinary kitchen function are permitted
in residence hall kitchens.
b. Possession or use of fireworks, gun powder, explosives or other
incendiary devices, or dangerous chemicals, except as authorized for use
in class, in connection with College-sponsored research, or for another
approved activity and used in the way authorized and approved on
College premises or at any College- affiliated activity or event.
“Weapon” includes any item that is designed in appearance or function to
resemble a firearm, cause Harm, and/or invoke fear or intimidation.
Weapons include, but are not limited to, knives, brass knuckles, swords,
slingshots, or any other item when used to Harm or intimidate another.
I think I would go with a Magnalite Flashlight…not a weapon, has a use, but can be swung if necessary.
If it will makes you feel better, both of my daughters attended college on urban campuses. They went to med schools in urban areas and did/are doing their residencies in urban areas. They come and go at all weird hours of the night and day–they have never been attacked, robbed, or mugged. Neither has ever carried a personal defense weapon other than cell phone and a ring of keys.
Well, a nephew’s roommate was coming home from a late night nursing shift at a Baltimore hospital, got carjacked and the robbers made him drive home where they robbed the rest of the roommates and pistol whipped them. The gun also went off. This was horrible but a very low frequency occurrence.
Based on the OP’s many threads, I question if this is a real poster or a bored individual looking for entertainment. I also can’t help but notice the change in writing style from formal to using y’all. It’s just odd.
Asking about bringing weapons to a college as campus is meant to get a reaction. I would argue the same about the other threads now that we are seeing a pattern including an ongoing dialog from the OP.
Not sure I would have driven the robbers anywhere after being car jacked. If they asked me to take them to my roommates, or family in my case, then I’d taken one for “the team.”
The brass knuckles reference still cracks me up every time I read someone mention it. Most people don’t know how to throw a punch correctly.
@bopper — I have decided to go with such an option. Thanks for the advice.
@Empireapple — I did in no way expect such an extensive reaction to my initial post. I was really just trying to learn about campus policies and establish a dialogue as to the use of self-defense implements on-campus. After receiving many critical responses, I pursued this as a means of hopefully continuing this intriguing dialogue.
My interest in the topic of self-defense is true, as is all I have said regarding myself and my circumstance. I am not trying to offend or to attract attention to myself. I’m just interested in this discussion.
Self-defense on college campuses has been a huge issue in recent years, specifically due to the activism of gun-rights proponents and their respective adversaries. I grew up in a household very involved in this topic, leading me to maintain an interest in it to this day. Therefore, I was just interested in seeing what was allowed and disallowed on-campus. Again, it ended up drawing on for quite awhile, which I was not opposed to as I love to converse.
My level of formality varies as I am generally interested in writing formally, however, with certain users, I am more compelled to “lighten up” a bit.
@sushiritto Its possible the robbers took his wallet and drove his car to the address on the license vs holding a gun to his head and making him drive home. I heard those details second hand and it was several months go. Regardless, they did end up at my nephews’ (yes 2 nephews) home and the rest is as I described. Regardless, if someone is holding a gun to your head one typically does what they say.