Some first-years come to Brown expecting the stereotypical rowdy college experience, but, for those incoming students seeking a sober lifestyle, the University provides special substance-free housing.
According to the policy on the Office of Residential Life's Web site, "residents in substance-free housing agree that they and their guests will not consume alcohol or be under the influence of alcohol or other substances while in the residence hall."
This year, approximately 80 first-years are living in substance-free halls, located on the second floor of Perkins Hall and the third floor of Emery Hall. Though these residences are "dry," life on substance-free floors seems to provide everything its residents want.
"There's always stuff to do," said Dan Meltzer '09, who lives on the second floor of Perkins. "We can be just as crazy as other people."
The third floor of Emery, designated as both substance-free and all-female, is an environment that residents said suits their lifestyles. "We usually just hang out or go to movies, and there are so many performances on campus," said Michelle Snyder '09, who lives on the third floor. "We can have fun without getting drunk every night."
Both Meltzer and Snyder requested substance-free housing on their housing applications last summer, though Snyder was originally placed in Keeney Quadrangle. She filed for a room change last semster due to the "noise and the garbage trucks" of Keeney and was happy to find herself in substance-free housing the second time around.
In determining which students to place in first-year substance-free housing each summer, ResLife must take into account both the number of requests as well as the physical limitations of the dorm facilities. Rosario Navarro, assistant director of housing ResLife, wrote in an e-mail to The Herald that "the number of first-years who request substance-free varies from year to year, which in turn determines where the students are assigned. ... Last year we had a significant number of first-years request substance-free housing. We will not know the numbers of incoming first-years who will request substance-free until the end of June."
In general, members of substance-free floors form a self-sustaining community to find modes of recreation that do not involve alcohol or drugs and respect one another's social philosophies.
"It's not like we had to sign anything," said Meltzer. "Everyone wants to be there."
Jordan Chesin '09, another resident of Perkins' second floor, sees his hall as "a large family. ... The experience has been so enjoyable that (many) of us will be living together again in substance-free housing in Barbour Hall next year."
However, those placed on the substance-free floor without requesting it do not always share this enthusiasm.
Ida Specker '09, a resident of Emery's third floor, said "it seems unfair for people that didn't request substance-free to be placed in specialty housing with certain standards they have to adhere to. And for the people that did request it, they're expecting a certain vibe. I feel like ResLife could have filled this hall with people that actually wanted it."
"I'm kind of upset that I didn't get that stereotypical freshman dorm experience," she added. "I guess I'll have to get that sophomore year."
Within Perkins, Chesin estimated that "at most, five or six people on the floor drink at parties and the like, but they do not come back to the dorm drunk and disrespectful towards our wishes to be substance-free. We never have to deal with drunk friends, with puke in the bathroom or with any sort of harassment due to alcohol and/or other substances."
Should any students breach the code of conduct on the substance-free halls, Navarro said ResLife would contact the student to review the concerns. "We have not had any concerns with students who have violated the contract this year, but typically the Residential Peer Leaders on the floor would inform us of such concerns," she wrote. "I have not had this type of meeting to date, thankfully."
