Bowdoin College - Campus StrictnessCollege Prowler2.69

Campus Strictness:

C+

(explain this grade)

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Campus Security, the deans, and Residential Life are becoming increasingly strict, but they strive to give students a lot of room to be individuals. In the past, the school has not come down on you unless your behavior becomes violent or disturbs those around you. Recently, however, students feel that security has started cracking down on parties even if they don’t seem to be too disruptive. Proctors and resident advisors generally make it clear that, if they don’t see a blatant disregard of policy, they will not report you, but people with open containers will be written up by campus police. School policy states that no alcohol or drugs can be kept in campus housing where minors are present. In an attempt to monitor alcohol consumption and maintain a safe amount of alcohol on campus, the school rents kegs to the social houses, but students can still find kegs to buy in the greater Brunswick area.

The administration and faculty want students to believe that they enforce the Honor Code, and they remind students of its importance whether they are doing homework, taking exams, or running for student government. The threat that those who violate policy will have to go up in front of the Judicial Board tends to keep students honest. The J-Board is a student-appointed committee that, along with a faculty advisor, meets and discusses all student infringements of policy. In general, this committee exists more for precedent regarding academic integrity and student fights than for expelling students. On the whole, the school wants to see the students do well and succeed in all that they do.

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rschouvi says:

Bowdoin College 2010

History

Security Loves Us, We Love Them, and We All Hate BPD

B+

If we can ignore the police for a little bit and focus on Bowdoin, we're an incredibly safe campus. Yes, the rules are stricter than at most campuses (no hard alcohol, no drinking games), but these are pretty uniformly not followed. That said, I think we drink safer because of them -- you do have to be smarter to avoid getting in trouble. Security's focus is keeping us safe, though. We have the lowest hospitalization rate in the NESCAC because we trust security and will call them when somebody might need help. I have a shirt with the face of the director of security, who we all love, that says "What wouldn't Randy do?" However, BPD doesn't get the same love. They are actively out to get you, which is making partying less and less safe as people start to avoid calling security for fear of BPD and drink in their rooms rather than in public spaces.

Campus Strictness: February 10, 2010
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DLoucks says:

Bowdoin College 2013

Randy Nichols' Voice Is Like a Warm Blanket

A

The relationship between security and Bowdoin students is pretty positive. The head of Bowdoin Security is pretty much a celebrity and freshman dorms await the nights when he comes and tells stories of his past experiences. Security is pretty lax when it comes to alcohol--parties have to be registered and security will come and check in on a party, but underage drinkers can just set down their drink when security walks in a they won't get in trouble. In the case of hard alcohol though, security will knuckle down. Bowdoin security is good in providing shuttles for students at night and just being a general all-around positive presence on campus.

Campus Strictness: November 17, 2009
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Anonymous says:

Security has gotten too strict!...

Security has gotten too strict! They’ve started to bust up so many parties and really crack down on students. Sometimes I feel like they’re taking away some of the culture of college life.

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Anonymous says:

They are all about our safety!...

They are all about our safety! They aren’t ridiculous about making sure no one drinks. Security checks parties to make sure people are safe and being responsible but not to make sure that only 21-year-olds drink. It’s a nice atmosphere because we don’t go overboard. There is no pressure here to drink. You can go to parties and not drink at all if that’s what you want. People won’t bother you about it.

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anonymous201203 says:

Bowdoin College 2012

Social Sciences

Pretty Lax

A

The local police turn over most issues to campus security. Violating the hard alcohol policy usually just results in a meeting with the dean and possibly a letter home. The academic honor code is not a major part of campus, but if violated, can result in some pretty serious punishments (suspension or expulsion).

Campus Strictness: December 26, 2009
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Facts

Most Likely to Get Caught Doing

  • Holding an alcoholic beverage while on campus in a residential building, if you are under 21
  • Parking your car in a lot other than where your decal designates it to be
  • Stealing the dorm name plate signs off the building.
  • Carrying an uncovered container of alcohol.
  • Stealing food from the dining halls.
  • Violating the Honor Code.
  • Consuming hard alcohol

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