Stanford University - Campus Strictness

College Prowler Take

Historically, Stanford has taken a laissez-faire approach toward alcohol. RAs and Resident Fellows (faculty members living next to dorms) are not expected to police rooms. Students are given a lot of freedom, with the hope that they will make responsible decisions. Police still have to enforce laws on campus, but they generally don’t enter dorms. They mostly spend their time ticketing people for offenses like biking or driving through stop signs, and other assorted traffic violations. They generally don’t interfere with parties, unless things get out of hand.

With that said, things seem to be changing. In recent years, the administration has taken a progressively tougher stance on alcohol, which has been banned in freshman dorms. Realistically, this means freshmen can no longer hold parties involving alcohol in common areas. RAs generally don’t enforce this, but if the police were to show up, the consequences could be serious for both residents and staff. Stanford’s original philosophy was to keep drinking out in the open so it could be moderated. Now they are trying to discourage it altogether. For the most part, freshmen can drink in their rooms, away from watchful RAs, but at frat or house parties, there are more strict carding policies—which are working, to an extent. The issue is very big on campus, and it’s not clear what will happen. Chances are that the administration will continue to enforce stricter policies.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Campus police are not that strict... Campus police are not that strict at all in my opinion, in terms of drinking at least. About drugs, I’m not so sure. I know that last summer some students got expelled, but that’s not something that happens very often. 12345 Campus Strictness Report

Anonymous says:

This is one area in which Stanford... This is one area in which Stanford does very well: we get to have parties in our dorms with alcohol, and the police almost never come. RAs are not policemen, and are cool with us drinking, as long as we are responsible about it. 12345 Campus Strictness Report

Anonymous says:

As long as you are in a dorm,... As long as you are in a dorm, anything goes. The drinking policy is typically not enforced, as long as you aren’t running around in the streets with stuff. 12345 Campus Strictness Report

Anonymous says:

You can get away with most things,... You can get away with most things, but if you go overboard with something, your dormmates will probably at least be worried. 12345 Campus Strictness Report

Anonymous says:

It’s best to be careful about... It’s best to be careful about whatever you’re doing, not necessarily because you’ll be caught, but because nobody likes it when there’s puke in the hallway. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, everyone gets pissed. 12345 Campus Strictness Report

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