Wesleyan University - Campus Strictness

College Prowler Take

The consensus at Wesleyan is that Public Safety (fondly known as P-Safe) looks the other way when it comes to most student transgressions. Lately, however, campus strictness has been heating up. Last year, the University outlawed a favorite student holiday called Zonker Harris Day (named after the Doonesbury character), a day that was reserved to basically lie out on the hill and smoke pot. However, everybody does basically the same thing on 4/20, and even though you can literally see the cloud of smoke rising above Foss Hill, the University doesn’t do much about it. When it comes to drugs and alcohol, the residential advisors (RAs) will almost always leave you alone as long as you’re not belligerent. At Wesleyan, the more typical kind of misbehavior is mischief-oriented. Streaking, good-natured pranks, and public nudity are far more common than conventional bad behavior such as fighting or (non-artistic) vandalism. For theses sorts of offenses, Public Safety will usually let you off with a proverbial slap on the wrist. For more serious offenses, it’s possible to be sent to the Student Judicial Board (a process known as being "SJB'ed"), which usually has more serious consequences.

The biggest problems recently have been with student parties. In spring 2008, there was a situation dubbed “the Fountain Incident” in which a party was broken up by the Middletown Police, some say unnecessarily and with undue force. More recently, concerts at some of the frat houses have received repeated noise complaints, and the University threatened to disallow concerts in those venues for the rest of the year. These situations point to a lot of friction between Wesleyan and Middletown, which isn’t really surprising given the economic disparity. Many students wish that local authorities would just leave them alone.

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Students Speak Out

Wesbv says: Wesleyan University 2015 Other

It varies from dorm to dorm. Some... It varies from dorm to dorm. Some RAs are completely lax and may even buy you alcohol and party with you, while others will take it from you and turn you in if they so much as see you with some. You may be able to have a raging party in your room or you may not - it's luck of the draw. Obviously, the bigger the party, the more likely it will be busted by P-safe, but the rules are fairly transparent, and if you are at least halfway intelligent about it you should be able to easily avoid ever getting in trouble. 12345 Campus Strictness: March 03, 2009 Report

sahsas says:

You'd have to be really unlucky to... You'd have to be really unlucky to get caught, but if you do, your first drinking offense will usually result in a referral to a community leader and a stern talking-to (i.e., nothing). If it's a drug offense, you'll get put on trial in front of the Student Judiciary Board. Some people end up getting charged, some end up being let off. First sanction is a warning, then probation, then something more serious. It's really hard to get caught though. 12345 Campus Strictness: February 25, 2009 Report

WesLD says: Wesleyan University 2013 Psychology

As a freshman, I found these... As a freshman, I found these policies were pretty relaxed. However, over my four years, Public Safety has been cracking down more on drugs and drinking. As long as you're not caught you're fine. But if you're stupid and walking by a P-Safe officer with a beer, you will probably get caught. 12345 Campus Strictness: February 24, 2009 Report

kmay says: Wesleyan University 2014 Philosophy and Religion

P-Safe (what Public Safety is... P-Safe (what Public Safety is called on our campus) are there sometimes and completely absent the next. Watch out, and know that you will be in front of the Student Judiciary Board if you're caught. 12345 Campus Strictness: February 24, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Compared to big state schools,... Compared to big state schools, Wesleyan is kind of strict. 12345 Campus Strictness Report

Facts

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