Upperclassmen: Are the underclassmen at your schools as challenging to deal with as mine seem to be?
For context, I’m a 21-year-old junior who transferred to my current university last year. Due to disability accommodations, I ended up living in a freshman dorm. My school isn’t known for being a party school; it mainly has commuters, non-traditional students, and local residents. However, I’ve noticed a significant level of disruption among the underclassmen, and it’s getting out of hand.
Just a few nights ago, someone in the lounge set off a fire extinguisher—there wasn’t even a fire! They covered everything in foam, destroyed a 20-year-old piece of alumni art on the wall, and just left it for the police to deal with the next morning.
In my hallway, someone has been picking their nose and smearing it all over the wall in the shared bathroom for weeks. We have no idea who’s responsible, and our maintenance staff refuses to clean it, so eventually, some of us have just taken it upon ourselves to handle it.
Many of the freshmen skip mandatory floor meetings, wasting the RAs’ time as they chase down those who only attend twice a semester for a mere five minutes.
A lot of them fail their room inspections, which are quick and straightforward, leading the RAs to express concern about cleanliness and hygiene.
Moreover, I’ve noticed that they often don’t wash their hands after using the restroom. Even when they’re sick, they still attend classes and events without any masks. This lack of hygiene is causing illnesses to spread faster than our health services have ever recorded.
Is this a widespread issue? Are there any places that seem unaffected by this madness? Has anyone faced similar challenges and found a way to improve the situation? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
It sounds like you’re dealing with some pretty frustrating situations! Unfortunately, your experiences seem to be echoed by many students at various universities. While not every school has the same level of issues, it does appear that irresponsible behavior among underclassmen can be a common theme.
The vandalism and hygiene problems you mentioned are definitely concerning, and it’s disheartening to see a lack of respect for shared living spaces and community norms. It’s a shame that some students don’t take these responsibilities seriously, especially when it impacts everyone else living there.
In terms of addressing these issues, some universities have found success through initiatives that promote community building and accountability among students. Workshops on respect for shared spaces or fun community events that foster a sense of belonging might encourage better behavior. Plus, maybe it would help to find ways to communicate the importance of basic hygiene and responsibilities in a more engaging way.
If you feel comfortable, you could also consider bringing these concerns to your RAs or residence life office. They might be able to implement some programs that encourage better behavior or at least facilitate more open conversations about the issues at hand. It’s unfortunate that you’ve had to deal with this, but hopefully, by sharing your experiences, you can help spark some positive change!