My kid is an RA at a school with regular announced inspections. They can’t touch anything. It’s mostly to make sure there are no blatant violations like oversized fridges, wall hangings in excess of allowed size, upholstered furniture (prohibited by city fire code), etc. If they see something out in the open that’s not allowed, they either confiscate it and turn it into the office, or call campus police, depending on what it is. Liquor in a room with underaged residents would be the latter situation.

Some schools are allowed to search, some are allowed to look

Very good information to know, for parents to know and for the student to know. I would rather be/and would rather my DC be, at a university that's not searching. Not looking to bust students. Imo the ideal RA listens if a problem is brought to them and tries to problem solve. They aren't enforcers, not unless there is an imminent danger. That's what's reasonable to me and the kind of university I would hope for my DC.

Who are all these college dorm residents with hamsters??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at a T20 and my understanding is that most kids have hard alcohol stored in their rooms for weekend drinking. Many parents actually buy it for them rather than risk having them drugged at parties (we didn't do that). And college is not like boarding school where rooms are searched for alcohol(?)

As others have said, in any event, this would be your kid's issue, not yours.

Those parents will feel great if the kid dies in an alcohol related accident or is sexually assaulted while under the influence. Alcohol is a drug.

What? Are you suggesting that all alcohol on college campuses should be reported? This is why your kid is a dork.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at a T20 and my understanding is that most kids have hard alcohol stored in their rooms for weekend drinking. Many parents actually buy it for them rather than risk having them drugged at parties (we didn't do that). And college is not like boarding school where rooms are searched for alcohol(?)

As others have said, in any event, this would be your kid's issue, not yours.

Some schools are allowed to search, some are allowed to look. My child is in a "look" dorm situation. RA can come by anytime (I think), but is not allowed to open any cabinets/frig.

Davidson is also like this.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at a T20 and my understanding is that most kids have hard alcohol stored in their rooms for weekend drinking. Many parents actually buy it for them rather than risk having them drugged at parties (we didn't do that). And college is not like boarding school where rooms are searched for alcohol(?)

As others have said, in any event, this would be your kid's issue, not yours.

Those parents will feel great if the kid dies in an alcohol related accident or is sexually assaulted while under the influence. Alcohol is a drug.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It is a Top 20 private. Turns out the roommate has been at boarding schools since 7th grade. This is not a new habit. So far no uncomfortable interactions.

Sad though.

Anonymous wrote:He should ask for a room change over the winter break. It sounds like he has to always hang out at the library to avoid the partying roommate back at the dorm room. He should demand a change after the fall semester.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a college dorm room inspection and have had 2 kids graduate from college. Inspections didn’t even exist when I was in college and I am OLD.

My DC is at Tulane and they definitely have dorm room inspections every semester. They are not a surprise, so you have a day or two warning. There can be no alcohol in plain sight. I thought this was normal?

My kid is at VT. They had dorm inspections it she was in Greek housing and they were pretty much a joke. As long as you threw a blanket over your liquor you were fine. Even if you forgot they just told you to put it away.

The point is that it is not uncommon to have a dorm room inspection, despite the PP who has never heard of it.

I never heard of it either, fwiw.

It's required by state law, sometimes by local ordinance. https://veroniiiica.com/what-if-i-get-a-housing-violation/amp/

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a college dorm room inspection and have had 2 kids graduate from college. Inspections didn’t even exist when I was in college and I am OLD.

I am also OLD and my best friend from college and her totally innocent roommate were kicked out of their dorm mid-semester because of my friends’ possession of contraband (she had a hamster and a bong, but no alcohol or marijuana in the room). This was mid-90s at a big SEC school. It was a huge pain for the roommate, I don’t remember how it was resolved. I don’t think it was a random inspection, I think the RA suspected the hamster and visited the room, and the bong was a surprise. Neither were hidden.

GMU is GMU. And it's Virginia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a college dorm room inspection and have had 2 kids graduate from college. Inspections didn’t even exist when I was in college and I am OLD.

My DC is at Tulane and they definitely have dorm room inspections every semester. They are not a surprise, so you have a day or two warning. There can be no alcohol in plain sight. I thought this was normal?

My kid is at VT. They had dorm inspections it she was in Greek housing and they were pretty much a joke. As long as you threw a blanket over your liquor you were fine. Even if you forgot they just told you to put it away.

The point is that it is not uncommon to have a dorm room inspection, despite the PP who has never heard of it.

I never heard of it either, fwiw.

NP. I’ve never heard of it either. I assume it’s very school dependent, and I’d further assume that students know whether or not the school or the RA or whoever does inspections. If so, the bottles are a problem and should probably be moved and/or reported before they are found. If not, the bottles are not a problem unless the roommate’s behavior is a problem, which it sounds like is not the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a college dorm room inspection and have had 2 kids graduate from college. Inspections didn’t even exist when I was in college and I am OLD.

My DC is at Tulane and they definitely have dorm room inspections every semester. They are not a surprise, so you have a day or two warning. There can be no alcohol in plain sight. I thought this was normal?

My kid is at VT. They had dorm inspections it she was in Greek housing and they were pretty much a joke. As long as you threw a blanket over your liquor you were fine. Even if you forgot they just told you to put it away.

The point is that it is not uncommon to have a dorm room inspection, despite the PP who has never heard of it.

I never heard of it either, fwiw.

and yet they nabbed my DD's hamster at GMU. GMU will also get you in inappropriate electrical extension cords, drugs, booze, etc.

+1. Colleges are usually looking for fire hazards. When you sign up for college housing a warning of possible quarterly or semester inspections is always given

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a college dorm room inspection and have had 2 kids graduate from college. Inspections didn’t even exist when I was in college and I am OLD.

My DC is at Tulane and they definitely have dorm room inspections every semester. They are not a surprise, so you have a day or two warning. There can be no alcohol in plain sight. I thought this was normal?

My kid is at VT. They had dorm inspections it she was in Greek housing and they were pretty much a joke. As long as you threw a blanket over your liquor you were fine. Even if you forgot they just told you to put it away.

The point is that it is not uncommon to have a dorm room inspection, despite the PP who has never heard of it.

I never heard of it either, fwiw.

and yet they nabbed my DD's hamster at GMU. GMU will also get you in inappropriate electrical extension cords, drugs, booze, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never heard of a college dorm room inspection and have had 2 kids graduate from college. Inspections didn’t even exist when I was in college and I am OLD.

My DC is at Tulane and they definitely have dorm room inspections every semester. They are not a surprise, so you have a day or two warning. There can be no alcohol in plain sight. I thought this was normal?

My kid is at VT. They had dorm inspections it she was in Greek housing and they were pretty much a joke. As long as you threw a blanket over your liquor you were fine. Even if you forgot they just told you to put it away.

The point is that it is not uncommon to have a dorm room inspection, despite the PP who has never heard of it.

I never heard of it either, fwiw.