Spring Break
The dorm life
Samantha Hughes
Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: Opinion
I once read somewhere that the best horror stories happen in places you feel safe.
It makes sense, right? It's the reason why children are terrified of the monster under their bed: their bed is "safe" and a monster is invading their safety.
This philosophy holds some weight in the residence halls, too. The residence halls on campus are designed to be safe for its occupants, but if you analyze it, they're not the safest place to inhabit.
They have rules that are honestly meant to protect the residents: the outer doors that lock are sturdy and do a great job at keeping most unwanted people out, and when you lock your room door behind you, you're about as safe as you can get.
The "No tailgating" signs posted at every entrance and on the marquees on lobby TV screens remind you not to let anyone in behind you.
But who really follows that? I only know one person, and that was the RA of my first residence hall.
She was pretty into the rules, actually. After quiet hours, you could hear a pin drop, and she was always in bed around 12. For what it's worth, Kelley was an incredible RA and really adhered to the rules. However, no one else really did.
I lived in one of the all-girl dorms, but it was pretty shocking to see the number of boys who lurked about the halls after hours. Most of them were fairly harmless looking, and some of them I knew myself. One of my close male friends was pretty much a permanent resident of a floor. Almost every night, he was there.
But sometimes, the visitors weren't so harmless.
During fall semester of last year, I had an unpleasant stalker-esque experience with a boy harassing me. My next-door neighbors even had to knock on my door one morning to tell me to look outside where he had written, in chalk, on the roof of the building our
rooms overlooked.
Don't go there, fellas. It's a cute idea until she wakes up in the morning and finds you lurking under her window. It's creepy. Especially when it's unwanted.
It makes sense, right? It's the reason why children are terrified of the monster under their bed: their bed is "safe" and a monster is invading their safety.
This philosophy holds some weight in the residence halls, too. The residence halls on campus are designed to be safe for its occupants, but if you analyze it, they're not the safest place to inhabit.
They have rules that are honestly meant to protect the residents: the outer doors that lock are sturdy and do a great job at keeping most unwanted people out, and when you lock your room door behind you, you're about as safe as you can get.
The "No tailgating" signs posted at every entrance and on the marquees on lobby TV screens remind you not to let anyone in behind you.
But who really follows that? I only know one person, and that was the RA of my first residence hall.
She was pretty into the rules, actually. After quiet hours, you could hear a pin drop, and she was always in bed around 12. For what it's worth, Kelley was an incredible RA and really adhered to the rules. However, no one else really did.
I lived in one of the all-girl dorms, but it was pretty shocking to see the number of boys who lurked about the halls after hours. Most of them were fairly harmless looking, and some of them I knew myself. One of my close male friends was pretty much a permanent resident of a floor. Almost every night, he was there.
But sometimes, the visitors weren't so harmless.
During fall semester of last year, I had an unpleasant stalker-esque experience with a boy harassing me. My next-door neighbors even had to knock on my door one morning to tell me to look outside where he had written, in chalk, on the roof of the building our
rooms overlooked.
Don't go there, fellas. It's a cute idea until she wakes up in the morning and finds you lurking under her window. It's creepy. Especially when it's unwanted.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
John
posted 7/01/09 @ 6:00 PM EST
First of all, there is no campus security, it is campus POLICE, with full arrest powers, and they are not students. The campus safety students call the campus police if they observe something. (Continued…)
informed resident
posted 7/02/09 @ 11:49 PM EST
Ok first off ECU doesnt have "dorms" we live in residence halls. and before you ask, yes there is a difference. In a dorm you don't have community building activities and no community bonding, its just a place to sleep. (Continued…)
Allie
posted 7/08/09 @ 3:36 PM EST
Dear Samantha,
As an adult woman who has fought forty-two years for equality, I am angry, and saddened by your article. I can't believe that your generation is still buying the "asking for it" alibi. (Continued…)
Megan
posted 7/09/09 @ 3:06 PM EST
I am a recent graduate of ECU, but have not lived on campus since 2003.
Allie - I don't believe a girl "asks for it" when she's intoxicated, but she isn't really aware of her surroundings and makes decisions she otherwise wouldn't had she been sober. (Continued…)
Thanks Megan
posted 7/10/09 @ 2:10 PM EST
Thanks for your post Megan. I regret that my post was interpreted as "blowing up at responsible women". Of course people make bad decisions when they are intoxicated, but that still doesn't justify the "misunderstanding" of asking for it. (Continued…)
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