You're in college, you're going to want to be social and party and you should. But if you choose the party life know that eventually you will get busted. Here is some advice to keep you out of trouble as much as possible.
Over my first year in college I got busted countless times but I neverĀ got in trouble. Offenses are very normal if you are a pledge or a naiveĀ freshman and range from driving violations to dorm partying to being in locations you are not supposed to be late at night. Most of this knowledge was acquired through trial and error so trust me I know firsthand that it works.
Donāt be an idiot.Ā Before getting into what to do when the "Man" gets in your face, you shouldĀ try to avoid the situation all-together. Most of the time when you get into trouble on campus it is very blatant user error. First off, get to know your RA. Usually if you can show them you are a decent person they are a lot more inclined to let infractions slide, but some RAs simply won't care at all. Finding out what they're like early on makes the rest of the year much easier. Additionally, get to know your dorm/suitemates, especially ones that support the 18th amendment. If the guy down the hall is already uncomfortable with alcohol and has a midterm the next morning, its probably not a great idea to be taking handle pulls, blasting Juicy J, and screaming āturn up!!!ā all night with your buddies. That dude is going to make it his mission to get you written up as often as possible. When it comes to actual police, this advice rings even truer. Don't sprint away from a cop when they approach you, don't talk back, and dear God don't try to forciblyĀ resist them. Doing that stuff gives them an excuse to taze you in the face like you are Zach GalifianakisĀ in the Hangover. Don't be the "tazered in the face kid" that everyone laughs at. Keep the doors locked/closed at all times and blinds down.Ā
RSOs MUST HAVE PERMISSION to enter a locked building (unless they have probable cause), so they cannot just barge into your room and write you up. As long as any damning evidence is out of sight - especially where the blinds come in - they won't have probable cause.Ā RAs are a little different but they still require you to open the door for them. A locked door gives you an extra few seconds to clean up the suite and a better chance of not getting written up.Ā Ā
Always have some kind of a DD.Ā By DD I don't necessarily mean designated driver (always necessary to have the driving kind too) but a person who is sober enough to be able to stop mayhem and squash horrible ideas when (and not āifā) they arise. At parties, both on andĀ off campus, it is almost always one belligerent jackass that gets authorities called. They will be screaming their head off,Ā break something, orĀ decide tonight is the night they streak through the quad like Frank the Tank. A DD is necessary to tell thatĀ liability to shut up,Ā get off the flimsy IKEA coffee table, and put his pants back on. These unsung heroes prevent harm and save parties, so don't rage without one.Ā Ā
Be overly respectful.Ā The on campus security guards have a lot of power,Ā as do RAs, within campus boundaries and that kind of power goes to people's heads. We have also seen examples of problems withĀ the discipline ofĀ policeman across the nation. By being respectful you are massaging their egos and putting them in a better mood. They will hopefully realize that a kid who says āsirā and āmaāamā and uses manners to a hyperbolic point might not be such a bad person. I've gotten off the hook more than once because an authority figure liked my attitude and gave me the benefit of the doubt when he caught me being a colossal idiot.Ā Ā
Give them a reason to let you walk away.Ā I'm not suggesting you begin crying or mentioning intimate and painful details about your childhood when you get pulled over, but if you are in a bad situation cops will understand. During pledge quarter I got pulled over aroundĀ six times for minuscule traffic violations and I only got one ticket because I explained that I was driving drunk people home and attempting to help out my friends. After a small pitch that shows you're are not just some punk, but ratherĀ a mature young adult who made an honest mistake: apologize, apologize, apologize. Give the guy who pulled you over a reason to let you off with a warning. Note: don't over-do the sob story, keep it short because it becomes counterproductive if its some annoying tragic soliloquy instead of an understandable and acceptable reason for your mistake.Ā Ā
If there are any tips I missed please throw them in the comments and if you have any other questions or want specifics comment as well!!