If my roommate drinks, can I get in trouble for it?

My roommate is a partier. He's a really nice guy, and respects the fact that I don't drink, but he keeps, on average, 6-8 cans of beer and some rum in the fridge that we've got in the dorm room.

Now, hypothetically, if our room was "raided" or if the RA saw the empties (which are ONLY on my roommate's desk, not on mine), could I get in trouble for it? I know that if he were caught, my roommate would 'fess up to it and wouldn't try to blame me, but could I get in trouble simply for not reporting my roommate?

I don't want to be a narc, but the thought is at the back of my mind; could I get in trouble if my roommate keeps alcohol in the room and I don't even drink at all?

Thanks.

 

[Colt45]

im going to go with no.

 

[Kntx]

you pansy.

grow some.

 

[Rallispec]

here is how it is here...

if there is alchol in your room you're both responsible. other than that-- you're fine.

 

[Rallispec]

i think you need a drink

 

[HappyPuppy]

Threaten to climb under his sheets and pork him the next time he gets blasted. That should get his attention.

 

[Feebes]

RUNNNN!!!! Your about to be raided by the SWAT TEAM!! They'll throw your a$$ in that terrorist camp in cuba for posession of beer.

 

[MrCodeDude]

I'm going to say yes, but I wouldn't know
-- mrcodedude

 

[StageLeft]

If you're SURE he'd fess up then no you're fine I would think. I mean hell you can't be responsible for being his mom. But how can you be sure? I'd consider getting him to write a contract.

But really do they ever raid rooms? Probably not. As others mentioned grow some and have a drink! The sooner you get over your hate for booze in university the better you'll be off

 

See, the thing is, I can't ask the RA or anyone from housing, b/c then they'll have suspicion...and the housing booklet doesn't really address the issue clearly - so I'm assuming they sort of do it on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Rallispec]

just let it go. he's not hurting you

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Kntx
you pansy.

grow some.

No joke...I totally respect that you don't drink...but what he said...

 

[Rallispec]

i htink you need a drink

 

[jlarsson]

At my school, both room mates would get in trouble. That's only if both room mates are present when they bust you. Pretty much, if they bust you, the only people who get in trouble are the ones who are present at the time.

 

[BornStar]

I'm not going to make fun of you because I didn't drink for my first semester at school either. I can't tell you about U of M's rules but I know where Purdue stands. (Another Big10 school, it might be similar.) If you are even in the room at the same time any authority figure finds alcohol in there, you get busted and in a fair amount of trouble. People don't get thrown out of housing on the first offense but it isn't good. So, let's say you were doing a project with a group and the room that you met in also had alcohol in it and the RA popped an inspection then. You're in trouble. The same thing works if you live there except I don't think it matters if you're in the room or not at the time, you get in trouble. I'm not saying it's fair and I'm not saying its a good idea, it's just the way that it is. Incidentally, it doesn't matter if you're 30 and there's alcohol in your room here. That's the problem with a dry campus.

 

[cmdavid]

no you shouldnt get in trouble...

 

[Yomicron]

Originally posted by: JuMpR629
See, the thing is, I can't ask the RA or anyone from housing, b/c then they'll have suspicion...and the housing booklet doesn't really address the issue clearly - so I'm assuming they sort of do it on a case-by-case basis.

You could always call the housing department and ask, that way they won't single you out. If you are paranoid, use a phone other than your dorm one. If you are really paranoid, have some one else call.

I'd guess that you are 50% responsible for any alcohol in your room, but if your room mate fesses up, then you'll probably be fine.

 

[Platypus]

Yes, you can get in trouble. You can kiss your room and board goobye even if your roomate has stuff. Tell him to keep it out of your dorm. Don't listen to all these people who think it's sweet or cool to drink in your dorm room, and get it the hell out of there.

 

[Jzero]

Where I went to school, you both would be in trouble if either you were both in the room or the room was unoccupied (e.g. if it was found during a fire drill key-in or some other similar way). It doesn't even matter if you were drinking or not.
I don't think it's a lot to ask of your roommate not to keep his booze in the fridge.

If you think he will 'fess up and bail you out if something happens, you are probably right, but let me tell you a little experience _I_ had:
My roommate was there one weekend. I was away for the weekend.
My roommate was trying to sleep all day, and the smoke alarm in our room began malfunctioning and going off. Rather than call the office and ask what to do (he wasn't that bright), he taped a wad of tissues over the unit to try to muffle it. It didn't work too well. by Monday it had fallen down. I came home Monday night.
Turns out, a fire alarm went off Monday afternoon while neither of us was there, and during inspection, the RA spotted the tissues hanging from the ceiling and wrote us up on a fire code violation.
Never mind this was in October and for some reason we were never even notified until the following JANUARY.
Fast forward to the "hearing."
I sign an affidavit which states that I was away for the weekend and had nothing to do with it.
My roommate signs a similarly worded affidavit.
We both give recorded testimony stating that I was uninvolved and it was all his fault.
We both got the SAME EXACT PUNISHMENT!!!!!!!

It gets better--I was trying to get a job on residence life which I would lose if I was put on probation, so I did the idiotic pennance which they claimed was being merciful since technically a fire code violation means immediate expulsion. That pennance was to meet with the campus safety coordinator and to make a poster on fire safety.
I did it out of fear of not getting my cushy high-paying guaranteed housing job.
My roommate who knew he was flunking out didn't even bother following up.

No one ever checked up on it. I wasted my time serving a punishment for something I didn't do, was cleared of in multiple ways, and the REAL criminal did jack.

The bottom line is this:
Your roommate might try to help clear your name, but he is no match for the supidity of a residence hall director.

 

[Jfur]

Probably depends on your school's policies, but I really doubt they would hassle you. Has there ever been a booze raid? I know when/where I was in school there never was. Other than the worrying about getting in trouble, does his drinking bother you? If you really cannot live with it, talk to your roommate before doing anything. Perhaps one of you can change roms, or there is an ultra-religious, virgin house or something where you can live Or just transfer to BYU

 

[stonecold3169]

Coming from someone who may have had a few drinks tonight... don't be loud and obnoxious. Don't leave containers in the open. Be kind to your neighbors, and nobody will care what goes on in your room. Give them reason to be angry with you and expect something to come of it, and it WILL involve both of you.

 

I'm not against him drinking, I'm just worried about getting in trouble. My roommate and his friend were in the room tonight having some rum and coke before going out and we were all just having a good time and stuff - I actually like hanging around people who are drinking (it's fun for me), but I personally don't drink. So, my question is just whether or not we'd both get in trouble, or not.

Once again, I'm not against drinking, but I don't drink. Just a personal decision.

 

[HamSupLo]

my RA came into my room once and help himself to our beer!

 

[cressida]

just keep empties out of sight and the stuff in the fridge ... even if there is firedrill and RA came in to see .. they can't open your closet or fridge (at least that's how it is here)

 

[davestar]

my girlfriend is an RA here at UMD. additionally, i've been busted for drinking on a substance-free floor.

1) if a portion of the affected party claims they didn't drink, and everyone else agrees, the non-drinkers get off completely.
2) i got busted in the worst possible situation (my room on a substance-free floor, plus i have a full scholarship from the univ). however, all i got for that offense was 6 months probation.
3) and as far as random busts, RA's are not allowed to enter a room without consent of the resident. if the RA has reason to suspect something illegal is going on in there, he/she may call the police who CAN come in. but by that time, the beer's out the window!