ACUHO-I News Blog

If you’re in the eastern United States, you’ve probably seen the bumper stickers: “Ithica Ithaca is Gorges!” The phrase advertises the landscape surrounding Ithica, Ithaca, New York, which is roughly in the middle of the state, near the fingertip of Cayuga Lake.

The touristy boast takes on a darker meaning, however, when one considers that Cornell University students have jumped to their deaths from the bridges spanning the gorges. Six suicides have occurred in this academic year. The three most recent all occurred in 2010, and all involved the bridges. Some other years have also had what seemed to be a high suicide rate, while during others, there were none. Cornell is a very large institution (their total enrollment is 21,325), so the occurrences of things that are both positive and negative will be higher than that for smaller institutions.  However, this is no comfort to the students, staff and administration, and Cornell has been taking steps to prevent tragedies. Cornell adjusted its interpretation of FERPA to allow them to notify a student’s parents of signs of depression without the consent of the student. Faculty and staff members have been trained to spot the signs of depression. A team meets weekly to discuss students who may be suffering emotionally. The institution has beefed up its mental health and counseling services. Cornell has posted police officers on the bridges around campus.

Part of the problem might be something Cornell can’t do anything about: the gorges. The usual perception of a  suicidal person is that if the gorge weren’t accessible, he  would determinedly find another way to end his life.  That might not be the case. A study published in the British Journal of Criminology looked at suicide rates in Britain before and after the design of gas stoves was changed in the 1960s and 1970s.  Pre-1960s stoves delivered the gas in a way that made it easy for people to end their lives. Death by gas inhalation was far more common than any other suicide method during that time; nearly everyone, of course, has a stove. After stoves were made in a way that makes it more difficult to asphyxiate oneself with the gas, suicides decreased dramatically. Apparently the people who would’ve otherwise killed themselves with gas from the kitchen stove did not find another–less convenient–way to end their lives. Scott Anderson wrote about this study, and similar research, in an excellent New York Times Magazine article. Suicide, it seems, is often an impulsive act. If the impulse can be thwarted, the suicide is less likely to occur at all.

Watch these videos. Then we’ll talk. (I’ll wait.)

Okay, were those effective drinking deterrents for you? What about for your students?

I have to admit, when I saw the female version, I thought: “Wowee. That was one helluva night out.” Some YouTube commenters apparently agree; one says: “she is cute in a debauched way…. i think this will probably doesn’t work as the advert intends….” and another noted: “If she came home like that she must have had a f****** EPIC night out!!” Others asked why the advertisement was “promoting” binge drinking. (Facetiously, I assume.) Some seem to get the point of the advertisement; many more are debating the origins of the song in it.

It’s alarming when I find my thoughts aligning with YouTube comments, but I’ll worry about my issues later. Society’s issue, it seems, is that ads like these seem to encourage binge drinking, not deter it, as if a morning spent guzzling water, munching aspirin and locating one’s brain cells is a weird, sticky, stinky badge of honor.

A study conducted at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management  found that PSAs like this don’t discourage binge drinking, and may actually lead to more of it. Ad Age reports on the study, and more results will be published in the Journal of Marketing Research later this year. The ads rely on guilt and shame to move viewers, but if the target audience is already feeling guilt (about anything), they’re likely to shy away from things that play on those emotions, and resist the messages in the ads.

In a touching and thoughtful essay in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Elizabeth Stone recounts what happened when a student of hers, Casey Feldman, died unexpectedly during summer break. Feldman’s roommate thoughtfully called Stone and others close to her in an effort to prevent them from hearing the news on Facebook first. Then Stone watched as Feldman’s friends grieved on Facebook, posting messages on her wall and consoling each other. As time went on, some friends would check in on Feldman’s page, telling her their news or recalling good times they shared.

The grieving process lasts long after the funeral, and Facebook was a way for Feldman’s friends to recognize that, and share their sadness together.

Facebook being used as a place to mourn and remember a life is hardly unheard of, but it’s still relatively new. What are your campus’ experiences with Facebook and grief?

The student affairs and higher education Twitter community was buzzing on Wednesday with people sharing the link to the Pew Research Center’s “How Millennial Are You?” quiz.  The fourteen question quiz provides a generational result ranging from Millennial [1981+] to Silent [1928-1945]. While results of the quiz were being Tweeted throughout the day, conspicuously absent from the conversation was dialog about what the quiz was actually trying to accomplish.

It is obvious from the questions on the quiz that this is a glorified Internet meme. The results, truly, are meaningless. Many of the traits being assigned to Millennial or Generation X are as much a function of personality as they are generational. Or, more flawed, they are things out of the control of the participant [e.g. the quiz asks about parents’ marital status].

While the site doesn’t portend to be an accurate evaluation, the ensuing conversation was fascinating about how student affairs professional perceive Millennial students. In fact, some seemed insulted to be considered a Millennial, flaunting their Generation X result.

Has it become a status symbol to be identified as a member of one generation rather than another? When did Millennial become a four-letter word, even for those who work in student affairs and higher ed? And, more importantly, have we lost sight that generational identities are indicators of trends in thought patterns, behaviors, and motivation?

Check out the quiz yourself and share your thoughts below.

The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart is The Awesome. You all know that. Now he can be The Basis of Your Money Management Instruction for Students!

This Daily Show clip, brought to us via Gawker TV (their motto is “Your work can wait,” so be forewarned) can also be a way you can educate your students on how credit cards work, and how credit card issuers likely do not have their best interests at heart. And it will make them (and you) laugh as well. That’s always a good way to learn things.

What are your techniques for teaching students about unpleasant, “boring,” or otherwise un-enticing topics? Let us, and your colleagues, know!

As of today, credit card issuers have to play by new federal rules when trying to entice college students (or anyone younger than 21) to sign on. Consumer advocates say the new rules are a good start.

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 restricts banks from offering credit to people under 21 unless an adult co-signs or the signer can show they are able to make the payment. Credit issuers cannot offer free gifts at campus events (team t-shirts at football games) as inducements to sign up.

For their part, institutions cannot collaborate with credit card issuers to offer institutional merch for credit card signees and the law puts restrictions on cards offered through alumni associations and similar.

The law encourages, but does not mandate, that the institution educate its students on responsible credit and money management. Does your institution do this? Does housing or residence life aid in this program? Let us know.

On a related note, the Talking Stick had a story on aiding students with money management; see that article here: Money Management TS

International Hall Staff Appreciation Day does not, for reasons unbeknown to me, come pre-printed on the blotter calendars that are delivered to my office each year by the local furniture vendor representatives. Each year it sneaks up on me in the midst of staff selection and room lottery seasons, a seemingly innocuous Wednesday in mid-February.

There are traditions for this day in my world. They involve rallying the Community Council, oversize signs on staff member’s doors, a Dairy Queen ice cream cake at staff meeting just when the staff has reached their threshold with my full agenda. They are small things, to be certain, but they are things that highlight my appreciation of these undergraduate students who step up and demonstrate leadership in their community. We know from our own experiences that it can be a thankless job, and while we do our best to demonstrate continued appreciation to student staff, it falls off the to do list amidst all of the other responsibilities we have.

I am reminded of celebrating the same day a decade ago when I was a resident assistant. Having the dining hall’s premiere and rarely served dessert at a staff meeting seemed indulgent for a Wednesday night; the decorations on my door reminded all of my residents that even if they were mad at me that week for enforcing policies, I was appreciated by someone on campus for doing my job.

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Young adults do a lot of dangerous things, things that are widely acknowledged to be risky: drinking heavily; drinking and driving; drugs; standing on slanted, 30-degree rooftops in 5-inch heels (I’m personally guilty of that last one).  But some also do things that seem innocuous. Eating a peanut butter sandwich, some ice cream, or a slice of cake.

Increasing numbers of students have been arriving on college campuses with food allergies they are unable–or perhaps, unwilling–to manage by themselves. Perhaps their parents had done most of the work of coordinating doctors’ appointments, medications and keeping the illicit ingredient out of the way.  Despite the parent’s best intentions, their child arrives at college with limited ability to cope with their own condition. Some students may be reluctant to admit that their allergy limits them in any way. Some have never had a very severe reaction, and regard their allergy as a mere annoyance, rather than something that could be life-threatening.

The situation is difficult for dining halls as well; ensuring that adequate meals are created without allergens and making students aware of the ingredients of each dish, all the while creating delicious meals that appeal to everyone, providing a welcoming environment, and hopefully making a profit, or at least breaking even. Some institutions have opened special allergy-free kitchens and refrigerators to deal with the issue. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network introduced its College Network in 2009, a resource for students on institutions that can accommodate their diets.

Despite an institution’s best efforts, however, there’s no way of preventing an allergic student from eating an off-limits food, unknowingly or otherwise. And these are the sorts of things that keep administrators awake in the wee hours.

How has your institution dealt with this issue? Have food allergies affected the residence halls? Does a student who keeps a jar of peanut butter handy find it hard to live with a roommate who must avoid the stuff? Have allergies affected how the vending machines are stocked? Have you had to confront a student who is eating dangerously? Let us know.

Depending on which school she attends, our laptop-student there might be among a significant majority: female students.

The New York Times ran a story about the gender imbalance on many campuses. At a lot of institutions — but not all — women outnumber men, sometimes by a considerable percentage. This creates an interesting social scene, at least for the men.  Has a skewed male-female ratio on your campus changed how students act, or your operations? How have you adjusted?

Virginia Tech will now notify parents of students under 21 who are disciplined for any alcohol violation. Previously, the institution only notified parents in serious instances (drunken driving, hospitalization due to excessive drinking) or after two violations. Some parents complained of being caught off-guard when  second incident resulted in sanctions, as they had been unaware of the first violation. Now any drug or alcohol-related violation will lead to an unpleasant conversation with the folks back home.

Virginia Tech officials say the move is welcomed by parents, as partners in their student’s well-being, but, shockingly, students aren’t happy about it. While the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act restricts how much an institution can tell parents about their adult children, there’s an exception for drug- and alcohol-related incidents for students under 21. In these instances, institutions can set their own policies.

How does your institution manage this tricky situation? Have you made changes to your policies because of parents’ requests or legal issues? Are you considering doing so?

Okay, that post title might be a bit cynical. But forgive me; it’s January in Ohio. I’m feeling a bit cynical, just like everyone in the Midwest does during these gray days of winter.

Anyway, once again America’s college freshmen have been surveyed for their opinions on everything from politics, to society, to what they’ll be when they grow up. According to the freshmen:

Most, 66.7%, have major or some concerns about paying for college. Just over 53% plan to cover some expenses with loans. Both of these numbers are up slightly since 2004.

Perhaps because of this, a vast majority of respondents, 78.1%, say “being very well off financially is an essential or very important goal.” According to the U.S. Census 2008 Current population survey, all those under 65 with a bachelor’s degree have mean earnings of $58,613, but y’know, bright eyes, bushy tails, all that. And $58K is hardly shabby.

So what have the future titans of America been doing in the meantime?

Well, 66.5% take notes in class; 53.9% ask questions in class; 57.8% support their opinions with logical arguments (that won’t be necessary for the 20.8% who plan to influence the political structure); and 30.9% research topics independently, when not required for class. While 51.2% “seek solutions to problems and explain them to others,” fewer are interested in  seeking solutions to problems they have: 47.3% look for feedback on academic work, and 46.6% revise their papers to improve their writing.

Many, 44%, identify as politically moderate. About 24% say they’re conservative or far right; 31.8% say they are liberal or far left. Students who identify with either political extreme are in a tiny minority; less than 4%.  On major issues of the day, 64.9% feel same-sex couples should be able to legally married; 62.8% feel only volunteers should serve in the armed services and 37.4% feel students from “disadvantaged social backgrounds” should be given preferential treatment for college admissions.

In addition to piles of money (perhaps to swim laps in, a’la Scrooge McDuck), most of our freshmen hope to have a family (74.7%), help others in difficulty (69.1%), and become authorities in their fields (58.5%). Fewer hope to excel in the creative arts; about 16% want to create artistic works, such as sculptures and paintings; 16% wish to become accomplished in a performing art, and 16% hope to create original works such as poems or novels. Hopefully, these students aren’t the same ones who find it extremely important to be wealthy. My post-college life has been very clear on one thing: creativity is nice, but it doesn’t bring in the big bucks.

As for their parents, 46.5% of respondents have fathers who do not have a college degree; 45.2% of their mothers don’t have one either.

During their first term, most plan on living in the residence halls (79.5%); 14.2% live with family, 2.8% live in a private apartment or house and 2.7% live in some other form of campus housing.

To see these numbers and more, check out The American Freshman: Fall Norms for Fall 2009, published by the University of California – Los Angeles Higher Education Research Institute. The Chronicle of Higher Education and the Higher Education Research Institute have conflicting numbers when it comes to how many students were surveyed and how many institutions were involved. If we can get some clarification, we’ll post it here.

And keep in mind, if they were in Ohio in January when the survey was conducted, their answers might have been a lot different.

Some community colleges are reporting an marked increase in their male enrollments. This is the first time in years such an increase has been observed. Women have outnumbered men at community colleges and four-year institutions, and the growth of their population has been higher too. This year marks the first in a long time that men’s enrollment at community colleges grew at a quicker pace than that of women. Could this be the beginning of a trend, or a recession-era blip?

If there is one thing that college and university housing professionals understand, it is roommate conflict. So it makes sense that when MTV and its “True Life” documentary series went looking for subjects for their upcoming project on battling roommates, that they would ask ACUHO-I if we had any suggestions.

The producers are looking for people between the ages of 16-28 who have serious roommate issues (those who are interested, or know someone who may be, can e-mail MTV directly at roommate@mtvn.com). The producers promise a non-exploitive look at how conflicts can develop and what can (hopefully) be done to help roommates find resolution whether it is through conversation, mediation, or intervention. They sounded particularly interested when background about roommate selection processes was shared, as well as different potential solutions that can be available for students in conflict.

What are some of your most time-tested approaches to roommate conflict? Share in the comment section.

Micah Fialka-Feldman, an intellectually disabled student at Oakland University in Rochester, MI, is in a program for students like him; he takes mainstream classes, but uses tutors and other assistants to keep up and complete his coursework. Since he’s a part-time student in a special program, he was not allowed to live on campus. His commute from his parents’ home takes about two hours, and Fialka-Feldman felt he was missing out on campus life. He sued for the right to live in the on-campus residences, and recently found out he won. He’s hoping to move in soon, to begin his last semester at Oakland.

Many institutions limit on-campus housing to full-time students because allowing part-time students to live in campus might lead to other issues: people who are mostly non-students taking advantage of the low rental rates on campus; students with too much free time. However, this sort of policy excludes students such as Fialka-Feldman, who are part-time for other reasons. Students with varying disabilities (diagnosed or otherwise) make managing the living environment more challenging. On the other hand, students who drink too much, who violate the community rules or who avoid participating in community gatherings, also make it harder to nurture a cohesive and safe community. Not all disruptive factors can be controlled, and at what cost? Have you encountered similar issues on your campus? How have you dealt with them?

There are lots of experts trying to explain an entire generation: the ever-fascinating “Millennials.” The experts contradict each other. They contradict what higher education professionals claim to see in reality. Are any of them right? Does what you see at your job jibe with what they’re saying?