CASE STUDY: Pushing the Limits in the Freshman Dormitory

You are a sophomore who is a resident assistant at a local university. You are in charge of a $200$ person co$-$ed dorm for freshmen, and the school year started three months ago. You have had several open meetings with the residents of the dorm, and in these meetings you answered questions about university life and discussed the university's policies regarding upkeep of rooms, alcohol and drugs, and general standards of behavior while in the dorms. The meetings were generally very positive and attended by a maiority of the residents in the dorm. Up until now, the freshmen have been typical first$-$year college students$-$naive, enthusiastic, energetic, and fun. In general, there have been few problems in your dorm, and when problems have occurred, you have been able to straighten them out right then and there. However, many of these problems have involved Michael and Rod, two freshmen from the deep south who are away from home for the first time. The problems with Michael and Rod have been fairly minor, yet they seem to be occurring more frequently and becoming more serious. You first had problems with Michael and Rod when room assignments were passed out at the beginning of the semester. Michael and Rod wanted to move from the third to the fourth floor. You did not see this as a big problem, as a room was available on the fourth floor. Later, you got complaints from several of the black residents on the third floor that the large Rebel flag hanging in Michael and Rod's window was offensive and should be taken down immediately. When you talked with Michael and Rod about this request, they argued the Rebel flag was part of their southern heritage and was not meant to be offensive to blacks. They argued that the Constitution allowed them to keep the flag in the window, even if others found it offensive. After a fairly. lengthy discussion, they finally agreed to take down the flag. Several weeks later you realized the fourth floor had no black residents.

You have also talked to Michael and Rod about excessive drinking in the dorms. Although school policy forbids drinking in the dorms, you did it as a freshman and are not going to be a hypocrite and strictly enforce this rule. In order to stay out of trouble, you have asked the dorm residents to use common sense, not drink in the hallways or common rooms, and not do anything to attract the attention of the campus police. Michael and Rod have not had any encounters with the campus police as yet, but only because you have stepped in and shut down two of their parties. Michael and Rod decided to host a Labor Day drink a thon, and you had to take several of the dorm residents to the hospital for fear of alcohol poisoning. About a month later, they had almost $30$ people in their room drinking and watching Atlanta in the World Series. Because it was a Tuesday night and in the middle of midterms, some of the other residents asked you to tell Michael and Rod to keep the noise level down. You went to Michael and Rod's room and they initially did manage to keep the noise down, but about a half$-$hour later you got several more complaints. When you went back to Michael and Rod's room the second time you warned everyone you would have to shut down the party if you received any more complaints. Michael and Rod promised to maintain order, but an hour later you received four more complaints about their party. Most of the people were very angry with you and told you so when you shut down the party at the top of the ninth inning. Michael and Rod were particularly angry and believed you had singled them out because of problems you had had with them in the past. You told them

this simply was not true; you shut down the party because of the excessive noise and

because it was midterm week. The next morning the Rebel flag was again displayed in Michael and Rod's window.

This morning Connie, a freshman living on the second floor, told you she felt Michael had sexually harassed her. She said she and Michael had been drinking and dancing at one of the college hangouts last night. At about $1$:$00$ PM$,$ they decided to return to the dorm and Michael escorted Connie to her room. Connie invited Michael into the room, and they spent about $10$ minutes discussing the date and making arrangements for a date next weekend. Upon leaving, Michael embraced Connie and said he was not releasing her until she gave him a kiss. Connie told Michael she did not give kisses on the first date, but Michael held her arms and insisted she give him a kiss. Connie said she resisted Michael's advances by turning her head and struggling to break free, but Michael was too strong and forced a kiss. He was about to force another kiss when Connie's roommate entered the room. Michael blushed, told Connie he would talk to her tomorrow, and wished her good night. Connie has been avoiding Michael all day, does not wish to speak to him, and has come to you for advice. You have con