Well after 7 hours at PSU with my daughter I am now ready. Ready to not spend seven more hours at PSU. Things started off well enough and I was quite pleased by the first speaker who headed up the honors program. He did not dumb down his prose.
Then we broke into student and parent groups and went our separate ways. They offered about 10 different classes on various subjects surrounding the entry of students into PSU and college life in general.
Then we had lunch cafeteria style.
After that the parents went to listen to all the horrible things that "might" happen to our kids. It is sort of a disclaimer that bad things might happen and we should all try to prevent them. Depression, drinking, drugs, sexual assault, and suicide. Which topic do you think garnored the most audience participation?
Sexual Assault. The audience was not much interested in talking about depression, drinking, drugs or suicide. I thought this odd since all of the above usually are connected to sexual assault. Some parents said that they wanted their girls in self defense classes, or carry mace. One person said own a big dog. Never mind that you can't have a big dog on campus.
Then the health person who was leading this extravaganza of doom said that 90% of sexual assaults take place during a date and involve booze.
One parent asked how would the health center notify them if their kid was sick, etc. The answer was that they would not be notified since the students records are private. This question was rephrased to ask if the health center would notify the cops of an assault had taken place to a student. Nope. Doctor patient confidentiality. The student could talk, but the health care providers are of course prohibited.
The best news I got all day was that a full time student at PSU is entitled to free health and dental through the Student Health Center.
I felt really good about today. And I feel really good about the kids I saw too. As a society we are going to be ok.
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This is not meant to be disrespectful in any way, but you will most likely find at any college, the statistics are mostly the same. Yes, they may give or take; however your daughter will be at just as much risk, and will be just as safe, then she would at any other school. As a parent myself, I have sent 2 of my children off to college. At orientation, they gve us the same speech. And they were perfectly safe. It's standard information they are required to share, and it's standard information you would hear at any college. As for the confidentiality, some colleges follo federal laws and all that require a certain level of confidentiality. They MUST do this because they make the claim and promise to follow it. Trust me- if it weren't that problem, everyone would always find another problem. And students can sign a release form, stating that certain info cn be shared. You have to realize that your "child" is given the option of confiding because he/she is now a young adult. And you have to realize that they are not children...adults have earned the right to have a seperate life, and keep things private. Also, he/she probably is 18, so they legally have the right as well. Please also realize that the students ARE given the resources to deal and make decisions in a safe, smart, and wise manner. That is why the offices exist- and there are people for them to talk to. She WILL be ok-----YOU will be ok.
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