Student Submissions




Student Submissions

Submission #1:

I started off my second year in Speech and Language Sciences the same way as most other Brock students. The first week was spent partying and catching up with friends. However, unlike most of my peers I was still underage. Instead of waiting one more month to go out to the bars with the rest of my house mates, I decided to speed up the process and get a fake ID. So the next time my friends went out to the bar, I decided to give my fake ID a try. We all went to Isaacs and when I got to the front of the line I had all the information on the ID memorized, however once I couldn’t produce a second piece of identification I got my ID taken away and I was told by campus police that I was getting a ticket for using falsified identification. I had never previously been in trouble and it was a really big shock being reprimanded and written up. After that I had to go to a hearing where a panel of Brock students decided what my sanctions would be. I was given a fine of $125 and banned from Isaacs; I was also asked to write this story.  I felt terrible for not only wasting people’s time from the University Disciplinary Panel and Campus Security but also making such a huge mistake that negatively affected my first month of school. It was really difficult to tell my parents because I knew they would be very disappointed in me. If I had only waited another month, until I was 19, this whole situation could have been avoided. There are other ways of having a good time aside from going to a bar and risking the chance of getting in trouble. Even if you feel like the only person who is not able to go, chances are, there are a lot more people in the same situation. I have learned that it is not worth using a fake ID even if it means missing out on some “fun”, because there is absolutely nothing enjoyable about getting caught. I also learned that I want to be a better role model, especially to my younger siblings, who I hope will make a better choice if they face a similar experience. Overall, this has been a life experience that I have learned from, albeit one I hope to never experience again!

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Submission #2:

Unfortunately I became familiar with the Non-academic Discipline Services. Before my involvement, I was not familiar with the penalties for one’s consequences and how this specific process would be carried out. I became nervous for my hearing when I came to terms with my actions, and understood it was a serious offence that could have had a greater impact on my affiliation with Brock University. I assured myself that this would be my first and last offence committed, given I am only in first year and a second offence could affect my future with this school.

When I walked into my hearing, I was intimidated by the setting. I was not expecting someone to read out my rights beforehand as I consistently see on television. I realized how serious these types of actions are taken, no matter the circumstances. I was found responsible for breaking the sixteenth Code of Student Conduct: Misconduct Related to the Use of Alcohol. I consumed too much alcohol in a short time span, which lead to the calling of an ambulance as I was oblivious to what was going on at the time. After I went in to detail explaining my story to the council, they deliberated to decide what my specific penalties would be. I was told I had to pay a one hundred and twenty five dollar ticket, was on general probation until December thirty first and was required to complete this paper. I was shocked when I first heard this because I thought it was a little much, but I eventually understood these are the types of consequences for actions such as mine, and they have to be taken seriously.

As one can see I learned my lesson the hard way, but I can guarantee my sanctions assigned will defiantly prevent me from committing any type of acts that are not acceptable at Brock University. I came to the realization that having fun in a civilized manner is much more appropriate in relation to embarrassing myself. I also felt childish when my mother also found out. Here I am a nineteen year old being punished by other adults. I felt incompetent about my capabilities of acting like a mature adult considering my actions were way out of line. Hopefully other students can learn from this embarrassing situation and carry on to enjoy their university life without these types of problems arising.

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Submission #3:
 
As a first year student at Brock University, I am only eighteen and I was still trying to meet new people my age. I felt it necessary to be with my friend who lives in residence constantly since I was living off-campus it would give me the opportunity to make friends. During the third week of school there was a party in one of the rooms on my friend’s floor; it sounded like a good way to get to know people since I still had been having trouble making new friends. I knew that there would be drinking at the party, it didn’t bother me at all because I had been around it all through senior years in high school. I had always been the friend who drove everyone home from parties as I chose not to drink. I found that most of the time negative situations arose when alcohol was involved, pushing me away from even considering “getting drunk”.
 
While getting ready in my friend’s dorm her roommates were pre-drinking for the party, they were of legal drinking age but my friend and I were not so we just hung out. We finally made our way to the party where a bunch of students were stuffed in a very small room. The room was full of alcohol and intoxicated students; numerous drinking games were going on. I was having a lot of fun and meeting a ton of people I had never seen before, the night seemed to be going fairly how I expected. Before I knew it I had been coaxed into joining the “Flip Cup Team”, a popular drinking game involving plastic cups. After a few rounds of playing with straight vodka I was feeling a bit out of my element. I sat down for a bit figuring I just needed a break from the game. Twenty minutes past and I had only started feeling worse, I looked for my friend but she had left when I started drinking. I stumbled down the hallway to her room, she opened the door and I fell onto the floor. I felt very sick so I thought it might be a good idea to take a cold shower; showering only made it worse and I found myself wrapped in a towel hovering over the toilet. I have never been so sick in my life. I continually regurgitated for two full hours before someone thought they should call for medical attention. By the time the EMS arrived I was on the floor shivering and breathing heavily, I cannot remember taking an ambulance in the hospital. I was taken to Niagara Falls where I waited until the early hours of the morning accompanied by my friend.
 
At the time I chose to drink I felt it necessary to impress these new friends I had made, completely out of character I ignored the decision I knew I should have made like I had done many times before. I refused to say no and now I am dealing with consequences to my behaviour. Not only did I embarrass myself in front of my good friend and lose her demerit points on her residence record but I have to pay a Brock Ticket of $125 for drinking underage as well as participating in a Drinking Choices Educational Program. I know this behaviour is not a true representation of my personality and the friends I was trying to make were not the right ones if I felt I needed to indulge in drinking like I did. The advice I give to you is to show people who you really are; by trying to be something I thought they wanted I misrepresented my beliefs and values. I was losing respect for myself and my body and others followed my lead, losing respect for me as well. Make the right choice, show your peers the real you.

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