| As a mature student going back to college, you've | | | | along your own anti-bacterial wipes and keep a stash |
| probably picked out your college of choice, gotten your | | | | of toilet paper in your bag. The bathroom situation |
| financial aid forms in order and prepared yourself for | | | | could get sticky. |
| the many sleepless nights ahead. But surely, there are | | | | 4. Drugs? Noooo! - Drugs are on college campuses |
| some things that you hadn't thought about. Here are | | | | too. Yes, most schools know about them, although |
| seven hazards you should know before going back to | | | | they'll deny it to the bloody-gore finish. When I went |
| college. | | | | back to college, the kids simply did them out in the |
| 1. College is not a promise land where thieving crooks | | | | open, unafraid of the security cameras posted |
| are dead bolted out, so college safety is a concern. | | | | everywhere. |
| Crooks are everywhere, even in college. So never | | | | 5. Heating, Cooling & Ventilation in College - Some |
| leave your valuable belongings unattended in a | | | | colleges don't have air conditioning. To them, this minor |
| classroom. This goes for books too. Books are pricey. | | | | luxury is glorious because true learning can be taught |
| A thief could get a fair price for those, especially $100 | | | | under any circumstances. Mind you, so can heat |
| textbooks. | | | | prostration, otherwise known as a heat stroke! Heating |
| 2. Fire drills are nearly nonexistent at some colleges, so | | | | is not usually a problem, but ventilation can be a tall |
| you'll need to devise a plan of your own. During the | | | | order in some classrooms. For allergy sufferers, now is |
| first week of class, plan your escape. Seek exit routes | | | | the time to get that allergy shot or stock up on |
| for each one of your classes and do this every | | | | over-the-counter medications. |
| semester. If you're a disabled student, especially in a | | | | 6. School Desks and Chairs - Most of the desks in a |
| wheel chair, find out the college's plan of attack if a fire | | | | college classroom are built for right-handed people, |
| or other hazard breaks out. In a fire, elevators will be | | | | because right-handed people still rule the world. So |
| of no use, and highly discouraged because a power | | | | lefties, like me, are crap out of luck. Lefties will have to |
| failure could occur. If your class is on the top floor, you | | | | continue to stretch their postures. |
| don't want to count on the kindness of your fellow | | | | 7. Crayon-colored plastic chairs also dominate the |
| students to carry you down several flights of stairs. | | | | classroom. Remember those? They're still hard and |
| 3. Cleanliness - College bathrooms can be downright | | | | they're still colorful. Things won't be looking on the |
| creepy. Lack of funds or a lack of respect for | | | | brighter side of the day when your arthritis kicks in, so |
| students could possibly be contributing factors. Bring | | | | be sure to keep pain medication in your bag. |