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Most colleges do not allow students to have cars on campus until their sophomore year. The main reason for this is space. For example, if at Penn State (population 50,000+) all students had a car on campus, there would be no room to move. There are some good reasons other than space that cars are not allowed on campus.
With underage drinking on the rise, it’s scary to have someone under the influence on the highways, especially in an overcrowded college town. College students now find themselves in an environment where the only person who can say “no” to them is themselves. Feeling the need to fit in, “no” never leaves a rookie’s mouth, making it difficult to make the right decisions. Experimentation, or what I like to call “learning your limits,” is a terrifying cause and effect.
Most students consume well above their tolerance. The only way to sober up is to wait and deal with the sometimes painful hangover the next day. Some are not so lucky. There have been numerous cases of alcohol poisoning, death, or accidents caused by this type of binge drinking. We’ve all been through that before. We drink too much, get spun around, and then fall over, wallowing in our own vomit saying we’ll never drink again. However, what usually happens after we recover? We drink a little more, but we’ve learned our limit. “I’ll never drink that much again!”
This is what happens to many freshmen. No responsibilities other than school, maybe a part-time job, and practice if you’re a student-athlete. This is one of the factors that underscore why freshmen are not allowed to bring cars on campus. Can you imagine if one of them got behind the wheel? It’s a thousand times safer for them to use their own feet to move instead of a 3,000-pound hunk of steel. Universities realize this and make it a strict policy.
After scaring the parents off, let me narrow it down a bit. Not all freshmen go crazy and drink to excess, but the influence is there and most students are smart enough to quit and only a few will overstep their limits. Universities also believe that if freshmen don’t have cars then they can’t leave, forcing them to interact with other students and walk around campus and get a feel for the university environment, where the buildings are, etc. Most universities are surrounded by shops within walking distance that cater to the needs of all students, from food to entertainment. It is common for colleges to provide free or low-cost bus or shuttle service throughout the campus.
The only reason freshmen may need a because on campus is for special needs. If you fall into this category, go to your campus parking/police office and let them know your situation. Some will oblige without you having to do anything, but most will force you to provide proof and payment, which is added stress a freshman could do without.