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| RACHEAL ALVSTAD / Scroll |
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A recent survey conducted by www.drugstore.com says college students need to be aware of their roommates’ pilfering ways.
The survey, conducted in August, of over 1,000 male and female college students nationwide, was commissioned to explain what students’ greatest on-campus supply needs are.
The survey says that more than half (52 percent) of college students in the 18-24 year range admit to having taken something from their roommates stash in order to restock their own depleted cupboards.
However, 82 percent reported that they returned these items. “I borrowed my roommate’s car and returned it the same day because I felt responsible for it. It’s important to return stuff in the same condition that you borrowed them. I’d expect the same from my roommates,” said Earl Camp, a senior from Rio Rancho, N. M.
On the top of the list of things most often stolen are late-night snacks like chips and cookies; more than 34 percent of students surveyed admitted they had taken these types of things from their roommates at least once.
More surprising items on the survey included school supplies like paper, pens and pencils (21 percent surveyed admitted to taking these), and toothpaste, makeup and other toiletries (12 percent admitted to taking these).
If granted an unlimited supply of just one thing per semester, students opted away from stimulants like caffeine and chocolate.
“The results underscore that college students, with their hectic class and social schedules, are often too busy or financially strapped to make a run to the campus convenience store or local drugstore,” said Jonathan Tinter, vice president of marketing and strategy of www.drugstore.com.
More than once the golden rule has been ignored on the basis of necessity, but many students at BYU-Idaho make sure it is okay to take the items first.
“I needed something to make food and didn’t want to go to the store, so I called and asked my sister if I could borrow what I needed,” said Shilo Capel, a sophomore from Thatcher, Ariz.
