Complaint Review: Grand Canyon University

I have 3 weeks left in my first semester at GCU and I have 3 weeks to move out if my appeal

does not work out. My girlfriend, Diamond, has the same sanction but has no

chance to appeal and has to move back to California while I stay and look for a

place locally. I am 19 and intern/volunteer a lot of my time away from campus,

helping refugees learn English, painting over graffiti, canvassing for political

campaigns and being involved in my community. I have always had a big heart and

put others before myself, it was how I was brought up by my single mother that

works three jobs.







I wanted a little background before I began since Grand Canyon University care

so little about who I am. I will try and summarize everything the best I can as

a first year communication major.







The first few weeks were okay, I live in triple occupancy (6 people share a

dorm, 2 rooms with 3 people each with a living room in-between) and thought my

two roommates were okay kids. Sure they took all of the closet space, ate all

of my food, drank all of my water, and so much more but I want to keep this

short. The bottom-line was that they did drugs night and day, at first it was a

hookah and I was fine, they did it in the bathroom far away from me. But then

it moved into the room and I tried to ignore it. They were home schooled all

their lives and were trying to have fun while I tried to do my work.







Eventually, I moved into my girlfriend's dorm because her roommates said it was

okay since I already spent the majority of my time there every day, cleaned and

kept it tidy. I lived there for 2 weeks in secret since there is no co-ed and visitors

of the opposite sex are not allowed in the dorms past 11pm. The day I was told

to move back to my room because the RAs had become suspicious so I was about to

leave in a few hours when the RAs and security find me.



The RAs were teaching the new RAs and made all kinds of accusations of what would happen and caused a lot of stress on everyone. While we thought we were going to be fined $250

each, no one explained to us what would happen; we had to wait a week to just

tell our side of the story. I had no connection at this point and had to learn

everything from the girls. After the meeting and the school assessed the

situation, we were fined $100, 5 hours of chapel (an hour every Monday), 5

hours of therapy and 10 hours community service (none of the other community

services I did would not count, I had to apply to new ones and miss time with

my usual ones). I paid it all in full on time and went back to my room to live.







Seven weeks into the semester, my two roommates were snorting powder off the

desk, I found numerous baggies of a white substance when I cleaned and they constantly

came back 3 o'clock in the morning from parties and making noise without

remorse.







I reported them and ten minutes later my room was filled with security, administrators

and they did a half-assed search. As soon as the security left with their hookah

and other belongings, my roommates went back and smoked some weed to relax. Security

never would have thought of to look in the Oreo bag on the desk that was full

of weed even after I told them where it was.







One of the two that were causing the trouble took all the blame and he was

fined, served community service hours and was moved to a different dorm. The

other remained and continued to do drugs and whatnot while glaring at me every

single day. I woke up to "snitches get stitches" and reported it. The

cop came up, too of it and "made the report" but nothing happened.







I now sleep on the floor of my friends room because I feel threatened every

time I walk into my room. The school said there was nothing they could do

unless he does something. While I suspect he has manipulated and stole my

things, I have no way to prove it since I no longer inhabit the room daily.



Now here is the most recent incident that took me off the residence list. Diamond had

reported the treatment from her roommates and they told her to move rooms and

there was nothing they could do. More drama ensued and the school did nothing,

then one night Diamond was crying herself to sleep and was at the point of

wanting to die. I was working at the time with my boss on the website we want

to launch and left immediately. Upon arriving to her dorms lobby, I searched

for a RD, RA or security and found none. I went up anyways and managed to get

into her room, passed her roommates without a word and hugged Diamond. She

calmed down and we went outside to talk. Security passed us and confirmed they

were looking for me, so I calmly went with them and spent 4 hours explaining

everything.



No one was harmed, I am a kind soul and would do anything to help someone. But the school

decided that my compassion is not worth keeping. I do understand I broke the

rules but it was to be there for someone, I was willing to accept more fines

and community service but instead I am faced with transferring schools because

I cannot afford to commute here every day.



This school does not take the time to understand anyone in any situation. My roommates did

hardcore drugs, had sex with their girlfriends in the room, and partied

constantly. They face almost no repercussions, while I act out of fear and

compassion. I suffer far greater for something that did no harm and no foul to

anyone.



I am appealing the ruling for the mere fact I have nowhere else to go and I want to buy time

to organize myself and transfer with a decent record. I just hope anyone else

that thinks of going understand you are paying nearly 20k to be treated like a

child, learn high school material and be charged with fabricated nonsense.