Envy Apartment

CLOSE Kristine De Jesus , a staff psychologist and coordinator of the Alcohol and Other Drug Program at MSU, speaks about the services the school offers to students dealing with alcohol and drug abuse. Mollie Shauger/NorthJersey.com Montclair State University " /> The Montclair State University Red Hawk statue on the school's campus. (Photo: Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com file) For students recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, the typical college campus can seem like a minefield of temptation, with frat parties, tailgating and late night rounds of beer pong. To help recovering students cope , Montclair State University has set aside a floor in one of its dormitories for those committed to sobriety. Officials hope it will give recovering students a refuge on campus, as well as a way for them to develop a small community of classmates who can provide each other support. The initiative at Montclair State  is part of a growing trend nationally , with about 50   coll...

Photo: Contributed Photo / Akashic Books Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 Stacey Lender Stacey Lender Photo: Contributed Photo / Akashic Books Excerpt from ‘City Mouse,’ by Stacey Lender Back to Gallery It was the bathroom that finally started us house hunting on the weekends up in Westchester. Sharon and Dave had just moved to Scarsdale from the city and I swear during brunch they slipped Aaron some suburban Kool-Aid with their day-old bagels. While the kids played on a giant plastic gym set in their cavernous empty living room , they proudly gave us a tour of their five-bedroom Colonial, closet by closet. Aaron seemed bored, as usual, but when we entered the en suite master bathroom , complete with double sinks and a rainfall shower, I heard him gasp. “A separate little room for the toilet!” he said, eyes glowing wide with bathroom envy. “You know,” Sharon said, “our builder is working on plans for the house next door.” “We’re not quite ready,” I replied. “But we can ta...