How would you handle a college student with incredible body odor?

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

It is not. It is a regular college class. Many "older" (above 25) students because it is in the evening.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

I spoke with his dad one evening outside of class. He is an older Indian gentleman who looked like he held a respectable job. I asked him to email me, so I could support his son. But I have not heard from him.

2 people like this

Cynthia Owens

@cindiowens (5120)

• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

15 Nov 18

@TheHorse That's too bad. By Indian, you mean from India? I know their culture is different, but I would think it would include teaching your children to be clean.

3 people like this

Simone

@Janet357 (75646)

•

15 Nov 18

I experienced the same thing but this time they were his shoes. I asked him to leave them outside. You may tell him up front.

5 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

I may do so. But I am scared.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

@Janet357 I've been opening one of the classroom doors (there are two) and keeping it open with a garbage can. That way, at least everyone survives.

1 person likes this

Simone

@Janet357 (75646)

•

15 Nov 18

@TheHorse suffocation is much scarier than advising him to put on deodorant.

3 people like this

Judy Story

@jstory07 (139782)

• Roseburg, Oregon

15 Nov 18

You need to tell him before someone else tells him a rude way.

5 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

The students in this class are not "mean." If one of them told him about their concern, they would not do it in a nasty way.

1 person likes this

Alfredo Rossi

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

15 Nov 18

does she not know this?someone should tell her.do they hav a nurse there onboard.

4 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

I do not believe that he (he is male) knows that he is offending an entire classroom.

1 person likes this

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (13117)

• Ireland

15 Nov 18

@thehorse Perhaps make a general humorous announcement to the whole class to the effect that we all need to remember to shower every day, or ask the whole class if they prefer hot or cold showers and hope he picks up that once you’re 18 you need to do so frequently? Gentle, oblique references might however go over his head.

4 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

I may try that. But yes, it may go over his head.

2 people like this

Courtney Dutton

@MommyOfEli2013 (84183)

• Rupert, Idaho

15 Nov 18

I knew someone like that when I was in high school. It was hard be around them in classes and such. Not sure what I would do if I were in your situation though. Hopefully someone has some good advice though!

5 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

I am reading very comment. I want to make the class a comfortable place for all students. But I do not want to get fired.

2 people like this

Courtney Dutton

@MommyOfEli2013 (84183)

• Rupert, Idaho

16 Nov 18

@TheHorse I definitely understand....hard to know what to do when you have to worry about your job being on the line.

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112959)

• El Paso, Texas

15 Nov 18

Hmmmm, maybe suggest he change his diet??

3 people like this

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112959)

• El Paso, Texas

16 Nov 18

Yeah, that too unless he's a true believer that once a year would suffice @TheHorse

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

I just think he needs to shower at least once a week.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (471992)

• Switzerland

16 Nov 18

Why not to ask his father or mother to take care of the matter.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (471992)

• Switzerland

16 Nov 18

@TheHorse Someone must tell him about this problem.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

@LadyDuck I agree. I am going to figure something out.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

I was hoping his father would maintain contact, so he (the father) could ask his son about class when he gets home. That would help with learning and retention. But he has not. I don't have contact information for him.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (341752)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Nov 18

It might sound a cop-out but can you write to him (or his guardian/s) even anonymously? Blend something about showering most days into your lectures as an example of something or other? Good luck with this.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

Thank you. I thought of the latter, but I'm not sure he'd "get it."

2 people like this

Namelesss

@Namelesss (3365)

• United States

15 Nov 18

Pull him aside and tell him bluntly. Forget PC just be honest and forthright. Even special needs people appreciate that and likely no one has ever told him bluntly that he stinks and needs to bathe everyday, other than possibly his family. What kid listens to mom and dad? Ask him straight up if he knows what deodorant is and how to use it. If not, there's your opportunity to teach him something of real value. If others don't like it send him to their office to sit a spell.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

After that, I'll start a new career cleaning headlights. I am a white male teacher. I am too scared to be honest.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

@Namelesss Fortunately, my allergies have been acting up lately, so I probably can't smell it as much as my students. Heh. That's selfish, isn't it?

Namelesss

@Namelesss (3365)

• United States

16 Nov 18

@TheHorse Well if you're afraid to speak up then...

1 person likes this

Hillary Ralston

@hillhjill (23717)

• United States

15 Nov 18

I would pull him to the said and tell him in privet so that he don't get embarrassed and just be honest and tell him that it's disturbing the class and that you don't want any of the students to be rude to him about it.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

I might wind up working at 7/11. I am a white male.

1 person likes this

Icydoll

@Icydoll (36717)

• India

15 Nov 18

I can relate to you .In my childhood one of friend has bad body odour.We can't let the person know directly no matter how friendly we are.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

It's a difficult situation.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

@playertwo When you're really young, like in middle school and early high school, I think you can be honest with your friends. But as adults, it becomes more difficult.

putri

@leny34 (8506)

• Sidoarjo, Indonesia

15 Nov 18

if I become their friend, I will tell them that their body is very smelly and you need to use perfume

3 people like this

Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (160883)

• United States

16 Nov 18

@TheHorse Perfume over sweat is nauseating. We had a problem in a choir I sang in. We wore robes even in the summer. We sweated. Every person wore aftershave, cologne, perfume, hair care items and scented deodorant. Our choir president would bluntly, two or three times a year would make this announcement about coming clean, but unscented to sing. Maybe you need to make a blunt announcement to the class to please come clean, and unscented.

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

15 Nov 18

Perfume just gives people headaches. We have drought conditions in Californian but we can still shower if we choose to.

nawala

@nawala123 (20871)

• Indonesia

16 Nov 18

just imagine, i have friend in my workplace with such condition, bad odor

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

Has anyone said anything to him or her?

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

@nawala123 Did it help?

nawala

@nawala123 (20871)

• Indonesia

16 Nov 18

@TheHorse yes, and finally he took deodorant and rub in his armpit

1 person likes this

Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

16 Nov 18

A lot of schools have rules about that kind of thing.Maybe a poster of the rules?

1 person likes this

Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

17 Nov 18

@TheHorse Well, sometimes places have posters or notices about stayimh home if you feel sick.Something along that line cpuld apply here, since it asks people to be considerate of others.

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

I've never seen a poster on our campus about hygiene.

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (37369)

• Toccoa, Georgia

16 Nov 18

I would just be honest with him and say in this culture, people wash themselves by taking baths and showers so they can stay healthy. They wash their clothes in washing machines or by hand, so that they don't stink to where they offend others. I would say, he needs to clean himself up or he wont be allowed back in the class.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (220068)

• Walnut Creek, California

16 Nov 18

It's just not in my arsenal to be quite that harsh. I don't even know if our College has rules about hygiene.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (30539)

• United Kingdom

16 Nov 18

That is a difficult issue. Perhaps he just has no sense of smell? Everyone prefers a different approach. If it was me, I would prefer if you took me to one side and simply had a direct but discreet word. But some people would take that the wrong way. Still something does need to be done - not only for the rest of the class but because he has the rest of his life ahead of him and surely doesn't want everyone he approaches to fall down in a faint! Maybe you could get him soap for Christmas??

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