CONTACT
STRANGERS by Beth Breitenstein IN THE NIGHT How to survive living in close quarters with a pot-luck roommate
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/XIMBERLY WESTPHALL
It is 3 a.m., and you are in the top bunk staring at the dotted ceiling tiles, contemplating why you came here in the first place. You hear the beats of "In Da Club" blaring from your roommate's iPod. She is wide-awake reading the latest issue of Cosmo, and her light is shining directly in your eyes. Suddenly, you hear a familiar sound. Her cell phone is blaring once again (another 50 Cent tune), and she pounces up to answer it. You know who it is. Her boyfriend has been calling in five-minute intervals for hours now. You already know how the conversation will go. You wish you had something heavy to throw at her.
Depending on a "luck of the draw" system to determine the person that you will be in close quarters with for nine months is risky business. But, every year, thousands of college freshmen all over the country take that risk. They hope that they'll end up with a friend for life. However, it isn't that easy to live with a stranger.
So, here are some tips, and a checklist, if you will, on how to survive a pot-luck roommate.
The early bird annoys the roommate
Coordinate your schedules. College is supposed to be a time for freedom and bed time doesn't exactly sound like a declaration of independence. But, when it comes down to it, this will help. Mike Parks, Newton senior, and his roommate had problems with this one.
"I went to bed late, and my roommate would get up really early and make coffee. It would wake me up, and now I hate the smell of coffee," says Parks.
Solution: Compromise, compromise, compromise. Just ask Adam Diskin, Prairie Village freshman and McCollum resident.
"if we both have classes at an early hour, even if they are an
Attack of the slob
hour apart, we set our alarms at the same time to compromise," Diskin says. It all comes down to being courteous. If your roommate has an 8 a.m. class, dor't stumble in the room at 3 a.m. and continue the party.
Cleaning is not something that every 18 year old is gung-ho about. Face it, it's every teenager's parent's biggest complaint. But, your parents might have been on to something. Maybe they knew that someday you would be trapped in a four by six room with a roommate who thinks the floor is just a convenient extension of the closet. We've all encountered a sloppy person one time or another. But, living
College equals beer, allnighters and keg stands. While this is fun, there is also an education to be had. You just might end up living with that 4.0 student who would rather read about the history of Jack
Party time,excellent
"The best time to discuss this is early on, but even if it's halfway through the semester, a conversation can help. Be careful to keep comments directed at how you want the room to be kept rather than labeling your roommate a slob or neat freak," Fee says.
Daniels whiskey than drink it. So, be respectful. Things like religion and different cultural backgrounds may influence whether your roommate "parties."
with one is a bit more difficult. Solution: Communication is important, says Susan Fee, author of My Roommate is Driving Me Crazy!
Solution."Labeling or judging a roommate for who he/she is will lead to a fight, but asking that your roommate enter the room or wakes up more quietly is perfectly fine to request," Fee says. Plus, knowing the history of Jack Daniels could make a great pick-up line.
Talk it out
Some KU residence halls already implement a roommate agreement form to ensure no conflict with these previously mentioned issues. One of these is Oliver
Hall, 1815 Naismith Drive. "We have them fill out these forms to clarify when guests should be allowed, when they go to sleep, and so on" says Scott Bird, Resident Assistant at Oliver Hall and Burlington sophomore. "If a problem is ever brought up, we consult the form," he says.
So, next time that 50 Cent song is haunting your dreams, think about the aforementioned solutions, or seeing your conveniently placed Resident Assistant. They just might be able to help out when things aren't going so well. And, hey, you never know. That stranger might just turn into a life-long friend (but maybe not a life-long roommate).
10 WAYS TO GET ON YOUR RA'S BAD SIDE
1. Get as many people involved in your situation as possible by gossiping to friends and floormates and encouraging them to take sides.
2. Have your parents become overly involved by calling the RA, Hall Director and Area Coordinator and insisting that something be done immediately.
3. Decide that you're moving out and start making plans before you even talk to your RA.
4. Absolutely refuse to compromise.
5. Avoid talking in person by only communicating through IM and e-mail.
6. Say, "Nothing," or "Everything's fine," when your RA asks what the problem is, then complain behind his/her back.
7. Don't even talk to your RA, go right to the Area Coordinator or worse yet the College President.
8. Accuse your RA of favoring your roommate and masterminding the conspiracy against you.
9. Expect your RA to fix the problem and assume you won't have to do a thing.
10. Tell your RA that your roommate "looks at me funny,"and expect him to know exactly what you mean.
Source: My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! by Susan Fee.
09. 07.2006 JAYPLAY <13