New roommate raises new challenges

By Alexis Austin

austina@thejohnsonian.com

Getting out of your parents’ house may have been the most exciting thing you’ve done since graduating high school. Sharing a room with someone you’ve only talked to through Facebook may have been the scariest thing since seeing “Jaws.”

According to Residence Life reports, 47 percent of new students used the roommate selection process this year. During the process, students choose to have their roommate selected for them based on their preferences. 

“The biggest tip I have is communication,” Kurt Moderson said. He is in his second year as the Residential Learning Coordinator for Richardson Hall. 

Conflicts may arise, especially when it comes to sleeping and cleaning habits, class schedules and having friends in the room. 

“Talking about small things that bother them, rather than letting them build to bigger things, is important,” Moderson said. 

Moderson is not the only one who thinks communication is most important when dealing with a roommate.

“I feel like a lot of problems arise because residents don’t feel like they need to communicate,” Evan Harris said.

Harris, senior art major, has been a Resident Assistant in Wofford Hall for three years. She says that as an RA she tries to promote communication and honesty. 

“Living with a roommate and in a residence hall is about communication and thinking beyond yourself,” she said.

Junior integrated marketing communication major Kelli Mack knows this all too well.

Mack used the roommate selection process as a freshman.

“My roommate and I did have some conflicts,” she said. “Compromise is the biggest thing when having a roommate. When you’re sharing a room you can’t be inconsiderate. It’s not just about you anymore.” 

Moderson also said students should communicate face to face rather than leaving notes in the room or writing comments on each other’s Facebook wall.

To encourage communication, students are given a Residence Life Community Agreement. This small booklet allows each roommate to come to an agreement about issues such as sharing personal belongings, visitation hours and cleaning habits. 

“The community agreement encourages conversation to have a positive relationship,” Moderson said. 

Respecting your roommate is also important; the person may not be your ideal roommate, but there should be a mutual level of respect, Residence Life staff said. 

“You don’t have to be best friends for it to work,” senior interior design major Mical Romano said. She has been a Resident Assistant in Margaret Nance for two years.

Mack and her roommate were able to maintain a cordial relationship throughout her freshman year and into the first semester of her sophomore year. However, she said that after awhile the two had to go their separate ways. 

While communication and respect are key in building a positive relationship with your new roommate, Romano says there are other ways you can bond. Combining both of your styles to personalize the room is a good way to do this, she says. 

“Color coordinating your room is a bonding experience,” Romano said. “Set up your room so you can make it really friendly. Both people should decorate with pictures and posters they like.”

She also suggested leaving your door open while you’re in the room. 

“When you leave the door open, people will stop by,” Romano said. “This is a good way to meet people on your hall.”

Not only is it important to get along with your roommate, but it is also important to get along with those on your hall. There are many shared spaces, such as the kitchen and study rooms. 

“Clean up after yourself, even in the study rooms,” Romano said. “Your actions affect the whole community, not just yourself.”