Joint living has its catch
■ Finding just the right
roommate or getting
along wth strangers
can take time and
patience
Susan Monahan
for the Emerald
Friend or stranger, a bless
ing and a curse at the same
time — such are roommates.
The college experience can
teach young adults to live in
the most perilous of condi
tions, shoulder-to-shoulder
in this complex partnership.
A freshman will often enter
the University unsure what
to expect of his or her future
roommate.
The freshman year can
prove to be the biggest transi
tion in the lives of some, as
they struggle with newfound
freedoms and responsibili
ties. Couple that with the fact
that they will be residing in a
10-by-ll cubicle with some
one else just as bewildered,
and you have the grounds for
almost anything and every
thing.
Freshman Sarah Carver, a
resident in the Hamilton
Complex, opted to be paired
with a stranger, and making it
through her experience was,
at times, perplexing.
“When they stuck two talk
ative, stubborn, children to
gether — what did they ex
pect?” Carver said.
She and her roommate
Erin Harris are quick to hug
and reconcile, she said, mak
ing it clear that the bond
they’ve made this year will
last beyond the dorm halls.
While there will always be
odd pairings within the resi
dence halls, the close prox
imity can allow two strangers
to become very familiar, very
quickly. This environment
could make or break the
roommate relationship, but
it’s encouraging to know that
the vast majority of Universi
ty dorm residents begin to
adapt, learn, and compro
mise with their roommates,
Carver said.
As a resource, the Counsel
ing Center provides peer me
diation services and one-on
one counseling for anyone
who may need some extra as
sistance. Their open-door
policy allows for students
with any type of roommate
related questions or issues to
feel comfortable addressing
them. They can assist stu
dents regardless of whether
they reside in residence halls
or off-campus housing.
Some students opt to per
sonally select their room
mate. They may sign up a
close friend, or even an ac
quaintance from high school,
even though it can be a little
trying for new students to co
habitate with someone
they’ve known since child
hood, as they are often strug
gling to leave that life behind
them at the same time.
Freshman Ian Taylor chose
not to room with his best
friend since grade school for
this reason.
“It’s better this way,” he
said. “We still hang out all the
time, but we have our own
space, too. This way we don’t
get completely sick of each
other.”
Next year, the two plan to
rent a house together.
Houses and apartments are
often the next step from the
residence halls. Students all
over campus are planning
and wondering where to live
next year. Of course, a room
mate can be helpful when the
housework needs to be divid
ed, or maybe they have a
good ear to listen.
Many students try to find
their roommates before
searching for a place.
Other students sidestep the
want ads section and move
into one of the Greek houses
near campus. Being a mem
ber of a sorority or fraternity
allows a student to reside
with around 40 to 70 of his or
her peers.
“You aren’t put with a huge
group of strangers like in the
dorms, and you don’t have to
live with just one or two other
people like in an apartment,”
said Lisa Nicholson, a mem
ber of Gamma Phi Beta sorori
ty. “I live in a great place with
50-some fabulous girls.”
for some time alone. But
for the most part, Nicholson
said she believes University
0089401
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775 East Fifteenth
1 bedroom unit in fantastic location.
Many with new carpets and new painl
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625 East Sixteenth
Spacious 1 & 2 bedroom units with
patios/decks. Some utilities paid,
including cable. Off-street parking
available $25 per month. On-site
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$455 - $570/school year lease
749 - 771 East Seventeenth
1 bedroom with large courtyard.
Some utilities paid, including cable.
On-site laundry. Off-street parking
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440 - 454 East Eighteenth
Fabulous vintage 1 & 2 bedroom
units, most with hardwood floors ant
cove ceilings. Some utilities paid, off
street parking, on-site laundry. Pets
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$425 - $645/school year lease
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1 bedroom
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Wonderful, completely remodeled
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$925 - $1250/school year lease
1866 & 1870 Onyx
Very nice studios, 1 & 2 bedroom
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$415 - $695/school year lease
2040 Emerald #B - #E
Very nice 1 bedroom loft units in
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$495/year lease
)
Don’t forget to check back in August
for campus duplex and house listings.
v For area listings, stop by our office or
check www.bell-realty.com
Ask about our year lease discounts on
most rentals.
To view these units, please call Bell
I Real Estate at (541) 688-2060.
or page (541) 341-2784
Sat & Sun 12-5.
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