The roommate factor
For college students, living away from home can be a
test of temper and sanity, but there are methods of coping
By Jonah Schrogin • Freelance Reporter
Co-ed. Same sex. Best
friend. Residence hall
buddies.
There are many options to
consider when thinking about a
roommate Students can live by
themselves in a single residence
hall room or in a one-bedroom
apartment. It's possible to rent
an apartment for two, three or
four people. And some live in a
house that can accommodate
up to eight people.
Sophomore Michael Thomp
son lived in a single residence
hall room this year after living in
a double last year. He said it was
important to share a room for
one year, but he enjoyed having
the extra space of a single.
"It's hard to share such a
small space with another per
son," he said. "Once you've
had the experience of sharing,
there's no need to do it for an
other year."
Thompson said even though
he lived in a single room, "It's
still community living."
He said he liked that there
was always someone around,
and that he did not have to wor
ry about making his own food.
"If you're coming back (to
* the residence halls), a single is
the way to go," he said.
Another possibility is to live
with one other person, be it a
random roommate, a friend or
a significant other.
A student, who did not want
to give her name, lived with a
male friend in a two-person
apartment.
"I didn't expect to be the only
one who was cleaning all the
time," she said. "Eventually,
about two months ago, I went
on strike, and my apartment's
been disgusting ever since."
The mess got so bad she
.stopped enjoying coming
home. She said a reason for their
problems was the lack of com
munication early in the year. She
said she will use her knowledge
from this year to ensure a better
living situation next year.
"I'm going to have to lay
firmer ground rules (with my
new roommates) from the be
ginning," she said. "We just fig
ured we would work it out as
we went along which has not
worked out."
Based on her experience, liv
ing with a friend of the oppo
site sex was difficult.
"Try to know the person
you're living with," she said.
"You should really make sure
you're compatible with that
person. It has the potential to
min a friendship."
Junior Brian Taylor is living
with his girlfriend of two years
this year and is planning on
doing so next year as well.
"We have disagreements and
then it sucks, but other than
that it's pretty good," he said.
"I'd do it again if I had to."
Taylor said a benefit of living
with his girlfriend is that he is
never alone, and he doesn't
have to go back and forth be
tween her place and his. He said
living together is not the best sit
uation for all couples, however.
"It depends on the type of
relationship you have," he said.
"It doesn't work for everybody.
You have to evaluate your rela
tionship and see if you're at
that point."
There is also the possibility
of living with three or four peo
ple of the same sex.
Junior Nikki Probst is living
with three other girls, all of
whom she knew prior to mov
ing in with them.
She said some of the chal
lenges of living with three oth
er people include having peo
ple pay bills on time and
sharing things such as food
and chores. She said there is al
ways hustle and bustle in four
bedroom apartments.
"I think it's good because
you're not always by yourself, it
makes the utilities really cheap,
and you have a guaranteed Fri
day night date," she said.
Probst reiterated the impor
tance of knowing the people
you're going to live with.
"If you don't really know
them that well, things can ex
plode in your face," she said.
Sophomore Ben Nussbaum
lived in a house with four fe
males and one male this year.
He said he liked his living
situation especially because he
missed out on living in the res
idence halls a year ago.
"I got lucky and got some
roommates that were pretty low
maintenance as far as the drama
factor is concerned," he said.
Nussbaum said the most in
teresting part of living in a co
ed house was when two of his
roommates started dating.
Nussbaum said in-house dat
ing could create problems, but
after the couple broke up, the
two were still best friends. Even
though this situation worked
out Nussbaum advised against
Tim Bobosky Photographer
Resident assistants sophomore Krystal Collins (left) and junior Mary
Geisler make their 10 p.m. rounds in the Hamilton Complex Thursday.
in-house dating.
"Try to establish a no-dating
in-house rule because it will
help avoid drama," he said.
Nussbaum said living in a
co-ed situation could be fine if
a person has a personality
compatible with living with
the opposite sex.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "I
got lucky with having good
roommates, and that's what it
comes down to in any living
situation is having good room
mates."
Jonah Schrogin is a freelance
reporter for the Emerald.
Tim Bobosky Photographer
(Left to right) Juniors Myeshia Cleveland, Ashley Osborne Nicole Probst and Heather Flori live at Duck's Village.
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