For freshmen moving into the residence halls this fall, the prospect of moving into a tiny room with an unknown roommate can be frightening. However, according to Residence Life Director Jim Van Arsdel, the positives gained from the experience will last a lifetime.

In the long run, Van Arsdel said, "It can be a lot of fun."

However, the lack of privacy and close living quarters in a dorm room can be challenging for new students, he added.

"The typical student who comes to the U of A has grown up in a bedroom by him or herself with a bathroom that's private," he said.

Van Arsdel said that despite the negatives, students should expect the best from the experience while at the same time being flexible in dealing with the new living situation.

Van Arsdel also said that incoming students should remember that sharing a room is not a life-threatening experience.

"Millions of people have gotten through (living in a residence hall) throughout the years without being killed or killing themselves," he said.

In addition to the cramped quarters and stress that can be created by a dorm room, students often have trouble dealing with roommate conflicts.

Physiological sciences junior Jamie Fry said her roommates disagreed with her about everything.

Fry, who did not live in a dorm, said her roommates were inconsiderate and constantly took things that belonged to her.

"They were party animals," she said of her two roommates.

Fry worked nights and said her roommates were constantly loud while she tried to sleep.

Fry said that her experience was so bad, she now lives alone.

However, students living in dorms don't usually have the opportunity to move out if there is conflict.

According to Patrick Call, associate director for Residence Life, the key to getting along with your new roommate is communication.

Call stressed that students should try to be flexible and honest with their roommate when conflicts come up.

One way students can help prevent later fights is to accurately and thoughtfully fill out the roommate agreement that all students are required to sign.

The four-page agreement gives students a chance to share who they are and what they are about, he said.

The student's resident assistant then reviews the results.

Call said most arguments can be settled by trying to understand the other person while being honest about your needs.

"If it's not working, talk. The more honest you can be up front, the better it can be to share that space," he said.

If students cannot handle the dispute amongst themselves, the resident assistant is there to listen and to help mediate, Call said.

Residence assistants "have a lot of tools in their toolbox to help roommates sort through things," he said.

If no agreement can be reached, Call said the hall director may be called in to settle the situation.

Finally, if there is no way that an agreement can be reached, one student may be able to move to another room or residence hall if there is space available, Call said.

However, Call said that only in very rare instances does the situation require a roommate to vacate.