Residents cope with random roommate selections

Ken Major, a psychology sophomore and former resident of Apache Santa-Cruz Hall, remembers his residence hall experience last year.

"I think it's unrealistic to put two people together and expect them to live together in a prison cell," he said.

Karin Williams, a biology freshman, expressed a different perspective.

"I think it's necessary in growing up and dealing with people," she said. "We (my roommate and I) don't really have any problems, we get along well."

The Department of Residence Life uses random selection to pair roommates, but if there is a mutual request, two friends will be paired, said Charlotte Oliver, customer services manager for the department.

This means most roommates are strangers at first, and differences must be worked out.

"We finally came to a mutual resolution - it was nothing verbal," Major said. "It was definitely a learning experience, but you couldn't pay me to do it again."

When students choose to live with friends, they sometimes discover their friendship cannot withstand the daily habits of living with each other.

"What I've found is that you have to look for someone to live with, not a friend," said Faye Campagna, a music performance sophomore and resident of Corleone Apartments, which is managed by the Department of Residence Life.

Arizona Commons, 931 N. Euclid Ave., offers a roommate matching program for its residents.

Norma Scholl, regional supervisor for Arizona Commons, came up with the idea of a roommate questionnaire last year.

"I think that a roommate matching program is well-needed at any university, especially if you're an undergrad. Sometimes the first time away from home is very alienating," she said.

Scholl's program matches residents based on age group and schedule, as well as smokers/non-smokers, partying and cleaning.

"I tell my residents that it's a marriage - you have to give and take. You really have to learn to sit down and work things out," Scholl said.

Out of the 30 apartments with matched roommates, only two relationships dissolved, she said.

Scholl also allows the matched roommates to talk over the phone first to decide if the match is accurate.

The Department of Residence Life also offers some programs to help its residents communicate effectively.

During the summer orientation program, Residence Life gives new students information on living with a roommate and how to get to know one, said Julie McCrea, Rincon area coordinator for the department.

Another program Residence Life offers, the roommate agreement, helps roommates learn what to expect from one another, said McCrea.

The contract is given to residents by their resident assistants at the beginning of the fall semester.

Residence Life matches roommates based on cleanliness, sleeping habits and other characteristics, but has found it to be ineffective, McCrea said.

"People's habits change so much when they come to school. It didn't prove to be too accurate," she said.

Angela Riley, a resident of Coconino Hall and an international marketing sophomore, said she is having difficulty living with her Japanese roommate.

"We keep very different hours. I have to be at work at 8 a.m., and she's up until 3 a.m.," Riley said. "It makes it really hard to live with her. I think a big part of it is the language barrier."

Room changes are available through Residence Life when roommates cannot resolve their differences.