Roommate Rights and Responsibilities

For the next eight months most of you will be living with a roommate — a person you may or may not know very well when classes begin. During the year, however, you will have an opportunity to really get to know your roommate. It is important, right from the beginning, for each of you to create an environment that allows both of you freedom with responsibility. To do that, both parties must be willing to communicate openly and honestly. This does not need to be a threatening experience. All that is necessary is to say exactly what you mean and listen to what is said. The key is mutual consideration. Listed below are basic rights of people living in the same place. Remember, along with every right comes the responsibility to ensure that your roommate is afforded the same right.

1. The right to an adequate amount of sleep

2. The right to study

3. The right to a reasonable amount of quiet

4. The right to an adequate degree of cleanliness

5. The right to entertain friends

6. The right to personal time

7. The right to speak your mind

8. The right to be heard

If you feel your rights have not been taken into consideration, the first thing you should do is discuss the situation with your roommate. Try, in a non-threatening way, to help your roommate see the situation from your perspective. Likewise, be willing to listen to your roommate’s point of view. Your resident assistant can be an excellent resource for suggestions about how to approach such situations.

If, after discussing your feelings with your roommate, you are still not satisfied, see your hall director for further assistance. The relationship between roommates is important. It is worth the effort to try to work things out. Many roommates who do not get along at first go on to become lifelong friends. 

We hope that will be the case for you, too!

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students