Question:

I was so excited for Winter Break so I could get away from my roommate because she was really driving me crazy. I thought the break would help. But coming back, my roommate is still being a mess and driving me crazy. How do I confront this? It’s really starting to bother me and I don’t think I can live with her for another four months!

-Annoyed

If you really think you can’t handle living with the person for the next four months, stop whining and get your room changed. Honestly, all you have to do is go to the BSC and talk to housing. Don’t be led astray by their look of concern because they’re most likely laughing at your pathetic situation on the inside. I did when I first read your question.

To address the whole thing about her annoying you, tell her to get serious about her life. College is a time to grow up and stop being obnoxious, although it happens sooner for some. It’s now or never, baby! Go all out and tell her how you feel. Really, give it your all!

Go into the conversation knowing that you aren’t going to back down. If you think you’re going to lose, you will. You also might be questioning why I talk about winning or losing. In life there are winners and losers. If you annoy too many people you probably won’t make it far and chances are you’ll lose a lot.

Another tactic could be to hide some of her stuff. Let her know in one way or another that you’re playing for keeps. One piece of advice, don’t get caught. The ultimate way to take something, though, is to randomly place it where she will most likely find it. Let her look and when she leaves, place it somewhere obvious. Then when shecome back, drop a little comment about how she wouldn’t lose their stuff if she cleaned up. There are plenty of ways to help her in her journey to adulthood.

To bring it all together for you just in case you got confused along the way:

1. You could give up, move out and let her win.

2. Confront her and lay it down nice and simple forher. Not too many words and probably no more than five or six letters in the word, you wouldn’t want to confuse her.

3. Mess with her stuff. Fight fire with fire!

-Zachary Robert Rus

We’ve all been in your situation-feeling overwhelmed with the constant clash with another person. In coming to college you not only grow intellectually, but socially as well.

Dorms and on campus apartments don’t allow for much breathing room from the ongoing company of your roommates. Just when you think that you’re alone, you see one of them lurking around the corner ready to prey on your comfortable peace. These lurking vultures (also know as your roommates) not only breathe down your neck every second, but they’re making messes that you find intolerable.

Though this situation can easily wear on your last nerve and push your patience to the extreme, with everything bad comes some good. Living in these less than ideal conditions you begin to learn a lot about yourself; what you stand for, what your morals are and what is most important to you.

It won’t matter where you live or whom you end up living with, there is always going to be those times that one or both of you are unhappy with the living situation.

The best way to address the problem is to talk to the person about what is bothering you. Don’t bad mouth your roomie to others, because she will end up finding out – which will only escalate the problem.

Remember, it’s important to pick your battles. Don’t point out everything that annoys you, rather the things that are making you unhappy. Before you start listing off things that you don’t like about that person, mention a few things you do like.

If the problems don’t change or they are doing things that you constitute as “horrible” then move out. But remember, you may be sacrificing a friendship if you consider this person a friend. However, if they aren’t a friend and they are being inconsiderate of your space and your things, then by all means move out and move on.

-Ashley Van Alstine