Hopefully, at this point in the new school year, you’re sitting there in bliss and contentment happily coexisting with your roommate and neighbors wondering what all the fuss was even about before you moved in. But experience tells me that most of us are not so lucky. So for us mere mortals, this seemed like the appropriate time for a refresher (or first time) course on proper dorm etiquette from upperclassmen who have been there too. And if you are one of those rare people living in residence hall nirvana, then by all means, keep reading. You’ll want to ensure the theme for your year isn’t ‘Paradise Lost.’
Lawrence is full of unique and interesting people, which leads to lively classroom debate and a vibrant community. However, when all of these personalities suddenly live in such close proximity to each other, things can get a little tricky. It’s just fact, the same person who livened up your 8:30 am French class talking about the time she spent backpacking through Europe might not be the same person you want to hear singing in the shower the morning after a late night.
What’s the hardest part about transitioning from your cozy room at home to your even cozier dorm at school? After surveying students at Lawrence, the overwhelming response was the lack of privacy. Sometimes, we all just need some peace and quiet, but unfortunately, this can be hard to come by in a dorm setting. Ironically enough, having people so close and being able to hang out whenever was also cited as the best thing about dorm life.
So how do you strike a good balance? Communication is key. Bring up any issues before it gets out of hand. In fact, if you haven’t yet, have a discussion with your roommate where you each figure out the ground rules. Maybe even consider keeping a dry erase board weekly calendar with your roommate, so you both can be on the same page. If you don’t want her to know every detail of your waking life, just write down the really important dates (i.e. the day of your big bio test, so she knows you’ll want to go to bed early the night before).
You definitely don’t want to be that girl nobody knew lived down the hall until you’re moving out at the end of the year. But you also don’t want to be that girl everyone definitely knows, but wishes they didn’t. Be a part of your residence hall community. Have an open door policy when you’re around. It’s a great way to meet people and foster a comfortable community. Plus, there’s a good chance people will invite you to hang out a lot more than they would have if they had had to knock. You could also try hanging out in the lounge. They are meant for you to use! Make an extra effort to attend RLA sponsored hall events. Those are generally not an extremely popular option, but you will definitely make your RLA smile. And to be honest, they really do some pretty fun things. Most people just don’t want to admit they would rather be decorating cookies or carving pumpkins than going to that crazy party. Come on now, be the bigger person!
Word to the Wise: even if you want to promote hall unity, lock your doors at night! For us beautiful, smart young ladies, this one should be a no brainer, but its still worth mentioning. One anonymous Lawrentian had her mattress stolen last year. It ended up on top of Wriston. Yes, it was all in good fun, but pulling your mattress off of a roof isn’t how anyone wants to spend her night!