Resolving Conflicts

Conflicts

Below is a list of a few common sources of roommate and/or housemate conflicts. If you and your roomates(s) and neighbors confront these issues constructively and set ground rules, communication breakdowns and future conflicts may be avoided.

• Daily schedules: sleeping times, quiet hours, television viewing, mealtimes, study conditions.
• Guests: overnight guests, non-mutual friends, parties, privacy
• Housekeeping: making beds, cleaning kitchen and bathroom, dusting, picking up clothes, interior decoration. What is “clean” and “messy”?
• Personal habits
• Use of personal property: sharing, getting permission, respect for another’s property
• Moods
• Values: prejudices, religion, philosophy, politics
• Shared interests – separate interests
• Excessive noise: loud disturbances or the playing of recorded music, musical instruments, radios, televisions, etc., at loud volume

Resolving a Conflict:

Should you find yourself in a conflict with a roommate or neighbor, the following steps are suggested:

• Approach the individual to discuss the problem and attempt to reach an amicable compromise, keeping in mind that we all have different lifestyles and values.
• Ask your House Advisor or Student Advisor for assistance if your attempts to resolve the problem fail. Students living in the apartment areas can ask the Res Life managers of their area for assistance.
• The college reserves the right to reassign students, as it deems appropriate.

In the case of noise complaints, if after reasonable warning a student persists in creating excessive noise, administrative or disciplinary action (e.g., possible confiscation of equipment, fines, or eviction) may be taken.