It could have started when the phone rang at 4 a.m., or when the pile of clothing started to stink. Whatever the reason, many first-year students are finding that their roommates are not necessarily their soulmates.
And the roommate shuffle has begun.
"My first year here at the University is a learning experience in and out of the classroom. One of my roommates is a dream and the other is a nightmare," said an LSA first-year student.
"I wouldn't move out because of it, but I hope the roommate that I can't stand (will)."
Roommate clashes are not uncommon in rooms where there are three people living together, said Marc Kaplan, the coordinator of residence education at West Quad.
"Usually two people become really good friends and one gets left out and this can sometimes lead to problems," Kaplan said.
One first-year student took matters into her own hands and packed her bags. She moved out during the second week of school because of disagreements with her roommates.
"It wasn't the people, but their personalities," said the LSA student, who wished to remain anonymous. "I was willing to compromise but not to the point where I was sacrificing my living patterns."
But switching roommates isn't as hopeless as it may seem.
The student said that when she was waitlisted at both East Quad and South Quad, she was given the choice of being in a single or a double.
"I chose the double because I want to live with other people, because that is what college living is all about," she said.
Kaplan said first-year students have to make an adjustment to living with other people.
"Many of the students that come here never had to share a room with another person before. That is why many of these situations occur," Kaplan said.
"But it is unusual for roommates to move out within the first week, especially since the waitlist doesn't come out until the second week," he said.
Students have a right to move out and not be questioned about their reason for doing so before the second week, as long as it's OK with the person they are moving in with, Kaplan said.
After the second week, students are encouraged to talk to their residential adviser.
"I try to see what the real problem is because sometimes fights can start over superficial things," said LSA senior Almaz Kinder, an RA in South Quad.
"I would have all of the roommates there to talk it out and try to reach an agreement from there," Kinder said.
Kaplan said he encourages students to talk to their roommates first, then their RA or a residential director, and if the problem still is not resolved, talking to the building's coordinator of residential education would be the last step.
"I would have them work it out amongst themselves because that is what the college experience is about - learning from other people," said LSA senior Adrienne Moore, an RD at Mary Markley residence hall.
Kaplan said it is too early in the semester for students to be frustrated with their roommates. And instead of moving out, roommates should be learning to talk to each other.
Kaplan has created a Roommate Starter Kit - an outline that initiates a conversation for students to get to know their roommates better.
Students having problems with their roommates can check out an online service, which is designed to help students deal with all types of roommate situations.
Deb Kovsky, who works on the web site said that the site is useful for all sorts of problems.
"It helps a lot with the disasters that can happen when two people are living together," she said.
The web site includes a mock contract for roommates to sign, which is designed to prevent problems in the future.
The contract's terms include adhering to correct telephone etiquette, and respecting a roommate's wishes about cleanliness and sleeping habits. The website can be checked out at www.swoon.com.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Roommates Emily Dubb (left) and Karen Golen, both LSA first-year students, study together yesterday in Butler House in Mary Markley Residence Hall.