One of the joys of attending college is the quantity and quality of people students are destined to meet, many of whom might become long-term friends.
The first person new students usually meet is their roommate, and MSU's diverse population might mean two people from very different backgrounds will have to live in a small room together.
"If you don't get along with your roommate, there will be lots of problems and disputes," said no-preference freshman Sara St. John.
There are many ideologies that vary between diverse roommates, and that increases the chance of some sort of tiff developing, if the situation is not handled accordingly. Students should handle conflicts by compromising, St. John said.
The Department of Residence Life Web site provides pointers for students on how to develop their characters and build relationships with their roommates.
The "Getting to Know You" section suggests starting basic conversation about the other's background, and in the next section, a floor plan is outlined to show how roommates plan to structure and prepare adequate space.
The Web site also ventures on to the topic of relationships and the acknowledgment of wanting a friendship with the roommate, as well as ways roommates can support one another.
Studying is another topic the site addresses, as it illustrates how students can work around studying conflicts by moving to alternate locations such as lounges, classrooms or the basement.
In its final topic, the Department of Residence Life encourages students to reach out to one another.
"It's being able to communicate to each other well that builds roommate relationships," no-preference freshman Shannon Scott said. Scott is St. John's roommate.
"Respect each other because roommates need to have an open relationship," she said.
However there is always that "what if?" question regarding roommates, such as when a housing agreement goes awry.
"Students on campus have more flexibility with housing arrangements because there is no lease that is signed," said South Area Coordinator Jane Olson.
Students have so much flexibility that they sometimes switch places on their floors through mutual agreements, she said.
"Unlike students who live in apartments, their ability to change roommates or move is restrictive," Olson said.
"That's why you should communicate with your roommate what is expected of them. With apartments and houses, a lease may have stipulations against swapping or completely getting rid of roommates, that is why you have to be careful with leases.
"It seems like once you're in a situation with a lease, communication is the most effective resolute without involving the legal system."
However, students who can't work out their differences need to decide who will move unless the issue is placed into the hands of the judicial system, Olson said.
"We encourage students to talk to their roommates and resolve the issue on their own," she said. "The vast majority of students resolve issues by themselves by compromising."
