Hey, did you know that there’s an election in a few weeks? If you didn’t, then you might have a hard time getting along with an activist roommate.
The activist roommate can take many forms — whether they’re a big People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals supporter or a Second Amendment advocate — and until Nov. 4, political tensions are running high.
“I think the best way to handle this is not to lash back, but to confront your roommate rationally, asking them to listen and not talk for five minutes,” said Catherine Nezich, a resident mentor in Holmes Hall.
“In that five minutes, you can tell them that you think it’s great that they have so many opinions and are very active in what they believe, but that you feel that they are imposing their views on others, like yourself, against your wishes.”
You might want your room to be Obama-rama, but your roommate might be a McCainiac. Sometimes it might be best to find some common ground, or not talk about it at all, Nezich said.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it gets really frustrating when one person is so pushy,” Nezich said.
—Compiled by Dan Faas, The State News
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