Without telling me or my roommate, last night housing moved in another girl to our room. Our room is already small, 125 sq feet with one long desk with 2 chairs, 2 closets and we have a drawer each. I understand extreme circumstances though I am infuriated that to fit the girl in, our RA moved our belongings around. We came back and she was there. She also doesn’t seem to find a problem with what just happened despite the fact that we each have a giant pile of stuff on our beds that no longer fit because she moved in. We have informed our parents but my roommate is from the U.K. and my parents are 12 hours away. We want to know if there are any laws that could prevent her from living here because our room is only 125 sq feet. Is there any way we can go above our hall director, make a serious complaint in an attempt to get this girl moved? Our room already is pretty terrible because the entire dorm has no A/C and a roach problem and our hall director hasn’t done anything. Who should we go to and what kind of documentation should we bring?
First, you need to read all the housing information on your U’s website, Second, read the documentation you/parents signed (your housing agreement). Did you pay for a double or a triple? It will depend on what you agreed to, not how small or big your room is…
Most housing contracts usually have a clause stating you would get sufficient notice if your current housing situation changes due to an additional student/roommate. I know my son was notified about 3 days before his new roommate showed up.
Unfortunately @1andonly is probably right. College students in university-owned housing often don’t have the full spectrum of privacy and safety protections that exist in the “real” world. So in contrast to what a hotel manager at a Hilton can do, for example, your college’s residence life may be legally allowed to do this. As @1andonly posted please read all you can from your school’s housing department then schedule a meeting with the dean of that department either at your room or in her office. If off site bring pictures. Include the roommates. If you were my daughter I would want to know and I’d complain too.
My roommate and I have looked through our postal mail and email and have found no notice of a roommate being added. We found in the housing agreement that RAs are not allowed to move or go through our possessions without us being there or without prior consent unless there is a warrant or it is of utmost emergency. So, our RA appears to have broken that rule. Additionally, we are paying for a double so and that hasn’t changed on the website so as far as we know, the girl is living here but not helping pay for the room. We have a meeting set with the dean for the upcoming week and if he blows us off then we have decided to arrange a 2nd meeting and video our parents in. We are trying to make the best of the situation but it is very difficult.
FWIW, as upsetting as this is -and I understand why -, be kind to the girl who has been foist upon you. Her situation may have been quite desperate for such a sudden move to have been made, and as I read how angry you are about the situation, I worry that she may bear the brunt of your feelings whether that is your intention or not… The reception you get from the dean could be much worse if you are openly hostile to your new, uninvited roommate. You’ll be best off if you have tried to be accomodating and welcoming and under those circumstances, all 3 of you can show it just cannot work than if set you and your original roommate set out to make her as miserable as you are. Keep us posted on how it unfolds and good luck!
We are being kind and accommodating, this is where we are expressing our feelings because we want to be nice. However, we do not think it’s right for us to have had no notice. It’s already a stretch for the two of us and she’s moved in but is now demanding even more space. She wants one whole drawer and closet to herself, she should be happy with what the RA gave her because we really cannot spare more.
She is there… and honestly, you should give her 1/3 of the space now that it has happened. Otherwise you are not being accommodating. Asking for one whole drawer sure doesn’t seem excessive. But 2/3 of a closet seems appropriate (if there are just 2).
We have given her her share. We have a drawer each, there are ONLY 2 drawers and she’s trying to demand a full one for herself plus a closet for herself and we’re not letting that fly. We have given her half of a closet EACH and half a drawer. We already shot her down when she tried to suggest moving into my roommates bed because she can’t sleep with somebody above her.
OP are you aware of any other forced triples on campus under comparable circumstances? Is your RA compensated (employed by the university?) At your meeting with the dean before jumping on the lack of notice try to establish whether a triple is even allowed in that room. If yes then next bring up the issue of notice.
So far it seems that we are the only forced triple but we are definitely asking around on social media and among friends to see if something happened. Nothing yet. My roommate is going as far to see if there is some kind of occupancy law per square feet rule. We shall see on Monday.
Honestly, I’ve never heard of this happening before. I think its pretty appalling. Not only should you and your roommate be looking for some answers as to why and why no notice and why the heck the RA touched your belongings, but your parents and your original roommate’s parents should be either calling on Monday or emailing. Typically, I’m a firm believer in college students managing their own situations but in this case, as the bill paying parent, I’d be looking for answers. And a refund of part of the housing charges at the least.
I’d question the decision to place the girl in your room but I’d also address the poor execution of that decision.
Good luck!
@AzeleaRose I was just going to suggest that, you might call the fire department to find out.
Is there any sort of emergency contact information for housing apart from your RA? This seems like a big problem if you are paying for a double, not to mention them moving your belongings. Not ok. As a mom I would be very upset and wanting to talk to someone in charge today. Were there three beds, or did they move in another bed?
They moved in another bed. Thanks for the fire department lead, we will call in the morning and try to get a paper copy of their answer. We have spoken to the hall directors but they said it was a confidential emergency. We will also be bringing up money on Monday as well.
I’m sorry that this is happening to all 3 of you, and hope you can get it resolved quickly.
At one of the colleges we toured this year, we saw a double room that actually became a forced quadruple! My daughter was appalled. The girls in there were not happy… And their stuff was piled everywhere, there was not enough storage. It was claustrophobic. A comfortable living space is really important for health and wellbeing! Fingers crossed that this gets taken care of on Monday if not before. As a parent, I’d be on that phone call pronto.
@AzaleaRose What school?
I would rather not disclose my school but will say that I go somewhere in New York.
Ok then.
Why not disclose it? Let others know what can happen there.