Losing sleep because of noisy roomates. Best approach to situation?

Student Lounge College Life
1

2nd semester recently started and I moved into a vacant campus accommodation room which has 4 other people already living there since 1st semester. So last night from 10-11 they had a bunch of other people in the apartment/shouting before they left to a nightclub then came back and even more noise/shouting from 4am onward til early morning. I got no sleep and it’s affecting my ability to work.

Normally this would be a debatable issue, normal college life right? The problem is the accommodation I moved into was an apartment specifically designated as a low noise apartment area where residents are supposed to be study oriented and maintain a low noise/low alcohol environment. The current residents are clearly abusing the system where its much easier to get an on-campus apartment if you book a low noise apartment and they aren’t actually interested in living in a low noise apartment for the sake of low noise, they’re breaking accommodation rules.

I don’t care if its only occasional. I’m in my 2nd last year of an extremely intensive course and am basically doing the equivalent of a 60+ hour workweek, I can’t afford to tolerate any bull**** like this as it will affect my grades and health. What would be the best approach to a sensitive situation like this? The problem is that low noise apartments aren’t enforced by the college as its assumed like-minded students will be living in them and self-regulate, clearly not the case in my apartment.

I could confront them but I don’t see them listening to me. They’ve lived in the apartment long already and I’m the new guy ruining their fun. I could anonymously call campus security when they make noise and they’ll get warnings etc. but they won’t be evicted, likely they’ll know it was me who called. I could try to see if a room swap is available to a different apartment that’s less noisy(I’ve lived in regular college apartments less noisy) but its unlikely and it would cause me a lot of hassle moving. I’m pissed off, sleep deprived and can’t think straight, just don’t know how what I should do in this situation. Want the easiest solution.

2

Snitch them to the resident directors if you can.

3

How to solve roommate problems:

  1. Think about the reasonableness of your request. Not being quiet from 10-11 is not that reasonable…being quiet at 4am is. Or look at the dorm rules…

  2. Take steps to ameliorate the situation yourself. Can you try earplugs or a white noise app?

  3. Discuss issue with Roommate. You don’t have to “confront them”…but talk to them. “Hey roommates, I wanted to talk to you about the other night. When you came back from the nightclub, you guys were really loud. One reason I picked this dorm is because it was a quiet one. Can you make sure to be quiet after 11:00 in the future?”

  4. See if roommate is compromising…Yes, they are quiet in the evenings or no they aren’t.

5)Think about what you want to the end result to be…that works for both of you. For example: adhere to stated Dorm rules.

  1. Go to RA. State the issue, state that you have talked to roommate (because they will ask), state that you have tried other steps (like whitenoise app) and ask for help in resolving the situation. “RA, I would like to get your advice on figuring out a resolution to an issue I am having with my roommate. .”

Most likely they will direct you to come up with a roommate contract for you both to sign.

  1. Follow the contract…and if your roommate doesn’t, then go back to the RA. If your roommate retaliates, go back to the RA.

  2. If RA doesn’t follow through or is useless, see if there is a different RA in your building. If not, go to the Housing office. Explain you have gone through the “chain of command”…that is, you talked to your roommate and then the RA but the issue still exists and it is preventing you from sleeping.

4

Thank you, this was really helpful. I’ve got a little rest and I’ve been able to think clearly about it. Know what I’m going to do now.