Because it’s one of the reasonable solutions?
No, it’s not at all. As I read it, roommate 1 is making life unbearable in a small room. Roommate 1 has refused to make any changes. Roommate 2 is being told that he must make 100% of all concessions. Why?
Because it’s a workable solution? Life can be that way.
It’s not either/or, but preventing someone from sleeping is MAJOR in my book.
Do buy the earplugs and mask, but…
At Quiet Hours’ time, ask your roommate to go play in the lounge. RECORD THIS.
If your roommate is still playing, go see your RA at midnight. Bring the recording. Say that you need this mediated NOW. If at 1 nothing’s happened, go back. If still nothing happens, tell your RA that you haven’t been able to sleep properly in a month now due to her/his lack of action and your health is being affected. Then use your earplugs+mask, set your alarm for the LOUDEST available, earlier than your roommate’s usual wake up time and on time to allow you to have a realllly nice cooked breakfast at the cafeteria. Hit the snooze button a couple times if he asks you to turn it off. Get up, get that really nice breakfast to restore your stamina after only 5 hours of sleep, and go to the housing office.
Explain you’ve tried asking politely, you’ve tried mediation, you’ve tried offering a solution (play in the lounge), to no avail. Add that you can’t sleep and it’s affecting your physical health, your mental health, and your grades, it’s been a month, and you need a solution NOW. If need be, show the recording of your asking, as well as the “trail” of everything you did, to whoever’s above your RA.
Right now, you’re trying to 1° get someone to make your roommate be more considerate, especially as finals are coming up and 2° get another room or roommate next semester.
@JustOneDad, it is not a “reasonable/workable solution.” You are forcing a person to alter his body to sleep–a call of nature and something all humans must do-- because the roommate has an addiction problem. It’s about the same as telling him to “just hold it” or “pee in a cup” because the roommate has locked himself in the only bathroom from 10am to 2am the next day! It’s not right and this roommate has to go.
Seriously, set that alarm for every hour on the hour and answer “maybe” if he asks you to turn it off. Get a spotlight and point it at the roommate when he is sleeping. WAR!
(I am joking here, but I am also not joking. I’d be so mad.)
For the short term, can you create a barrier to block the light? This could be a large sheet of cardboard or a sheet. For the noise, could a white noise generator help block the noise?
For a long term solution you need to get housing involved. If the RA will not help go to the housing director. Do it now so this will be resolved for next semester.
Some times if you have a roommate that is either too immature to be considerate of others or is just trying to force you out, the only solution will be a room change. Not fair but reality. Few if any people change over night.
Yeah, I think you can get a room switch in the end. But you have to go through steps you’ve already begun. Like the ideas about saying it’s causing you mental distress, and another time visiting RA at odd hour sometime (right after roommate has decllned to stop). If you can’t get RA assist, keep trying with housing, student dean, or whatever. Good luck!