<p>I spoke with my son today and he's ready to speak to administration about changing roommates. My son is a direct admit Kelley student in a business fig and business learning community. His roommate wants to transfer into Kelley next year, apparently is a slacker regarding school work, has made no new friends, the people on the floor think he's wierd, stays in the room most of the time, goes home every weekend, wakes my son up early every morning in spite of discussions about consideration, etc. My son has an easy demeanor, makes friends easily, already has a girl friend and peer group at IU and was elected to a floor office. He says he has tried to befriend his roommate but he keeps saying the guy has something wrong with him. So, I'm open to suggestions from let him handle it to call RPS and be a squeeky wheel. Like all parents, I want him to be happy and do well at school. He is happy in all respects except this situation. Thanks.</p>
<p>**Just understand that most likely your son will be the one moved since he is the one requesting for a change. Not sure how that will affect the floor position, but carefully consider it. I'm not 100% sure by what you mean when you say "wakes him up in the early morning". By what process? Also, at least it isn't in the middle of the night. Morning thing can actually force your son to sleep earlier and in turn, party less. The other problems though can simply be avoided by not being near your rooommate. Just find places to go with friends, have your son go to the library to study, etc. If you escalate things further, it could get really ugly.</p>
<p>And being "weird" is not a valid excuse. Going home every weekend should be a good thing for your son, since he is gone. There are a lot worse situations out there, and it seems more like a compatibility thing than an actual problem. Tell him to deal with it. Unless he wants to run the risk of relocating and possibly losing the floor position.**</p>
<p>radronO makes some very good points. There are much worse roommate situations out there. I think your son's best bet is to learn to co-exist with this guy. Especially since he leaves every weekend.</p>
<p>But, if your son is sure he wants a new roommate, HE needs to be the one to handle it. From what you have described, this is not a case where your son is in physical danger, so he really needs to take care of this himself. </p>
<p>There are lessons to be learned from living with someone who is very unlike yourself. Frankly, I feel sorry for the roommate who seems to be so socially awkward. This transition can not be easy for him. It sounds like your son has reached out to him and I urge you to encourage him to deal with the roommate with continued compassion.</p>
<p>If it is that bad, he should request a transfer. There is a lot worse out there, I can tell you.</p>
<p>Before my son even moved into his dorm, his roommate told him that he was going to be requesting a reassignment because he had made plans to room with someone else, but their initial request was denied. My son is hoping that the roommate does move, not because he has an intense dislike for him, but because they really have no common interests. They get along okay, but my son usually goes to other dorms where friends from home live. I have mixed feeling on this because I want him to get to know the people in his dorm. He said that alot of them seem unfriendly, but I think if he would initiate conversation, etc., he might be surprised. Anyway, I think if your son is that unhappy, he should request a reassignment, but I think you should be careful what you wish for - it could get worse.</p>
<p>If you are willing to pay for a single, there usually is no problem in getting a room on the same floor--since singles tend to be in excess. The difference in cost is fairly minimal.</p>
<p>If you don't ask for a single, your son may or may not end up on the same floor area--and he may or may not get reassigned to another roommate. The odds are that he will end up in a single anyway, but you won't know until the reassignment happens.</p>
<p>My own son requested a single--but that was mostly because he had a bit of expensive stuff--(high end TV, extra fancy computer, etc.)--and because he was worried about not being able to study when he needed to if he was in with another person. A lot of people thought he was a bit of a recluse that first year (myself included), but on the other hand, he ended up with a 3.6 GPA for the year--so my concern was silenced pretty quickly.</p>
<p>I think that it is common to have people that aren't always compatible--and the school is pretty used to this I'm sure--so don't feel like your son has to spend the whole year in an uncomfortable situation. Just let the school know and give them take to make some kind of other arrangements. It may take awhile (since they are still dealing with those students who are living in conference rooms and hallways), but eventually it will get sorted out.</p>