The end of the semester brings about many changes for students, including the decision to switch residence halls and start over from scratch.
Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 marked the "Open Room Change Process", where students were able to stop by the Housing and Dining Office in Anderson Hall. A list was available for students to see which rooms were available in each residence hall. The student could then pick an open room slot and fill out paperwork to complete the process.
The only complaint that students have made with this procedure is that it is difficult to decide where to move without knowing anything about their potential roommate. An anonymous student moving to Leonard Hall from a South Side residence hall said that the Facebook website became an important tool in finding information about possible roommates.
Students who decide to change rooms may do so because they are dissatisfied with where they have resided during the fall semester. Many students do not feel as though they belong where they are currently living. Choosing the most appropriate residence hall and floor for each individual's needs is difficult, particularly for freshmen that have not had experience with AU residential halls.
Max Spector, a freshman in SIS and a current resident of Letts 1 South, has decided to move to Letts 1 North next semester. Though Spector got along very well with his roommate, he did not feel as though he fit in with the floor.
"I have already been sent to mediation services for noise violations," Spector said. "I don't really like my floor." According to Spector, an anonymous author wrote a petition with questionable signatures to Housing and Dining to remove him from the floor.
Students generally feel as though they would fit in better in another residence hall. Some have found that South Side is too raucous for them, and are moving to the quieter North Side halls. Others have not found the excitement they desired in North Side residence halls and have decided to move across campus as well.
Brett Wilson, the RA for terrace north of Letts Hall, reported that only a couple of students are moving from his floor.
"People move out, usually, because of new opportunities-a new roommate, or a roommate leaving," Wilson said, "There is always the option for you to move, but you have to set it up ahead of time, or else you will have to deal with your roommate, despite possible polar differences."
Some people simply do not get along with their roommates. An anonymous junior recalled a nightmare situation with between two roommates on the fourth floor of Anderson Hall North. One of the roommates would scream at the other, but not to his face-to a nearby wall.
"He cursed and cursed his roommate out," said the junior. The roommate decided to move to a different room as soon as he could.
For students who are still considering moving out, there is still an opportunity when the spring semester begins.
"The next available time to do a room change will be during the Open Room Change process during the third week of the spring semester," said Paul Lynch, the assistant director of housing operations.
