Dorm Norms

Of all of the peculiar situations encountered on Planet College most veteran students will agree there is nothing quite so peculiar as dorm life. Since you've been on campus for a while by now you've probably noticed that the housing office has an uncanny knack for pairing opposites when it comes to room assignments. I'm sure you recall your first roommate. How could you forget? If you were tidy they were an unbelievable slob. If you're idea of kicking back was herb tea and Sibelius theirs was a Fourty and Fifty Cent at max volume. If you preferred sleeping all night they spent the wee hours arranging hook-ups real or imagined or worse yet talking to mom.

You adjusted and all of that is past. At this point campus housing may be the best deal going. You don't have to worry about getting to campus, for the most part meals are provided and everyone else in your building is also a student. Maybe not a regular class attendee but still a student.

While you have adjusted to these peculiarities you may need to be reminded that since you are paying you do have a right to what is called "peaceable habitation. " Now, in a environment where watching a flaming sofa drop past your dorm room window is no big deal, peaceable habitation has a way different connotation. But the basics still apply. Only you can say when your generous and tolerant boundaries have been crossed. If your campus living situation interferes significantly with the reason you are there, to be a student, you need to be aware that have choices.

When your campus housing situation becomes more than even you can tolerate there are some essentials which you need to follow through on. Basically they are: talking with your suite mates, talking to the RA, and finally talking to the housing office. If these tactics are ineffective you may wish to simply leave.

If leaving campus housing during the term is your choice you may choose to apply for a re-fund of the remaining balance on your account. Be advised though that, except in the case of an extreme emergency*, housing offices are notoriously reluctant to refund a student's housing fee. So this could take some doing. Essentially, you will have to document in writing why the housing situation is wholly inappropriate. You will also need to show that you have taken all of the recommended steps to adjust and adjust to the situation. You will have to submit this to the housing office and then await an answer. This may take some time. Do not expect a speedy reply and don't expect an affirmative answer. As stated earlier housing offices really don't like to do refunds. So all you can do is try.

So, if you find that you have been sleeping on your friend's aunt's couch rather than go back to your dorm and someone else is using your meal card and you don't care, it may be time to leave campus housing. As with all other campus actions and activities follow the recommended procedures, consider carefully the consequences and move on with your life.

*Extreme emergency is usually defined as an unavoidable situation for example medical condition or family emergency such as a death or other change in the student's ability to continue to occupy the housing assignment. These are very, very rare.

Where did you wake up today?

This is important. Where did you wake up today. If you woke up today, where? Friend's couch? Your car? Your room. Really? Your own residence. Or someone else's? A surprising number of students find themselves homeless at one time or another during their career on Planet College. This may be simply expediency: you find some one to sleep with so, you sleep with them. Or finances. You sleep in your car until you find a place to stay.
Right now. It is early in the term. Short term housing and even no real housing are often a fact. At least for some time. But. No real residence can affect your career as a student. It certainly can effect the quality of your life.

If you are a student and have no real personal address that you can call your own you may be facing more than just a temporary housing challenge. You may in fact be homeless. Elsewhere in this site there is a more comprehensive entry about homelessness and students.

Right now, though, if you regularly wake up someplace other than your own residence it may be time to address this basic issue.
How? Start with the housing office. Post a notice on the bulletin board in your department. In short. Ask for help.
It is going to be a long term. You need to worry about things other than housing. So. Get some help.

Homeless on Planet College

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of homeless includes a person who has no place to go, no resources to obtain housing. The U.S. Department of Education's definition includes children and youths “who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason”

What might these definitions mean to an average college student?

Students are often nomads. With transitions occurring regularly on Planet College, breaks, summer, moving off campus etc, students commonly lead a wandering life. At times economic necessity means “non-traditional” housing i.e. sleeping in your car, showering in the gym, eating off of someone else’s meal plan, well you probably know the drill by now. This is part of one student’s experience.

When I was homeless in college I sometimes lived in vehicles on campus parking lots or in buildings on campus. A couple of times students called campus security because “some homeless person” was sleeping in the dorm lounge. Security was cool and just told me to move along. I usually showered in the gym and I often ate at campus events. I kept clothing and other stuff in a box on a friends porch. I saved a few bucks here and there during these times. I learned a lot and now I’m putting my experience as well my degree to use as an advocate for the homeless.

This student seems to have put his experience to use for his career. Be advised: Living like this for more than a very short time can me stressful and sometimes disorienting. If you find you are among the housing challenged for more than a few days take stock. Possibly you can trade work for more permanent shelter. Also find someone you can talk with about your current situation. Students are often resourceful and resilient but the sense of isolation that even brief homelessness can bring can be very discouraging.