Your New Roommate: BFF or PopTart Thief??

My first year living on a college campus was 2001. I was excited to be living on campus and had imagined my experience to be exactly what I'd watched on Dawson's Creek (so, I'm dating myself). New friends; a cool room; no parents. My new campus life was going to be perfect and, for the first few weeks, it was.

A few weeks into the semester, my roommate started dating a guy in her English class. He was nice, so I told her it wasn't a problem for him to visit but he was ALWAYS in our room. He'd come early on the one morning I was able to sleep in; stay late to play video games when I had a test the next morning. It really started to get irritating, but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to be mean. Her boyfriend was nice, so why should I complain?

The fact that I didn't say anything finally blew up in my face. I'd held in my feelings for so long that I lost it one afternoon when I came home to find him lounging on my bed. After my little tantrum, my roommate and I talked about the issue and she pointed out one very important point: I had never told her what I was feeling.

I should have spoken up about how I felt, or initiated a conversation about what boundaries we would have when dealing with guests and personal space. It wasn't that I didn't like him, but who doesn't want some space and personal time in their own room.

I tell you my story in hopes that you'll learn from my experience. Talk to your roommate(s). Set some boundaries. Discuss guests, study habits, cleaning responsibilities, when you like to sleep, how loud you like your music, what food you can (and can't) help yourself to, your favorite television show schedules and who gets dibs on the TV.

You'd be amazed at the little things that can get under your skin if you never talk about them and most of them can be avoided by simply having a conversation. A little respect, communication and compromise can go a long way in a roommate relationship!

If you're feeling a little intimidated or don't know how to approach that conversation, your Resident Assistant will be able to help you. At your first floor meeting, you'll get information for how to start roommate conversations and they can guide you through sticky situations and give you tips on how to handle your concerns.

My RA helped my roommate and I quite a bit after having my initial tantrum and I realized that it's okay to have different styles/personalities/approaches - as long as you're clear and communicate. :)

Nassau Hall Renovations

Check out these pictures of the Nassau Hall renovations! Check back for more updates throughout the summer!

Welcome Week News!

Welcome Week is full of great events to celebrate new students coming to campus as well as welcoming back all returning students. For new students, after you check in at the intramural fields, head to your residence hall to move in and get settled. That afternoon, attend the President's Welcome, followed by meeting your Welcome Week Leader. Your Welcome Week Leader will be your guide throughout this first week on campus. They will take you to the New Student Barbecue on the intramural fields. That evening, you will have a floor meeting with your Resident Assistant (RA) in your residence hall. Your RA is a resource for you throughout the entire year. You can go to them with any concerns you may have, whether personal or academic, and they can point you in the right direction. Your RA and your Welcome Week Leader will then walk you to the play house for the Class of 2014 Celebration with different activities. Then end your day with the Late Night Breakfast, a Hofstra tradition that usually takes place right before finals.

For returning students, Saturday and Sunday events include Hofstra's Got Talent, a late night movie, Rec Center Sports Club Skills Competition and Showcase, and a Night at the Hofstra Museum is in the works!

Also, keep in mind, Explore Next Door trips will take place Saturday 8/28 and Sunday, 8/29. Thes trips will allow you to see different aspects of New York City!

Stay tuned for more on Hofstra's Welcome Week 2010!

An Adventure Awaits!

Living on campus is an adventure.  Meeting new friends; late-night movies; fun programs; close proximity to NYC. All of these things, and so much more, are going to ensure that living within the residence halls is a great experience.

As excited as you are to come to campus, there are some things you should know before you arrive. By now, you should have received your housing assignments letter from the Office of Residential Programs. This letter includes details on your housing assignment, check in information and roommate information. If you haven’t received your assignment letter yet, please reach out to the department so that we can help you.

Once you’ve received your housing information, take the time to reach out to your assigned roommates. These are the people you’ll be sharing your first year with, and starting out with good communication is the key to having a great relationship throughout the year. While Facebook and other social networking sites are a good way to have fun and touch base, it shouldn’t be your only method of communication. Sometimes status messages, text messages and “crazy” pictures can be misunderstood, so a phone call, skype session or an in-person conversation is really the best way to go.

If you’ve never shared a room before, it’s easy to overlook the types of things that roommates need to discuss. Share your interests, sleep habits, decoration ideas etc. It’s also a great idea to negotiate who will bring what (cause who wants double of everything, right?!) and remind each other that there are prohibited items that residents aren’t allowed to bring.

Although the entire list of prohibited items is on our department website, some of those items include extension cords, curtains, candles, coffee pots and pets. So, fluffy has to stay home. BUT – you are encouraged to bring belongings that will make your room feel like home. Favorite posters, pictures of family/friends/fluffy, a nice area rug and your postcard collection are great ways to spruce up your room and feel cozy in your home away from home.

I am confident that living on campus will make an impression on each of you. A taste of independence and the ability to learn about myself while living with other students really helped me grow to love my undergraduate experience. It’s our goal at Residential Programs to help you enjoy yourself on campus and make some of the same lasting memories that we made as residential students.

As we get closer to check-in, be sure to check our blog, Facebook page and department website. We’ll have lots of helpful, and exciting, information to share with you. 

Jessica Havery ~ Resident Director of Liberty/Republic Halls 

What's New in the Neighborhood?

Happy summer! I hope your time away from campus has allowed you to relax over the past few weeks. Our staff has been hard at work preparing for your return to campus in just a few short weeks. I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on some of the latest facility additions/improvements that have been happening throughout our residence halls.

In Nassau and Suffolk Halls, overhead lighting is being installed, patch and paint will occur in all bedrooms, hallway carpeting is being replaced, and fully furnished lounges are being created. In addition, all Nassau Hall bedrooms are being refurnished. The Alliance Hall kitchen area is being fully renovated and refurbished. Finally, all residence hall elevators are being refurbished. Throughout the summer, you will continue to receive updates regarding the progress of these projects.