Dear Gigolo Joe:
One day I walked in to my dorm room and noticed my roommate and some girls from down the hall were eating dinner and watching pornography on my TV. I also saw they spilled some of their food on my carpet. At the beginning of the year I told my roommate she could use my TV and stuff if I wasn't there, but I never thought she'd use it for that. I got a little upset, and I'm not sure if I did the right thing. When I talked to them all about it when I walked in they just laughed as if I was joking. What do I do to make them realize they can use my stuff, but they need to respect it? Dinner and a movie girl
Dear Dinner and a movie girl:
Well, I'm sorry you were so startled. The best way to handle it is to speak with your roommate one-on-one. In a group, she might feel that she has to play tough and defend her decisions. You might be surprised by how understanding she might be if you speak with her the next day. You also could ask your roomie to go down the hall or to watch porn at her friends' rooms. And if she still gets defensive when you speak with her privately, remember that you're not in the wrong. There is a difference between using a roommate's television and violating it. If she doesn't agree to respect your property, you might as well ask her not to use it anymore. And, if your relations with her continue to break down, then leave. But that is always a last resort.
Dear Gigolo Joe:
I can't sleep! It's not because of classes, stress or insomnia. It's because the girls in the room next to me and down the hall are so loud. I tell them to be quiet, and they don't listen. I threaten to tell our RA and they're still loud. I bang on the walls, and they just get louder. What should I do? Miss Can't Sleep
Dear Miss Can't Sleep:
Sometimes you just have to be the bad guy, and you wouldn't be out of line to go to your RA. They are around to enforce rules such as quiet hours, and you could always go to a different floor's RA if you have a problem with yours. If the problem isn't solved after your RA speaks with them, go to the RA again and maybe your housing director. If you don't want to be so confrontational, you could always take a trip to the local Wal-Mart and get earplugs.
Dear Gigolo Joe:
My summer semester classes make me absolutely sick to my stomach. Every morning I dread even getting up and getting ready because I know how awful the rest of the day will be because of these terrible classes. What can I do to survive the last four weeks? Miserable.
Dear Miserable:
Just keep telling yourself about all the trouble and hassle you're saving yourself in the following year. What takes five weeks now could cost you about 16 weeks during a semester. Also, staying positive about life's problems really boosts morale when you're facing them. While in class, think of all the things you could be doing that are worse than class. Maybe you could bring a smile to your face.
Write to Joe atjacermak@bsu.edu
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