Residence Life
and Housing
Roommate
Assignment Questionnaire
Introduction
Because each of us is unique, we feel different
degrees of comfort with different people. In an
attempt to identify some of these differences
and similarities, we have prepared several
questions and hypothetical living situations for
you to consider. Our purpose is twofold: one
is to gather information by which we will make
room and roommate assignments. The other is
to enable you to think seriously about yourself
and to become aware of situations you may
experience while living in a residence hall.
Completion of the questionnaire in this booklet
is important and requires thoughtful, honest
responses. We hope it provides a useful and
entertaining exercise for you as you think about
residence hall life.
Residence Life and Housing
Philosophy
Our residence hall philosophy is based on
the concept that the academic and residence
living experience must be integrated. Involving
students in both experiences is the method we
use to accomplish this. Student involvement
in residence life enhances the classroom
experience and brings learning to life. We
hope that residence hall experiences enable
individuals to learn and grow, to develop
self-confidence and autonomy, which can
lead to a more fulfilling academic experience.
Not only that, involvement in residence life
creates student leaders and effective group
members, and helps students develop a sense
of community both within their living quarters
as well as the larger campus environment. At
its optimum, we believe that the residence hall
experience helps maximize one’s potential for
individual development and growth.
Assigning Roommates
Because of our philosophy, it is the policy of
Residence Life and Housing to discourage
new students from rooming with high school
friends or acquaintances during their first
semester on campus. We find that students
have a better initial college experience if
they are not living with already established
friends. In addition, our experience has
shown that good friends are not always good
roommates. Therefore, we encourage you to
complete the questionnaire thoughtfully and
allow us to assign your roommate. It’s just
possible that your new roommate also will
turn out to be a friend for life.
The Questionnaire
Think about how comfortable you would
be living in each of the environments
described below. Then circle the letter
that corresponds to your response on the
information/answer sheet at the back of the
booklet. Although you and your roommate
may be matched because you share some
of the same qualities described, you also
should expect to differ in others.
Some of the descriptions are situational
in nature. It may be difficult to respond
if they describe things that you’ve never
experienced. To help with your answers, try
to imagine yourself in each situation.
When you have completed the information/
answer sheet, detach it from the booklet and
return it with your Candidate Reply Card to
the Office of Admission. In early August, each
student will be emailed and mailed his or her
room assignment and the name and address
of his or her roommate.
Remember! Be truthful in your responses or
you might be surprised when you meet your
roommate.
Item 1
How would you characterize your attitude
toward smoking tobacco?
a) I don’t smoke and prefer a roommate who does not smoke.
b) I don’t smoke but would not mind a
roommate who does smoke.
c) I smoke and prefer a roommate who does smoke.
d) I smoke — either smoker or non-smoker
is okay.
Although college policy prohibits smoking in any residence
life facilities, please complete this question. We feel the
information is vital, and we will continue to house students
according to the answers received.
Item 2
It is now the second week of school. The
newness of residence hall life has worn off,
and the people in your immediate area are
beginning to settle down into their routines.
As the days and nights pass, you become
increasingly aware that most of the people
around you, including your roommate, are
“night people” who don’t start studying or
socializing until late at night. This means far
into the night you hear stereos, computer
printers, people talking and laughing in the hall
or next door, doors shutting, and an occasional
yell or scream from somewhere down the hall.
Responses:
a) I tend usually to be most alert and do my
best work late at night, so I would like to
live with a similar roommate.
b) I am flexible in my habits and could adjust
to this type of roommate.
c) I am a sound sleeper, and such activities
would not interfere with my sleep. I could
live in this type of situation.
d) I tend usually to be more alert and do my
best work in the morning, so I would not
like to room with “a night person.”
Item 3
How would you characterize your attitude
toward alcohol?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Very accepting of its use.
Accepting of its use in moderation.
Tolerant of its use if not in my presence.
I do not tolerate its use.
Item 4
You have just returned to Whitman after
a nice long October break weekend at home.
As you unlock the door to your room, you
can still feel the “warmth” of the visit home.
Your roommate is not in, but you notice that
your “things” are not as you left them. Your
computer has been used and apparently your
roommate has borrowed your leather coat. It’s
not the first time that you have noticed that
your roommate borrows your items.
Responses:
a) No big deal. I would borrow my roommate’s stuff, too.
b) I don’t mind that some of my items were borrowed, but he or she should have
asked me first.
c) I am willing to share some things — it just
depends upon what the item is.
d) I prefer not to share my things with other
people.
Item 5
Upon waking, you open your eyes to a
beautiful sunny Walla Walla spring morning.
You survey your room from your bed and it’s
a disaster area. Books and papers are piled
on the dressers. Clothes are thrown on the
backs of chairs. Muddy shoes, a wet towel
and swim suit are on the floor. A pizza box
with half-eaten pizza is in the corner. Several
weeks’ worth of newspapers are stacked
under the windows, and dirty plates and
glasses covering the desk are a reminder of
the birthday party you had in your room the
night before.
Responses:
a) This sounds like my room most of the time!
b) I would clean the room, but it would not be a high priority.
c) I would feel compelled to clean the room as soon as possible.
d) This does not apply to me as I would always keep my room neat and clean.
Item 6
Returning from the library, you find, as usual,
that your roommate is entertaining a friend or a
group of friends for the evening. Looking for a
place to sit, you find that the only place free is
the floor. It seems that whenever you return to
your room, day or night, there are at least three
or four people sitting on your bed studying for
a test, listening to music, or just talking.
Responses:
a) This is the way I would expect my room to
be.
b) This would be fine sometimes.
c) I would prefer that my roommate entertain
people elsewhere most of the time.
d) My room is my home, and I should be able to find privacy there most of the time.
Item 7
During the summer when you were thinking
about coming to Whitman, one of the things
that concerned you was leaving your high
school friends, especially your best friend with
whom you spent most of your spare time. You
wondered if you would ever find that kind of
close friendship in college. During the first
semester at Whitman you and your roommate
became good friends. You have similar
interests and now you do almost everything
together. You will probably room together next
year and remain close friends long after you
both leave Whitman.
Responses:
a) I hope that my roommate and I develop a
long-term friendship.
b) I look forward to a friendly relationship, but if we don’t become best friends that’s
okay with me.
c) I do not expect to have a particularly close
relationship with my roommate, but I would
like to share some interests in common.
d) I do not desire a close relationship with my
roommate, and I expect that we may lead
separate lives.
Item 8
Some students have expressed interest in
living in sections containing both men and
women. This means that men’s and women’s
rooms are next door to each other throughout
the section. Since Whitman’s first-year hall
restrooms are single gender, they are less
convenient for people who choose mixedgender sections. For instance, you may have to
walk up to an additional 60 yards to get to the
nearest facility. Our non-mixed gender sections
have men and women living on the same
floor but only the few rooms in the center of
the buildings are directly next to the opposite
gender. Would you prefer a mixed-gender
section?
a) yes
b) no
c) no preference
Item 9
In order to foster a supportive living
environment for all students, we currently offer
gender-inclusive housing to returning students
and aspire to offer this option to incoming
students. Gender-inclusive housing means
that students of different genders may live in
the same room. Would you prefer this type of
living arrangement?
Responses:
a) Yes, I feel that gender-inclusive housing
will be conducive to my wellness in a
way that single-gender housing may not. Please contact me regarding this option.
b) I would be comfortable either way.
c) No, I would prefer single-gender housing
at this time.
Getting Along with Your
Roommate
It is our hope that the process of responding
to these questions will prompt you to think
about living in a residence hall and to be
aware of the kinds of changes you could
experience after your arrival at college. Your
roommate could be the source of either deep
friendship or chronic aggravation, depending
upon how the two of you get along. Here
are a few suggestions that might make a
difference in how things go after you meet
your Whitman roommate.
a) Spend some time with your roommate. It’s easier to live with a friend than to
coexist with an enemy. Share your mutual
interests and discuss your differences.
b) Work out an agreement on chores.
Conflicts over unmade beds, dirty floors
and the like often cause feuds. Divide up
all the cleaning responsibilities and if someone’s not carrying his or her load,
discuss it calmly, rationally, and before it
becomes a major irritation.
c) Set up guidelines for sharing. How does
your roommate feel about loaning his or
her possessions? Some roommates don’t
mind, others do. Find out and make sure
your roommate knows how you feel.
d) Meet other people. Don’t depend on your
roommate to satisfy all your social needs.
Make other friends and get involved in
activities which take you out of your room
or residence hall.
e) Check out the visitor situation. Does your
roommate stay up late with friends or party
all the time? Do you socialize during the
week or only on weekends? Speak with
your roommate and discuss the issue of
visitation.
f) Keep the lines of communication open.
Chances are good that if something about
the living situation is bothering you, it’s
bothering your roommate as well. Be
tactful and remember that your roommate
is a caring person, too.
g) Arrange your study schedule. If you plan to
do most of your studying in your room, let
your roommate know. Do you study best
with a radio or television on, or is silence
more conducive? Agree on some general
hours and change only after a discussion of the needs/desires to reschedule.
Whitman College wants to ensure that
students with physical disabilities are placed
in a residence hall that meets the safety needs
as well as the comfort needs of the individual.
If special accommodations may be necessary
because of a documented disability, please
email [email protected]
for more information or clarification.
In Residence Life we strive to foster supportive
living environments for all students. We
understand that for some students, this may
be best facilitated through a gender-inclusive
housing arrangement. Students interested
in gender-inclusive housing may elect to be
placed with a different-gendered roommate
by contacting the Residence Life and Housing
Office.
We encourage students concerned about
their housing arrangements for any reason to
contact us at on_campus_housing@whitman.
edu or 509-527-5297 so we can ensure a safe,
healthy, and supportive environment for all
students.
Finally, think of your living situation as a
household. Ideally, the concerns of a household are the concerns of each of its members.
No single member dominates, no single
member feels oppressed. It’s a balanced
lifestyle you’re striving for.
___ North Hall (first-year and upperclass students)
___ Prentiss Hall (women only, first-year and
___ Douglas Hall (upperclass students only)
___ Jewett Hall (first-year students only)
There is a limited number of single rooms in first-year halls. If available, would you be interested in a single room
at additional cost? yes ❒ no ❒
Do you have a documented disability that requires special accommodations? yes ❒ no ❒
___ Marcus House (upperclass students only)
___ College House (upperclass students only)
upperclass students)
___ Lyman House (first-year and upperclass students)
___ Anderson Hall (first-year students only)
Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Roommate compatibility takes precedence over hall choice. Please rank your choices in numerical
order with #1 as your first choice. Our computer program requires we enter at least three halls so we
will have to enter random halls if not enough choices are indicated.
Residence Life and Housing
Roommate Assignment-Information Answer Sheet
Detach here and return to the Office of Admission.
a
a
Item 6:
Item 9:
a
Item 5:
a
a
Item 4:
Item 8:
a
Item 3:
a
a
Item 2:
Item 7:
a
Item 1:
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
Please circle the letter corresponding
to your desired response.
Residence Life and Housing Office
345 Boyer Ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-527-5297
Website:
www.whitman.edu/residence_life
Email:
[email protected]
Please recycle this publication along
with your other paper materials.
2015