Jen Campisi

Features Manager

This year, Roger Williams University boasts its biggest entering class in university history. However, this growth causes chaos when trying to accommodate extra students in residence halls across South Campus, including Cedar Hall, Maple Hall, Stonewall Terrace, and Willow Hall.

With so many fresh faces, the challenge of housing these first-year students turned excited freshman nervous at the idea of “forced triples” for the fall semester.

Some believed that the spring semester would show relief for those cramped and crowded in double rooms not meant to house three individuals. But that was not the case.

Whoever said “the more, the merrier” certainly did not have college students in mind. Personal space and privacy is limited when you’re sharing a small room with people who were strangers only a few short months ago.

In addition to the frustration of a forced triple, incoming students had to adjust their original roommate expectations. Most students were hesitant to speak out about assigned roommate nightmares and asked that their names were not used.

One student commented, “I was excited to be roommates with a girl from my high school, but we got put in a forced triple and had another random girl with us, which was really awkward.”

Those who have settled down in forced triples have also had to figure out situations in which a room is equipped with only two closets. While each student has access to a bed and desk, storage for clothing is another issue. Some students are stuck with a single dresser whereas the other two occupants claim the closets.

This crowding makes for some tough and tricky situations, especially roommate conflicts. Compact and confined living with those who may not see eye to eye from all the time can certainly cause unnecessary stress for any college student.

Another student who wishes to remain anonymous adds, “While it wasn’t easy, somehow we made it work while living together. That is, until our other roommate moved out.”

Students were expecting to be “de-tripled” by Spring 2017, but unfortunately, for many, that has not become a reality.

Some students, however, see the triples as a more positive bonding experience.

“Walking into a forced triple on move-in day was an interesting experience,” freshman Emily Gravino recalls. “It took some time to get used to it, but now it feels more homey. Even though nobody would deny wanting more room, I have come to enjoy it.”