Moving to college can be intimidating for some because it means having new experiences. And having a roommate can be one of the most difficult adjustments for new Iowa State students in the residence halls.

Living in a small place with a strange person can be overwhelming for some students. However, it does not need to be.

Resident assistants are trained in handling roommate conflicts, and through their experiences, they know what makes good roommates.

Marsha Sanborn, junior in sociology and psychology, is the RA on Turner House in Elm Hall this year. She said she considers communication the key element of a good roommate relationship.

“Everyone here is different, and we all come from various backgrounds,” Sanborn said. “The better we communicate and learn about these things, the easier they are to live with.”

Communication is the key, whether you’re discussing which side of the room your bed should go on or if it’s an ethnic or religious difference,” she said.

Steve Blum, junior in pre-dentistry and Schaefer House RA in Willow Hall, believes that respect for one another is the most important facet of building a positive roommate relationship.

“Respect each other’s space and time,” Blum said. “It doesn’t work if one roommate is partying at 3 a.m. and the other has to get up for a test at 8 a.m.”

Stephanie Pearo, sophomore in art history and advertising, agreed that roommates need to be respectful.

“If you want to be a good roommate and have a successful dorm experience, you have to respect each other and be considerate of their needs,” Pearo said. “You don’t necessarily have to be best friends, but you have to be able to have an understanding.”

Pearo said a person should also avoid behavior that irritates his or her roommate.

“Creating tension by doing something you know the other person doesn’t like is not good,” Pearo said. “Compromise is essential.”

But sometimes tension cannot be avoided. When this happens, roommates should seek help from their RA.

“I always ask if they have talked to each other,” said Sanborn, about roommates who come to her for help. “I think it is important to solve it without bringing in a third party if at all possible.

“But the RA is always there because that’s what we’re trained for. We are prepared to help in any situation,” she said.