Notes

Hello,

1. I was not aware about nor expecting the move-in. In fact, I did not know my roommate would be moving out. Apparently my roommate was planning to have the conversation with me tonight, as she was advised to keep it secret until the move-in was confirmed and she only got the confirmation email today. I do not know who the RD is but I am concerned why they believed I already knew about it. My roommate said she has never implied to anyone that I was already aware of the situation.
2. It concerns me that I am the person who was expected to make my roommate's side of the room clean and ready. My roommate is the person whose belongings occupy the space that is soon to be vacant so it should be her responsibility to clean up the room as she leaves. Luckily she and I are on good terms and she has agreed to clean everything up herself. If she had forgotten some of her items in here, why would I be the person who is fined for it? I believe this sort of policy should not be applied on students unless and until it has been made completely clear that the student knows about the move-in/move-out situation and is an enthusiastically consenting participant.
3. Please let me know in detail what the policy for inserting new roommates into vacant spaces in rooms are. I have learned that the student who was expected to move in but declined needs accommodations due to insomnia. I am understanding of the fact that she was having problems with her roommate and may have needed a space to move into immediately, with no time to consult potential roommates. However, I do not believe that I would be a better roommate for her than her previous roommate was. I do not have insomnia and like to sleep early on some nights. I cannot sleep when there are loud noises or bright lights on. Thus, I suspect that we may not have been compatible either; then she would have to move out again. Did the RD tell you I am a consenting participant? If not, I am concerned that a new student who is not generally compatible with any kind of roommate may be inserted into (and possibly subsequently removed from) my room at any moment. Could you let me know what sorts of issues are considered valid for moving out? Are only disability-related accommodations permitted, or are general dissatisfaction and disagreements with one's roommate considered valid reasons for allowing students to change rooms as well?
4. I would like to let you know that this email has caused me distress and does not feel considerate of my own identity, responsibilities, and emotions as a student at Stanford. I heard my roommate is moving into someone else's room because that person did not get a roommate assigned and was lonely. I will now be lonely without a roommate as she and I were quite compatible. Of course, this does not mean that I would want just any student as my roommate, such as one who is so incompatible with their roommate that they had to request a change. Now I have been faced with the misfortune of having a ticking time bomb in my room due to it becoming vacant without warning. I am aware you are likely not involved with all the intricacies of this sort of process. However, if you happen to play a material role in the roommate assignment process, I would like to suggest that a question be added to next year's Approaching Stanford forms that assesses how likely a student is to change rooms or look for new roommates. It would be ideal to match students who are both compatible in their living habits and are likely to stick with each other throughout the entire academic year.

Thank you for reading this long email and I look forward to your response. My intention is not to attack you but to make you aware of my reaction to the manner in which this kind of information was communicated. I would not wish this email on other students. Hopefully a process can be developed that is more transparent and considerate of all students involved.

Jisoo Lee