Why Duke University Won't Honor Freshman Roommate Requests This Fall
Duke University has decided to stop honoring roommate requests made by incoming freshmen – returning the procedure largely to chance. Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta tells NPR why.
Meeting your college roommate used to be one of the anxieties of the first week of school. But these days, many freshmen meet in advance online, and arrange to room together.
Now, some schools have decided to bring back largely random pairings in the interest of broadening their students' horizons. Duke University announced their change earlier this year.
"We believe that you'll enjoy the opportunity to meet someoneof the change from Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, and Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education. The university will now stop honoring roommate requests, and instead match roommates based on lifestyle habits, such as sleep schedules.
