How to Handle Loud Dorm Music

No matter where you go to school, you're likely to encounter noise problems. If you don't think the ivy-leaguers or the Christian-college kids are going to pump their own particular versions of hip-hop or hard rock in the dorms, or even serve up a surround-sound game of Doom, think again. Noise concerns are endemic in college dorms, as young people break free of family life and sow their wild oats. Managing a dorm takes skill, and those who live in one have to find some kind of compromise.

Instructions

1. Look at your school's quiet hours policy. Virtually all schools preserve times for students to study and sleep, limiting your neighbor's blaring sound system to specific hours of the day. Is your neighbor flagrantly breaking quiet hours? Report him and let admin deal with it.

2. Keep a record of the activity in case you have to take it to "trial" later. Note when your neighbor makes noise, for how long, and what kind of noise it is. Give your neighbor a period of time to establish a clear record of inconsiderate noise activity.

3. Talk to your neighbor as politely and calmly as you can. If you can't appear laid-back about it, don't address him/her at all. If it's possible, make a tentative request about the noise, and tie it into your needs. Let your neighbor know you have to study a lot, don't sleep well, aren't feeling good, etc. Let them know it's a special and reasonable request and not just peevishness.

4. Talk to your resident assistant. The RA is responsible to keep the peace in the dorm kingdom. Let him/her know you intend to handle the issue delicately. Ask about any resources at your disposal, anything that stands in your favor, and ways to effectively make this problem go away. If necessary, explain that you or your parents spent good money to get you to school, and the noise is affecting your experience negatively.

5. Escalate the complaint. Go to administration (Housing Director, etc.) with petitions if possible. Get your other neighbors on your side, and they'll probably have an 'intervention' with the dormer who can't seem to keep it down. If this doesn't happen, suggest to the Housing Director that you need to move, that your placement wasn't quite right and you would appreciate a quieter location. The people in charge should be able to assist you, they've got hundreds of beds on campus.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't freak out. Getting agitated and taking impulsive retaliatory action is rarely a good way to help yourself out of a noise situation. You can pound on the wall, it's unlikely that your neighbor will stop. Keep your cool and go about your solution methodically. Don't let the noisemakers get the upper hand.