Talking Stick - May/June 2008 - 37

percent of ﬁrst-year students and 8 percent of seniors reporting that their parents “frequently” intervene with college ofﬁcials to solve problems for them, according to the 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement, colleges and universities are seeing an increase in parent phone calls expressing concern over their student’s roommate. Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are typically the catalysts for such early requests to switch roommates. “I believe that these sites have created some issues for us in the roommate assignment process,” says Kevin Cook, coordinator for enrollment management and academic affairs at Kansas State University in Manhattan. “Most often it involves parents calling after the assignments have been mailed because they don’t like something they saw on their potential roommate’s online proﬁle.” The result is an increasing number of requests for switches before Kansas State’s halls even open. At the University of Minnesota in Twin Cities, the halls are traditionally overbooked when the new year begins, and there is not a lot of space for room swapping, but they still try to accommodate requests if there is available space. Mannix Clark, the associate director of administrative services and operations, says there is a period of time after the room assignments have been made when students are allowed to request a room switch prior to the move. “It has been our practice not to move a person because of something they saw about a person on a social networking site,” Clark says. “However, with that said, we do get more calls from students and their parents concerned about something they see about a potential roommate on Facebook.” In an effort to reduce the number of calls from students and parents requesting roommate changes, Clark explains that, through its student affairs ofﬁce, they provide students with suggestions about some responsible ways to use social networking sites. Their Web site also includes tips on limiting the amount of personal information posted online, checking with friends before posting stories and photos of them, self-censoring potentially embarrassing or incriminating photos or stories, and choosing the appropriate privacy setting. EASING THE TRANSITION N obody questions that students today are different from those of past generations. The Millennials have often enjoyed more privileges and have been more protected than their parents. They have grown accustomed to the privacy of their own bedrooms and have relied on their parents to solve problems with the ﬂip of their cell phones. Though heading off to college is still exciting for SIESTA… Wi n thi Re sid e enc Ha lls SIESTA Mattre wth ss Gro WHAT CAN SIESTA DO FOR ME? 1. Eliminate Headaches Such As “Feeling the Springs”, “Depressions In The Mattress”, “Disgusting Stains”, “Bent or Broken Wires”, and “Frequent Replacements” 2. Superb Fire Performance, Even If The Cover and/or Barrier Is Compromised 3. Side Seams Prevent Interior Contamination From Exposure To Beverages or Other Spills 4. Satisfied Residents – Unprecedented Comfort 5. Real Budgetary Savings Through Proven Longevity 6. No Taped Edges Which Trap Impurities, Easy To Clean 7. Performance Specifications Allow Multiple Bidders PO Box 781 • Latrobe, PA 15650 800-234-2784 • Fax: 724-537-9003 email: crfoamsales@verizon.net “After 2 years I became so spoiled with its comfort, I bought one for my apartment.” Sarah Ziegenfus Senior at Duquesne University

Talking Stick - May/June 2008

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