Annie’s Mailbox: Daughter’s roomie and beau plan sleepover

Dear Annie: Our daughter will be a college freshman this year. She has been texting her new roommate so they can learn a little about each other.

Our daughter recently received a text from her new roomie stating that her parents and boyfriend will be bringing her to the campus. Her parents will be staying in her brother’s apartment, but the boyfriend is planning to stay in the girls’ dorm room. The room has two twin beds and very little space.

I was disappointed to hear this. My daughter is also bummed, but she is afraid to rock the boat with a new roommate. I contacted the university to see what their policy is. Even though it is an all-girl dorm, there is no policy against men staying in the rooms.

We very much want our daughter to have a good roommate experience. However, we do not want her to have to put up with a boyfriend in her room throughout the year. Do you have any suggestions? – Mom

Dear Mom: These are the kinds of problems that crop up in college dorms, and your daughter needs to work them out herself. She can talk to her new roommate, asking how often the boyfriend will be around and whether they can go to his place instead. She can get a privacy screen so this activity is not in her face. But we also recommend she ask to be placed with a different roommate, if not for this semester, then for the next one. Regardless of the university’s policy, they do not want the students (or their parents) to be unhappy with their living arrangements.