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Dear Avani,
My next door neighbors in my dorm like to play their music quite loudly during the times I set aside to do homework. It is not during the dorm’s official “quiet hours,” but my schedule is such that I have very little time in which to study. I have tried moving to the library to work, but I find the hum of the book stacks almost as distracting as my neighbors’ music. I have politely asked them to lower the volume on occasion, but the problem persists. What should I do?
– Stumped Student
It sucks to have loud neighbors. Understand that although the University has enforced “quiet hours,” it also has a policy against disruptive noise. If their music is disrupting you and they don’t do anything about it when you tell them, speak to your resident adviser. You are a student, and you have the right to be in a comfortable, non-disruptive environment. While your neighbors have the option of listening to their music with headphones in as loudly as they like, you don’t have the option of toning down their disruptions. Go to them with a final, stern warning and tell them that if they continue to be disruptive, you will have to involve the RA.
A lot of students are reluctant to bring the RAs into a situation, but that is what they are there for. You’ve done your part by telling your neighbors that they are being disruptive and if they are inconsiderate enough to persist, you should be bold enough to bring in whoever is necessary to fix the problem.
However, when all is said and done, your neighbors, like you, are entitled to lead normal lives within their rooms, and you have to be tolerant to a certain extent. Obviously, if they are blaring music for three hours at a time without any consideration, you need to put your foot down. But if it is an occasional thing, a certain level of tolerance is necessary from your end as well. Just as you shouldn’t have to alter your schedule or location for them, they shouldn’t have to always alter their lifestyle for you. In the occasional case, consider studying in the Learning Commons if the hum of the bookstacks throws your concentration off. If that doesn’t work, most residence halls have lounges and common rooms that are generally comfortable and usually quiet.
Tolerance is a very important virtue to have, but in moderation. It is important to make sure that you don’t get pushed around, but it is just as important to be understanding of other people’s preferences as well. Be accepting of compromises and people will surprise you. Instead of approaching your neighbor with a nasty quip like, “Hey, keep it down, I’m trying to study,” let them know that you plan on doing homework from 3 to 5 p.m. and it would be nice if they could keep the music down then.
