The scenario unfolds year after year in countless dorm rooms across America: Roommates stew in silence or issue polite complaints until, finally, unresolved issues result in a verbal or even physical squabble.

When this happens, there is a chance that you or your roommate violated your school's Code of Conduct. But what, exactly, has to happen for you or the roomie to break your school's rules and face potential discipline (including relocation to new living quarters)?

In Some Cases, a Roommate Clearly Violates Codes of Conduct and Will Likely Face Discipline

Some alleged acts of misconduct will almost certainly expose a roommate to discipline from their school, including:

• Allegations of inappropriate touching or other forms of sexual misconduct
• Theft of money or property
• Physical violence, especially if it is one-sided

In these cases, if there is proof that one roommate committed the prohibited offense, they will likely face school-issued discipline and have to relocate to a new residence—if they're not expelled from school.

However, many disputes between roommates are not clear-cut violations of a school's Code of Conduct policy, and in many cases, neither side is completely blameless. What happens then?

How Schools May Respond When a Roommate Squabble Isn't Egregious or a Clear-Cut Case of Wrongdoing

The University of Miami professes that students living in on-campus housing have the right to:

• Feel safe from harm
• An environment conducive to sleep
• Study in one's room free of unreasonable noise and distractions
• A clean and well-maintained space
• Privacy and respect for one's personal space and belongings
• Communicate and resolve grievances

The question is, who decides what “a clean and well-maintained space” is, or what constitutes “respect for one's personal space and belongings”? At the University of Miami, students sign a roommate agreement that they can revise. If a conflict arises, the university advises students to:

1. Respectfully address alleged violations of the roommate agreement with the roommate
2. Notify the RA of unresolved roommate disputes or concerns, at which time the RA can mediate a meeting between roommates
3. Agree to amend their roommate agreement to resolve a point of dispute

However, these measures may not be sufficient to alleviate your concerns about a roommate, whether they exhibited a one-time violation of the Code of Conduct or showed a concerning pattern of behavior.

Whether You're Facing a Code of Conduct Violation or You Believe Your Roommate Has Violated Your School's Code of Conduct, Hire The Lento Law Firm to Fight for You

The definitions of student misconduct shift from school to school, as does the enforcement of misconduct policies. This is one reason why it is wise to hire Nationwide Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph Lento to help you resolve an issue with a roommate or to protect yourself from an allegation of alleged misconduct.

Our firm can:

• Help you enact a roommate change
• Help you report alleged misconduct by a roommate
• Defend you from an allegation of misconduct that a roommate has lodged against you

Roommate squabbles and allegations of misconduct can threaten your academic performance and well-being. Call the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to help you move past a toxic roommate assignment.