When living in a residence hall, you often hear about people around you hooking up, but it’s rare that you hear about the third party involved: the “sexiled” roommate. This unfortunate being is the other person living in the room who is banned from entering because a roommate is inside with her boyfriend/girlfriend/hookup buddy. Being sexiled is an occurrence most of us have experienced at some point (save the lucky few with single rooms) and if you haven’t yet, you most likely will. As a freshman, I’m living in on-campus housing, and happen to reside in one of the coziest of them all: Kerr Hall. By “cozy,” I mean the 120 or so of us are stacked crowded on top of each other. Gossip flies like rapid fire, and those involved with members of the opposite sex are outed instantaneously. With lofted beds and the common room in the lobby, it’s nearly impossible to find private time or space. I happen to be a member of the sexiled roommates club of Kerr Hall. The other night as I stood at my door, my key poised and ready to be inserted into the keyhole, a girl down the hall whispered loudly, “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.” Although it sounded like there was nothing happening, I was still incredulous at the possibility that I might not be able to enter my own room. A friend of mine down the hall was recently sexiled from her room for an entire weekend when her roommate’s boyfriend came to visit, and I seemed to be next. College was certainly proving to be different than anything I have experienced before. Is there no decency? Despite my annoyance, I cautiously knocked and waited until my giggling roommate opened the door. She and her beau then proceeded down the hall to his room; a triple! As if a double wasn’t bad enough … There have been other similar occasions around the building, but you can probably use your imagination, so I needn’t spell it out for you. I managed to sit down and talk to my roommate after one particular incident, and we decided to lay down a rule: no boy sleepovers. If you’re feeling uncomfortable about a sexiled situation, I recommend trying to talk to your roommate about what can be done so that you’re both content. From my experience, it’s easier for a couple to be together in the presence of others when it’s in the guy’s room. Although it’s ridiculous that it seems boys feel less able to speak about public displays of affection simply to prevent their roommate from getting mad at them for being a ‘block’ (vulgar rhyming excluded). I don’t understand how another person being present in the room wouldn’t bother two people who are hooking up. Are you really that sexually frustrated that you can’t wait until you find private time? Are you so into each other that you don’t notice the other person trying to do their homework (believe me, it’s happened) or sleep? Please, frisky collegiates, do your roommate a favor, and keep the PDA out of the room until she has left for a few hours. One day, you will probably be sexiled yourself.

– Rachel Zarrell is a freshman journalism major.