Dorm drama. Anyone who goes to college will experience this at some point or another. It's impossible to avoid conflict when you live in such close quarters with a multitude of people ages 18-22. Sometimes there will be people who simply don't get along, or residents who don't like adjusting for others. No matter what the case, dorm drama is not fun. There are ways, however, to make conflict resolution much easier and less stressful than it sometimes is.
Much of the drama that stems from sharing a living space is due to an unfamiliarity with the respect that is due in this situation. Especially as a freshman, you may not always realize what volume is respectful or disrespectful. You may not be used to doing your own laundry or keeping a bathroom tidy. Even if you have managed to properly navigate our way through dorm-style living ourselves, we may not know how to address those who are creating problems or disturbances.
When in doubt, be as considerate as possible. If you aren't positive that something is standard protocol, ask a friend, neighbor, or RA/CA. It's better to ask the girls next door how late you can stay up making noise BEFORE they complain that you're keeping them up. If you have to remove someone's laundry from the dryer, send a text in your floor's group me as a heads-up. A large part of living-space drama can be fixed by being responsible and respectful.
That being said, sometimes people slip up. Since we live in the same community for months we WILL encounter basic human errors. The other part of dorm drama is how residents choose to respond to these mistakes. If you find yourself in a position where you have to address a problem with someone, do so respectfully. And remember, you have CA's/RA's for a reason and should go to them if someone repeatedly creates problems.
College can be stressful and you shouldn't have to worry about treading lightly or creating tensions in your dorm. Just keep it friendly and courteous! Your dorm is your space to relax with friends and start learning how to live on your own. Make sure the experience is enjoyable for you and everyone else!
