1. Roommate Relations Lauren Adams, RHD HSC Blake Singleton, AC ECV/FGH

2. Objectives  Understanding conflict  Appropriate conflict mediation techniques  Strategies for helping roommates reach consensus  Documenting conversations involving a resident conflict  Effectively facilitating a roommate/suitemate/apartment agreement  Scenario

3. Perception vs. truth

4. People in Conflict truth & Truth

6. Mediation Process 1. Preparation 2. Introduction and overview 3. Establish ground rules 4. Storytelling 5. Determine problem and define issues 6. Generate and evaluate appropriate alternatives 7. Select appropriate solution 8. Conclusion 9. Follow up

7. 1. Preparation  Contact each individual involved separately to conduct a preliminary assessment of the situation  Arrange a time and place for the mediation to occur  Prepare the environment  Private, quiet, impartial, and comfortable  If needed, review the mediation process steps

8. 2. Introduction and Overview  Who are the people involved?  Explain the mediation process (steps 3-9)  Help individuals understand mediation and commit to the process  Explain the benefits of mediation  Terminate conflict and resolve underlying issues by bringing participants to a mutually satisfying agreement in a timely manner

9. 3. Establish Ground Rules  Why is it important to set ground rules?  What are some example ground rules?  Expectation of participation  Honesty  Civility  Positive problem solving  Language

10. 4. Storytelling  Individuals briefly state their view  Check for understanding  Restatements  Paraphrasing  Asking clarifying questions

11. 5. Determine Problem and Define Issues  Individuals agree on a specific problem(s) to be worked on  Define any underlying issues  Individuals should agree on the problems and/or issues

12. 6. Generate and Evaluate Appropriate Alternatives  Have individuals discuss possible outcomes to the problem/issue  "I'd like to see this..."  "We could do that..."  Possible outcomes should be  Specific  Attainable  Relevant

13. 7. Select Appropriate Solution  Have individuals agree on a specific solution to the problem/issue

14. 8. Conclusion  Finalize the agreement  Informal understanding  Formal, written agreement  New Roommate Agreement Form  Determine timeline for follow up  Document conversation and submit to your supervisor  Email  INF  Advocate

15. 9. Follow Up  Check back with each individual to see how things are going  Is the agreed upon solution working to help solve the problem/issue?  New issues can be mediated  Individuals can be referred to additional services as needed  RHD or AC/SC  Assignments for a room change

16. Roommate/Suitemate/Apartment Agreements  Stories from the audience  What was effective and what was not?  How do you get people to take these seriously?  Agreements Use  Used in times of conflict  Typically first step towards mediation  Tool for negotiation (wants vs. needs)  People will just agree and sign (DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN!)

17. Scenario  Roommates – Casey & Ryan  Students living in McWhorter  Each roommate has had their own room their entire life until college  Casey is very messy  Ryan is a neat freak  Conflict – Ryan is mad that Casey leaves his beard trimmings in the sink and never cleans the bathroom

18. Small Group Discussion  Break up in to groups of 5  Discuss the situation and take notes for large group discussion  Sample discussion questions  What are your thoughts?  What would you do if you were the RA?  How would you apply the Mediation Process to this conflict situation?  What are some immediate concerns?  What seems as though it could be worked out later?  What do you feel is the actual core of this issue?  What is the core of this issue being masked by?  What was the breaking point?

19. Large Group Discussion  What did you talk about in your small groups?

20. Questions?Contact Info  Lauren Adams  ladams12@uga.edu  Blake Singleton  lbsingle@uga.edu