Sometime throughout the year, students might wonder how they got their particular roommate. How could two people be put together and be expected to live in harmony?

John Felver, NIU associate director of student housing, said students are put together based upon the housing options they select. Students can choose from a total of 43 different options, 21 for men and 22 for women.

The options available include co-ed, quiet lifestyle and 21 years and older floors, as well as floors based on academic interests such as music, law, computer science and military science.

Students do not need to be studying in any of these areas in order to live on the floor, only an interest is needed.

Cadet Jeff Abbott, of the military science floor in Grant South, said about 32 civilians and 16 cadets live on the floor.

Floor residents who are not involved in military science might join because “this is probably one of the closest and maturest floors,” Abbot said. “The floor is almost like a fraternity. We help each other through problems.”

Depending on the options a student picks at the beginning of the semester, the computer makes what might be the perfect match. Computers print out lists, in order of options, and a name is then matched with a room.

Students get their roommates when another resident with the same preferences is assigned to the same room.

About 90 percent of students receive their first choice for a floor, Felver said. Registering late or not turning in housing forms on time are reasons why students do not get their choice, he said.

Students wishing to room with a friend have a greater chance to room together if they send their housing forms in the same envelope, said Director of Housing Donald Buckner.

Students, who let the computer chose their roommate, might wonder if a survey-based questionnaire would be better to ensure the perfect roommate.

John Selfridge, NIU chairman of the Department of Math and Sciences, said the department could easily write such a questionnaire, but it is unnecessary. “The dorms are a way of maturing and getting involved with others,” he said.

However, Buckner said a computer program matching students based on interests like music and food probably would not work. He said he believes a program like that would be too difficult to write for the main frame NIU computer.

Buckner said some computer science students were talking about a program for a personal computer and not the main computer, because that would “surely be too difficult.”

But Roger Angotti, the head of the computer science department, and Selfridge say it is possible, even easy.

Roommates who feel they simply cannot live together might opt for a room change after the first seven days of classes. Someone who has had their own room might find living with a roommate difficult.

“It took me a while to get used to having someone near me at all times,” said Debbie Stachovic, an NIU freshman. “But college is supposed to make us learn how to deal with our problems. I guess it’s a learning experience that goes on until graduation.”