The complaint is timeless, reoccurring and often the end of many relationships in college: I hate my roommates. They’re driving me crazy!

Despite the fact that year after year friends vow to respect one another’s space, it seems that without fail roommate situations often unravel into the bitter end of many friendships.

For the first time at NIU, a support group is available to take on these situations case by case.

Whether the cause is a lifestyle disagreement, lack of respect for privacy or just plain anal-retentiveness, NIU students are subject to what they think are unbearable living situations and are in desperate need of this group’s potential resolve.

Judy Skorek, doctoral student and assistant director for the University Resources for Women, and Diane Henning, a graduate student pursuing a Master of communication disorders in counseling, are behind NIU’s new roommate issues group.

The group was formed to aid in the roommate conflicts that arise for students on campus.

“Our main objective is to provide support where students can talk to each other within a group and won’t feel alone,” Henning said.

Henning pointed out that problems seem to arise for roommates because of differences in living ideas.

“We’re such a diverse campus. We help people deal with different expectations and values,” Henning said.

The group is a conventional approach to help resolve issues for roommate troubles as well as offering the exchange of advice from others who have found solutions that work.

Common problems involve roommates’ boyfriends or girlfriends coming over and spending the night.

“It’s an issue of the other person’s privacy,” Henning added.

The group is open to anyone who thinks they are having a difficult time living with a roommate or even to anyone who just wants to make sure to avoid such a situation.

For information, call Judy Skorek at 753-0320 or Diane Henning at 753-7913.