r/NIU • u/Initial-Quarter-5766 • 3d ago
Fun Housing Story
So here’s a fun NIU Housing story I didn’t expect to deal with this semester.
I have a documented allergy to a specific animal. When room assignments came out, Housing placed me with someone who has an ESA of that exact animal. They had actually requested a single and got denied, and because my original roommate couldn’t attend this semester, I got reassigned… straight into that room.
Thankfully, Housing already swapped me out, so I’m good now. But I learned something wild in the process: NIU Housing isn’t required to disclose that your roommate may have an animal, even if you have a medical allergy. You can literally show up on move‑in day and find out the hard way.
I’m not blaming my roommate at all. They didn’t choose this either. It just feels like Housing created a conflict between two accommodations and left both of us scrambling. Which I'm sure accidents happen but wow.
Has anyone else dealt with something like this here?
Edit: I did also choose this room once housing opened dorm options. So, it was kind of unfair that I had to move when I was already moved in but at least I got a room swap. Similarly, I did try to reach out ahead of time to know my new roommate but no response.
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u/AWaterMolecule BS Psychology/Nursing | May 2027 3d ago
I was on the offending end of this my first year but I communicated with my roommate before the semester started so that they didn’t run into this issue. Legally, NIU should’ve accommodated both of you. At the same time, there seems to be a lot more people with ESAs and NIU probably hasn’t learned how to manage it. Personally, they set everyone up for failure because they don’t have a roommate matching system like many other schools.
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago
Yeah, I tried to get in contact with them ahead of time but they were not responding and they assumed they were getting a single. I agree t o with the matching system I know a lot of private schools do that now but I guess NIU is still behind the times.
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u/ordbot 3d ago
What sort of ESAs are people keeping in dorms?!?
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago
Mostly dogs and cats. Though it is funny to me that in the handbook it says you can have small horses.
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u/Similar_Cat_865 2d ago
NIU housing system is absolutely terrible for reasons like this
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago
Exactly! They need to reevaluate and restructure so this doesn't happen to anyone.
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u/CallmeEclipse 2d ago
Over the summer I was assigned a roommate who was severely allergic to cats, and I only found out after I'd already moved my ESA in. Thankfully I was able to move after a few days, but I felt so bad, I kept cleaning everything.
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago
I'm so sorry you were put in that situation, that's messed up too. Housing really needs to come up with a better plan.
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u/BBQandBeerGuy 2d ago
I haven't lived on campus in a few years, but when I was there Housing didn't make room assignments. They also can't share medical information due to HIPPA.
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago
Understandable, yeah now with the housing crisis they kind of just been putting students wherever they can. A few of my friends have had to stay in common areas because they ran out so quickly and that started last year. I also would've just liked to be notified there was an animal in my dorm.
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u/BBQandBeerGuy 2d ago
I agree about the notification but it has to come from roommate due to HIPPA. You'd have to check, but unless medical info is sent to dorms from health services or DRC they have no way of getting it.
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago edited 2d ago
Ah, fair enough, I see. Fingers cross though in the future, they can give a questionare about asking if we'd be okay with a service or emotional support animal.
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u/iguessthiswilldo1 9h ago
Holdup. Housing crisis?! Last I knew they struggled really bad to fill beds during covid and still hadn't recovered to pre-covid housing levels. Did they run out of beds?!
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u/MeringueNo115 2d ago
I would be upset to with the school if they situated me with a roommate who were to have a cat due to me having pork cat syndrome. Not the roommates fault as it falls on the campus to ensure their finding suitable matches for dorms and it's good you didnt blame the roommate because they had no part in being matched with you and vice versa.
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u/TheGhostofCreepyPast 2d ago
It still dumbfounds me that they have this “student housing crisis” while two of the towers of Grant remain completely shut down and unused. They need to do the right thing, spend the money, and reopen those two towers.
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u/ApatheticEntropy 2d ago
One of the towers is in use, just not by housing. They’d need sprinklers to be residences in addition to a lot of other, significant, repairs. In short, there’s not enough money for that given the current enrollment levels.
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago
They're being used by the theatre department right? Yeah they'd need a donor or something to get those two towers running again
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u/Initial-Quarter-5766 2d ago
I do agree that they should reopen them but I'm assuming that'll cost a lot of money when they're already paying for a new building to take over Lincoln hall.
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u/Traditional_Cable576 7h ago
NIU does what they want to do when they want to do it. My freshman year (I won't disclose the year. LOL) my BFF and I put in a request to be roomies! When I attended orientation, I got my room assignment and it wasn't her. I spoke to the person who gave me my assignment and was told that if after 10 days after move in I want to move, I can submit a request. Well.... my mom said "Why would we wait 10 days when she has the help to move her things in on day 1? That makes no sense!!! You know what?! It's okay. We will send our child and money to Western Illinois instead!" Needless to say, I got my new room assignment immediately.
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u/LRXC 2d ago
#TheHardWay