Claire Ilog and her date were in her room at the Village at Centennial Square. As clothes came off and compromising positions were assumed she saw the door swing open out of the corner of her eye. Her roommate and friend stood in the threshold laughing for a moment, before the door slammed shut.

Now Ilog, 21, a junior biology major, spends the night at his place to avoid any more embarrassing moments. Her roommate lets her know when she’ll be entertaining nighttime guests and she goes to a friend’s room for the night, but that’s not the only way students handle this tricky situation.

According to The Housing and Residential Services rules and regulations given to tenants, all roommates must consent to having overnight guests and no overnight guests may stay during finals. Disciplinary action including eviction can result from a guest staying longer than two days or if a roommate complains.

Jessica Bolivar, 20, a sophomore microbiology major and a Residential Aid in Mary Park Hall, has never run into serious problems.

“It’s up to the students and roommates to come up with something that works for them,” she said.

However, students said they rarely follow those rules, opting to make their own rules and codes to let their roommates know that the room’s a-rocking, so don’t come a-knocking.

Many students at SF State use classic signaling methods like a sock on the door, or the trash can outside the door in the hall.

Nazgol Taie, 18, a freshman criminal justice major, and her roommates gave each other color-coded bandanas to tie on the doorknob for when they’re entertaining. Taie has heard that some students resort to “doin’ it” in the shower.

Students at other schools have resorted to creative signaling as well. Amanda Tutera, 24, a marketing major, graduated from Chico State last semester, but she and her roommate devised a plan on move-in day.

When one of the girls needed some privacy with their date, they would leave a note that read “Jenny called, call her back at 3:00.,” which meant finding something else to do until 3 p.m.

“After one instance of confusion, drunkenness, and nudity- when my roommate walked in, exclaiming ‘Sorry! I forgot! I thought that note was for you. I don’t even know a Jenny!’ we moved to plan B,” Tutera said.
The girls trimmed the window that faced the lobby courtyard with a string of Christmas lights, making it easy to see if the girl outside should make a beeline for the library. The girls dubbed them their “do it lights.”

Whether students come up with codes or rules of the room, it’s an awkward situation that some would rather avoid all together.

“It was an embarrassing little escapade,” said Ilog of her roommate-witnessed experience. “My friends and I laugh about it now, but yeah - I don’t have sex here anymore.”