Alexis D. Simpson, 19, a student at Bowie State University allegedly stabbed her roommate Dominique T. Frazier, a freshman business administration major, in her dorm room Sept. 15, over an iPod-related dispute, according to The Washington Post.

The Bowie State University Police Department officers were among the first to arrive on the scene and found Frazier unconscious on the second floor of Christa McAuliffe Residential Center.

Frazier died 45 minutes later because of the injury sustained to her throat after being rushed to Prince George Hospital Center.

Jeremy Rykard, a junior general studies major at Eastern, said he was shocked by the extreme escalation of a seemingly simple roommate disagreement.

“We are all adults, and if talking it out doesn’t work, you can go to a (resident assistant),” Rykard said. “If that doesn’t work an (assistant resident director) and if the issue still isn’t resolved, change rooms.”

According to a Sept. 16 Huffington Post article, the argument began after Simpson turned off Frazier’s iPod that had been playing music in their bathroom.

Rykard said the reaction to such a trivial matter should not have resulted in the taking of someone else’s life.

According to the Bowie State University website, Simpson turned herself in to the Maryland State Police around midnight on Sept. 16.

Jordan Miller, a junior political science major, said it is critical that resident assistants and those they advise have open-and-honest communication.

“It is important for the (resident assistant) to make sure the students know they can feel comfortable enough know they can come to them with any problem when a dispute occurs,” Miller said.

When roommates are in a difficult and possible dangerous situation the issue should immediately be brought to the attention of the resident assistant, Brown said.

Dana Jordan, a junior sociology major and a former RA, said Eastern takes steps to make sure violent incidents do not occur oncampus.

“Typically, when an issue arises, I go over the roommate agreement and after a second or third time of a issue occurring one of the roommates move out,” Jordan said.

Sarah Audette, a junior music education major, said she had serious roommate issues during her sophomore year and did not like the way it was handled.

“I felt as if the RA did the best that she could but was too nice about it,” Audette said. “I would have liked the RA to have been more stern with the situation.”

Audette said she would have liked her RA to refer to the signed agreement in order to assess what rules had been broken and maybe re-evaluate the rules.

The roommate agreement is a signed document that lists agreed upon living arrangements, Jordan said.

“If they can’t agree then they usually wait a few days, it usually depends on the severity of the argument,” Jordan said.

The agreement includes what time each roommate prefers to go to bed, visiting hours and visitor protocol and studying preferences, Jordan said.

Then, if an issue is cannot be resolved the RA will report it to the assistant resident director, Jordan said.

Hayley Stoneking is a senior psychology major and is currently a Lincoln Hall RA.

“I advise them to talk it out among themselves, but if they do not feel comfortable then I will accompany them,” Stoneking said. “To be sure that I have taken the necessary actions to solve the problem at hand I will address the assistant resident director.”

Audette said her last situation helped her decide not to have a roommate this year.

“(But the) best way to solve a problem is compromise,” Audette said. “Don’t give up immediately (try) seek a resolution.”

Stoneking also said she likes to address roommate issues with each resident “one-on-one” to figure out what the individual problems are.

Jordan said switching rooms is never easy and University Housing and Dining Services will only allow room changes if the issue cannot be resolved.

According the NBC article, Simpson and Frazier had apparently been arguing for weeks before the fatal stabbing occurred.

Simpson has since been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree assault and is waiting trial at Prince George’s County Detention Center.

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Maybellean Rienbolt can be reached at 581-7942

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