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Roommate's 'Disturbing' Sex Life Forced Student Into Intensive Therapy
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 4, 2012
Modified Mar 4, 2012
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 4, 2012
Modified Mar 4, 2012
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This week, a former Stonehill College student from NY sued the school, claiming that her roommate's "disturbingly" open sex life drove her into a suicidal depression—and the college was derelict in helping her deal with it. Lindsay Blankmeyer, who is seeking $150,000 in damages in the suit, alleges that roommate Laura Sidla was having online and in-person sex when she was in the room. And it got so bad, it drove her to drop out of school to go into therapy: “[Blankmeyer’s] psychiatric condition deteriorated to the point that she had to leave school and seek intensive treatment with her psychiatrist back in New York,” attorney Eric Broutman said. “What should have been one of the happiest times in her life was turned into a tragedy.”
Blankmeyer, who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder before she enrolled, added that along with the in-your-face sexual behavior, Sidla at one point "grabbed Lindsay while she was sleeping and began shaking her and yelling at her. Lindsay was terrified and pretended to remain asleep." Sounds like someone is a huge PCU. fan.
In the lawsuit, Blankmeyer says she complained to her resident advisor about the roommate situation, describing Sidla’s “inconsiderate and disrespectful” behavior in a memo: “I am always looking to myself and constantly agonizing over what I could be doing wrong,” she wrote. “I am not sure what I can do anymore.” But she says she was unsuccessful in her attempts to persuade school officials to force her roommate to move out or to give her an acceptable private room.
Blankmeyer claims the only options they offered her were between moving into a "small cubicle-like space" that was previously used as a study lounge, or moving into a "party dorm" with a stranger. She ended up moving into a hotel off-campus, and finishing her degree from NY.
The school counters her claims: Stonehill spokeswoman Kristen Magda told ABC that Stonehill "responded swiftly and professionally to the concerns of the student in this case, seeking to help resolve the matter." After mediation failed, Magda says Blankmeyer "was then presented with multiple options for housing on campus, including a private room. The College also made special arrangements for the student to complete her degree while living at home. At no time did the student notify College staff that her concerns involved sexual activity by her roommate."
Tagged
laura sidla
lawsuit
lindsay blankmeyer
noises
roommates
sex
sex life
stonehill college
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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