Ten female roommates in Orange share stories of living together

A fridge shared by multiple roommates means that everything must be labeled; sticky notes are the perfect compromise for roomies to claim what is theirs. Photo illustration by SIMRAH AHMAD, Staff Photographer

There is a rumored law across the U.S. and in Orange that more than three women cannot live in the same house, otherwise, it would be ruled a brothel. 

If this myth were somehow a regulated law, Sydney Hayward, Bianca Roth, Lauren Bauer and their seven other roommates would all be at risk of legal consequences. All 10 of them are housed under the same roof.

But according to Mary Platt, director of Chapman University’s Hilbert Museum of California Art, the rumor comes from an antique ordinance that dates back to the cowboy era. She told The Orange County Register in 2010 that the law is merely a myth. 

Roth, a senior television writing and production major, said even if the law was true, the house she shares with her nine roommates would be legal because their living space is split between two units. Though the anti-brothel law has never affected their housing situation — and there is little evidence to suggest it ever will — Roth said the rumor became a running gag between the roommates. 

Split into two units, the 10 roommates share five bathrooms, two kitchens and one washing machine. The close quarters means frequent living room hangouts, birthday parties, “Euphoria” binge sessions and shared walks to the Orange Circle. 

However, living with all of your friends comes with some issues. Hayward, a junior psychology major recalled two disastrous moments — when their only washing machine broke and when someone trespassed into their home.  

“We had a homeless woman break in,” Hayward said. “She basically came in, and she just took a nap. I was the one who found her; I opened the door, and then she was there, and I thought it was my other roommate. I called the police, and then they just took her out. She was just looking for a place to sleep.”

Despite eight different majors being represented in the house, its occupants have one thing in common: they are all members of Delta Gamma, a sorority at Chapman. Over thirty years of Delta Gammas have lived in the house, and it was passed down to the 10 girls in June 2020.  

Since Chapman does not allow official Greek life houses, Hayward said their house has “unofficially been (their) sorority house.” They hosted sorority events at their house when they could not on campus.

“We (hosted) Kiss Booth — which is one of our annual fundraisers — (when) we couldn't get a space for a table in the Piazza," Hayward said. "Sometimes we'll table and sell things for our sorority in our driveway or in front of our house … It’s like a home base for our sorority.”

Hayward and a few of her other roommates also had their big-little reveals in the backyard due to COVID-19 restrictions for larger events. 

When people are surprised by her housing situation, Hayward told the Panther she usually responds by saying she does not feel like she has too many roommates. 

“It doesn't feel like 10 roommates, because I'm like, ‘Oh, I have 10 roommates,’ and then I'm like, ‘Wait, now it's just Bianca and Andrea and Lauren and Holly and Hannah,’” Hayward said.

Bauer, a junior business administration major, told The Panther her roommates make up her support system. 

“They’re one of the best support systems ever,” Bauer said. “It’s always nice to have someone you can just walk a foot over to. There’s always someone home whenever I'm bored or whenever I want to just talk to someone.” 

Living with your support system, however, comes with the need for compromise. Laundry and cleaning schedules means every roommate must do their part in keeping the house orderly. Sticky notes are essential for claiming food in the fridge and snacks in the pantry. Bringing guests to the house calls for coordination. 

But ultimately, Roth told the Panther the memories she shares with her roommates make the small compromises worth enduring. 

“I have a very different living style than a lot of my roommates, and they have different living styles to me,” Roth said. "Some roommates are messier, while others are neater. However, these differences do not matter. But, we all found a common ground to get along, because we think that our friendships, the way we interact with each other and how much we mean to each other outweighs the differences we might have that might cause conflicts.”

Update: This article was previously titled “Ten female roommates in Orange: brothel or pseudo-sorority house?” The headline has since been changed.