[Badger]

The dinner thing is unfortunate. It'd be hard to step up in that situation and say "Sorry guys, I'm poor can I just pay for my part and you split up the rest?"
I always take care of my friends who are still poor college students whenever they are around, and if this group consists mainly of your buddies they should have been looking out for you, not necessarily paying for your meal, but at least making sure you weren't on the hook for a huge ticket.

That really has no bearing on the room situation, which without any prior clarification I'd say you're on the hook for, as long as it's just your share for that one night.

Sounds like you've got a good attitude about it and maybe have learned a thing or two.