My roommate was given this plant as a gift but none of us know what it is or how to care for it, and now it's dying- help! also should I pull off the dead/rotting "leaves (?)"
It's too wet. Pull it apart, shake the soil off and replant in fresh, well-drained mix. Does the container have drain holes?
Looks to be a succulent, a plant that grows in gritty well draining soil, and likes plenty of sunlight. Some highly decorative varieties will not over winter outside, they are tender plants and would need to come inside. If you grow this plant inside away from the light and give it plenty of water, then the plant will not grow at all. Perhaps your worry is well founded. Associate these plants with very dry hot situations.
No it doesn't - It's glass. What is it and pull apart the roots? Should I change the container? How often should you water this, never?
Put in fresh soil in a pot that drains. If roots appear rotted leave tops out in the air for awhile, to dry out, then re-plant.
It looks like graptopetalum in there and maybe a few other things--maybe it's all graptopetalums. Definitely repot into gritty soil that drains easily and in a container with holes in the bottom. If they are graptopetulum they will not survive cold temperatures, so a house plant in Vermont.