NYT Article

Hey Parents,
There was an interesting article in today's New York Times about how some colleges are going to new lengths to separate parent from their children on move in day, and how parents seem to be having a harder and harder time "letting go" and giving their children freedom.  It was a quick, interesting read and I would love to hear what you all think about the changes these colleges are making.  Having just gone through leaving a child at school, do you think any of the measures these school take would have helped you or would they have made it harder?

Convocation Picture

This is a picture of the hall before convocation.  Don't all the girls look beautiful?!

August Hall Calendar!

Here it is!  I know you have all been waiting anxiously.  If you click on it you can actually read it.

Linsey's Must Bring Items

Here is a list of items that I recommend you bring when you move in.
1. Mattress Pad--Let's face it, these mattresses aren't fantastic.  They are industrial school mattresses and while the school does it's best to keep them in good condition, they still aren't going to be as comfy as your mattress back home.  If you buy an egg crate mattress pad or a memory foam one, you are going to make your bed a lot more comfortable.
2. Mattress Cover--Remember the discussion above about the mattresses here....I would recommend putting a cover on the bed just to be safe.  
3. Shower Shoes--Even though we have bathrooms in the rooms on our hall, the showers are communal.  You will want to wear shoes.  We keep them clean, but there are still going to be germs.  $1 plastic flip flops from wal-mart or the dollar store are great for this.
4. Shower Caddy--Remember how the showers are communal.  That means that they are down the hall from your room.  You will need something to carry all your shower stuff in and to store it in when you take it back to your room after your shower. 
5. Bathrobe--So when I say the showers are down the hall, what that means is that before and after your shower you will have to walk up and down a fairly open hallway.  Occasionally male staff members or student family members will be on hall, and you do not want to get stuck in the shower because someone's dad is carrying their suitcase in for them.  Be sure you have something more than a towel to wear to and from the shower.
6. Rug/Bathroom Set--As I mentioned before, we do have bathrooms in our rooms, and some people like to have a small rug to go in there.  This is something that you would need to discuss with your roommate in advance since it is communal space, so you might want to wait until the first extended for this one.
7. Toilet Brush--While we do have a toilet brush on hall, but it is worth considering buying a cheap one for your room.  It will make room inspection easier too, because you won't be waiting in line to use the hall toilet brush.
8. Sponge or Cloth and Dish Detergent--At some point, you are going to need to wash some dishes in your room, and it will be a lot easier if you have remembered to bring some dish detergent and something to wash them with.
9. Hangers--They are so useful, but everyone seems to forget to bring them.  You are probably eventually want to hang up some of you clothes, so bring hangers.
10. Painters Tape and 3M Command Strips/Hooks--These two products are the only things you can use to decorate your room.  If you want to hang pictures, posters, a dry erase board, or anything else, you are going to need some of these.
11. Power Strip/Surge Protector--These rooms don't have a ton of outlets, so a power strip will be a big help.
12. Water Filtration Pitcher--Instead of having to buy and carry in a million bottles of water, just get a pitcher and drink your water from a cup.  It is better for the environment anyway.
13. Key Ring/Lanyard--You will be responsible for keeping up with your key and your access pass.  Bring something to attach them to that will hard to lose.

I am sure there are others, so feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section.  See you all in less than a week!

Room Decotation Guidelines

Please review these guidelines and keep them in mind as you move-in. I will be giving you a hard copy of these guidelines, but it is better if you know before move-in what you can and cannot do to decorate your room. Let me know if you have questions.

ROOM DECORATION GUIDELINES

STUDENTS: While we realize that students desire to arrange and decorate their rooms in order to make themselves comfortable, we also recognize the need to set limits for reasons of health, safety, and the conservation of the limited resources here on campus. We, therefore, ask that you adhere to these guidelines as you arrange and decorate your rooms. Your rooms will be checked for compliance at the first room inspection. Students who violate these guidelines and damage their rooms and/or furniture will be assessed a fee and will be required to correct the problem if possible. If you need clarification or have questions about any of this, please see your SLI prior to making a change.
1. Doorways must remain clear of obstruction. An unobstructed path must exist from the bed(s) to the door. The door must open freely to an angle of 90 degrees without hitting furniture. Carpeting must be placed or cut to allow for this.
2. To avoid negatively affecting the air flow and temperature in rooms, furniture may not be placed closer than 2 feet in front of the air vents or block the thermostats. Also, duct tape, card board or other materials may not be used to block the air vents.
**** Thermostat adjustments in Hunt and Beall must be made by Plant Facilities. Please do not remove the covers. Let your SLI know if the temperature in your room needs adjusting.
3. Containers for alcoholic or de-alcoholized beverages are not permitted in rooms. Used soft drink cans may not be used for decoration and should be recycled.
4. Posters and other wall decorations must be mounted with blue painter’s tape or 3M Command Strips (specific brand). Masking tape, transparent tape, duct tape, electrical tape, packing tape, double-sided tape (foam or transparent), poster putty, pins, thumbtacks, brads and nails are not permitted. Adherence to this restriction will be checked at the first room inspection. Students may not use blue painter’s (or any other) tape to create designs on doors, walls, or floors.
**** Because everyone’s taste is different with regard to the display of the human body, posters which display nudity are not permitted. The genitalia, breasts and buttocks must be covered in such posters.
5. Furniture should be arranged and used in the manner intended by the manufacturer. It may not be disassembled or stacked unless it is specifically designed for that purpose, ie., wardrobes may not be stacked on dressers and must remain upright on the floor.
6. The walls of the hallway leading to the students’ rooms may be decorated only in a manner specifically approved by the SLI for that hall. Since the outside of room doors face a common area of the hall, the NCSSM staff may require students to remove items from doors which are offensive, disrespectful to members of the larger community or are otherwise inappropriate for public view.
7. Furniture from the common areas of the hall (such as lounge furniture) may not be taken into students’ rooms.
8. Lofts are not permitted and all furniture for a given room is to remain in that room throughout the year. Six inch stilts also are not permitted.
9. Street and traffic signs are the property of state and local governments and are not permitted as room decoration. Signs which are found in rooms will be confiscated and given to the Campus Resources Dept. for disposition.
10. Windows may not be decorated and may not be used to hang posters, flags or messages.