<p>I"ll be living in Oneida which is in College In the Woods. If you know any answer to any of these questions, your answer would help me A LOT. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Can freshmen use the kitchen or cook in their dorms?</p></li>
<li><p>Are Crockpots, electric kettles, and surge protectors allowed?</p></li>
<li><p>How many outlets are there in a standard double room?</p></li>
<li><p>During a ciw visit, I saw rooms that had drawers under the bed and other rooms that had separate drawers. Which one Oneida has? or does it vary from room to room?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you know if there will be forced triples at Oneida? If so, will an extra desk be provided?</p></li>
<li><p>Does where I live lasts all year or only 1 semester?</p></li>
<li><p>What appliances and furniture are provided besides: beds, desks, chairs, closets, dressers, a floor lamp and phones?</p></li>
<li><p>Is our only source of light in the room the floor lamp provided? (that would suck)</p></li>
<li><p>Are Ethernet Ports provided for each student? and are all rooms wifi equipped?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, anything that I should buy that many people forget?</p>
<p>Thanks =D</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Anybody can use the kitchen in their building. Sometimes you may have to ask for the key if the kitchen is locked, which you’ll get from your RA.</p></li>
<li><p>Are Crockpots, electric kettles, and surge protectors allowed? I believe so. For the surge protectors, there’s the certain one you need… there’s more information about what’s not allowed on the website. </p></li>
<li><p>How many outlets are there in a standard double room? I think there should be 3? But you’ll have the power cord thing with more outlets on it, so having everything plugged in is never an issue.</p></li>
<li><p>During a ciw visit, I saw rooms that had drawers under the bed and other rooms that had separate drawers. Which one Oneida has? or does it vary from room to room? It really varies from room to room.</p></li>
<li><p>Do you know if there will be forced triples at Oneida? If so, will an extra desk be provided? An extra desk may not be provided due to space constraints, though you could always ask for one. There may be forced triples in any building, but if you’re in a suite it’s probably less likely… though CIW’s rooms are rather small so they may not triple you?</p></li>
<li><p>Does where I live lasts all year or only 1 semester? All year, unless there’s an issue in which you can move.</p></li>
<li><p>What appliances and furniture are provided besides: beds, desks, chairs, closets, dressers, a floor lamp and phones? That’s it really. And I’d recommend bringing a cordless phone if you’re the type to pace the room while on the phone. The phone is free to use, so why waste your cell phone minutes talking to friends. Some people don’t really use the dorm phone, but I used it more for outgoing calls than incoming. And each room only has one phone.</p></li>
<li><p>Is our only source of light in the room the floor lamp provided? Haha, yes. Sometimes you’ll luck out and get two lamps. And there’s also a light near the door but that doesn’t provide a whole lot of lighting. And depending on where your room is, the natural lighting could be sufficient enough too. (If your view is nice that is, last year my roommate and I put our dressers in front of our window since our only view was of the dumpster really).</p></li>
<li><p>Are Ethernet Ports provided for each student? The entire campus is basically WiFi. And Eternet cables are not included, but there are ports.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, anything that I should buy that many people forget? Popcorn bowls. Nailclippers. Can opener. Easy Mac (and other various food!!!) Vacuum (a small one! about $20 at a walmart or target). A rug (but not through the school). First Aid Kit. Needle & Thread (if you’re bound to have rips in things like I am). TIDE TO GO PENS! (one of my favorite things)… as you can see I’m a very “better safe than sorry” type of person. But after your first month you’ll figure out a few random things you never realized you needed and you can always head to Walmart on the free busses!</p>
<p>have you looked here? [Binghamton</a> University - Residential Life - Future Students - What to Bring](<a href=“Residential Life | Binghamton University”>Residential Life | Binghamton University) ; [Binghamton</a> University - Residential Life - Future Students - Amenities](<a href=“Residential Life | Binghamton University”>Residential Life | Binghamton University) ;
[Binghamton</a> University - Residential Life - Future Students - Living Standards](<a href=“Residential Life | Binghamton University”>Residential Life | Binghamton University) ; [Binghamton</a> University - Residential Life - Forms and Licenses - University Housing License 2008-2009](<a href=“Residential Life | Binghamton University”>Residential Life | Binghamton University) ; [Binghamton</a> University - Residential Life - College-in-the-Woods - Room Styles](<a href=“http://www.reslife.binghamton.edu/ciw/room-types.html]Binghamton”>http://www.reslife.binghamton.edu/ciw/room-types.html) ;</p>
<p>there is a LOT of information at above sites – read them through carefully and it will answer many of your questions.</p>
<p>there is a walmart and target fairly close to campus (as well as many other stores) --easy to get to by bus – so if you don’t bring something that you later conclude you need, it is pretty easy to buy it after you are there.</p>
<p>remember the rooms are small – they get crowded easily, especially if you end up in a triple – so rather than planning to bring everything you think you could possibly need, it may be better to bring what you know you will need and then buy anything else once you are there and see what you want and have room for.</p>
<ol>
<li>How many outlets are there in a standard double room? I think there should be 3? But you’ll have the power cord thing with more outlets on it, so having everything plugged in is never an issue.</li>
</ol>
<p>Can you link me to a picture of a power cord “thing” =D thanks.
And is this the surge protector that I need?
<a href=“http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/images/IT-SURGE.jpg[/url]”>Request Product Catalog | Diglo | Formerly Harris Communications;
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure the surge protector is the power cord “thing” Perfectedxchaos was talking about. Basically, you shouldn’t have to worry about having enough outlets to plug everything into because between the multiple outlets in the room and the extra ones on your surge protector, you should have more than plenty. </p>
<p>As for the surge protector itself, Binghamton’s website says that it needs to have an internal breaker and that the surge protectors can not be piggybacked, meaning one surge protector cannot be plugged into another. Also, a general rule for surge protectors (outside of Binghamton housing policy) is to try and go for something with protection against higher levels of joules. Something that says to protect up to 200 or 350 joules is worthless. In general, it’s best to go for a strip that protects up to 1000 or more, though my old school’s housing policy was at least 500, I think.</p>
<p>yeah, that picture looks like what I’m talking about! I’m sorry, I’m completely clueless when it comes to electrical terminology. But double check the website for the exact specifications on that!</p>
<p>isnt a surge protector the power cord thing?</p>
<p>And is the powercord thing provided or do we need to bring one?</p>
<p>a power cord is any cord you use to plug something into a wall. eg., laptops come with power cords so they can be plugged in the wall.</p>
<p>a surge protector is something you use between the wall socket and your electrical equipment to protect that equipment from power surges – the equipments plug goes into the surge protector, the surge protector plugs into the wall socket. many surge protectors have a strip of outlets that let you plug several items into it. some are what is called a squid – instead of a strip there are multiple outlets on flexible wires – the advantage of these is that sometimes a power cord ends up covering more than one outlet on a strip.</p>
<p>you can also get a multiplier strip that plugs into the wall and has several outlets, but is NOT a surge protector. Be careful what you are getting – make sure it is a surge protector not just a multiplier – and as noted in an earlier post, surge protectors vary in terms of how much protection they offer.</p>
<p>the room comes with wall outlets. you have to bring any plugs. i believe that somewhere in the web sites i posted previously it says that you can’t use extension cords, except for surge protectors.</p>
<p>Also, I’m deciding to whether to get a microwave. I heard some buildings already have microwaves in the kitchens.
In Oneida, is there a kitchen. And is there a microwave?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>On the topic of surge protectors …</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Belkin 12-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Phone/Ethernet/Coaxial Protection and Extended Cord: Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-12-Outlet-Protector-Ethernet-Protection/dp/B000HPX46U]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-12-Outlet-Protector-Ethernet-Protection/dp/B000HPX46U) — this would definitely last you all four years unless there’s a huge surge. I know it’s tempting to buy a piece of junk surge protector for $2.99 at a Wal*Mart, but if there’s ever a power issue you don’t want all your electronics fried.</p>
<p>It has a 10-foot cord (I’m not sure if ResLife would consider that long enough to be an “extension cord”, although it technically isn’t one), internal breaker, 12 outlets, telephone/cable/Ethernet protection, 3960 Joule rating, lifetime $300,000 warranty on all connected appliances, and a bunch of other nifty little features. Of course it’s UL-rated.</p>
<p>It’s $25, so it definitely isn’t the cheapest one ever. This one is $18 and has some nice features as well: [Amazon.com:</a> Belkin SurgeMaster F9H710-06 7-Outlet Wall-Mount Surge Protector: Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068CNM/ref=oss_T4_product]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068CNM/ref=oss_T4_product)</p>
<p>You will probably want the surge protector, even if just for convenience. You can keep your things plugged in: iPod charger, cell phone charger, laptop, alarm clock, desk lamp, printer, cordless phone; etc. Keep in mind that using something like a hairdryer (usually 1800W+) would probably trip the switch.</p>
<p>It will also alert you should the surge protection fail (surge protectors fail after a certain amount of abuse – for example, one direct lightning strike and it’s toast), or if the outlet is not grounded. Just because there’s a third prong doesn’t mean it’s grounded. If the electrician wiring the dorm screwed up, they might have forgotten to connect the grounding wire to, well … the ground. Hey, they forgot to do that at my house.</p>
<p>Sorry for ranting about surge protectors, of all things. :p</p>
<p>No way…the lamp is our only source of light. That CANT be. Thats horrible for 10grand a year!!! R u sure thats in Oneida?? =(</p>
<p>From their website: [Binghamton</a> University - Residential Life - Future Students - Amenities](<a href=“http://reslife.binghamton.edu/future-students/amenities.html]Binghamton”>http://reslife.binghamton.edu/future-students/amenities.html)</p>
<ol>
<li>The campus shall provide each student resident with adequate living space; furniture; and appropriate and sufficient heat, light and hot water.</li>
</ol>
<p>a. As a minimum, except in the case of tripling, each student resident will be provided with: a bed, adequate area illumination, a chair, a dresser/chest, a desk/carrel unit, and a closet or wardrobe. All such equipment should be clean, sturdy, free from major scarring and of acceptable appearance.
Binghamton University is in compliance with this guideline. In a tripling situation, students are provided with a bed, adequate area illumination, a dresser/chest, and a closet or wardrobe space. On an annual basis, all rooms will be inspected to determine the condition of each piece of furniture. Pieces identified as unacceptable will be removed from service.</p>
<hr>
<p>It provides adequate lighting (perhaps not what you may consider ideal lighting).
Bring your own desk lamp. If want additional lighting, consider bringing a 3-way floor lamp so you can adjust your lighting to low, medium, or high. Halogen lights are not allowed.</p>
<p>On the website, they say that you can rent a fridge for your room if you want to . It’s very handy to have so you can buy soda/water bottles/juice cheaper and have it on hand when you feel like a drink.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>I just bought a desk lamp for $60. >_></p>
<p>aznclamgrl - Just a heads up, I know KOHL’S last year had some really awesome dorm stuff on sale later in the summertime (towels, linens, lamps, dry erase boards and the like) so you may want to save your receipt in case the lamp ends up going on sale, just to save yourself some money! Also, Bed, bath & Beyond takes old coupons (at my house we get them like every week or so, so it’s really helpful when college dorm shopping comes around)! =)</p>
<p>Yes! I went to Kohls and got 50% off almost everything.
But the lamp is what my mom wants me to get, so no arguing in that. Heh.</p>
<p>azn - I love sales <3. Haha, and yeah I understand about the mother thing. Might as well just give in to what they say if they’re willing to pay for it, lol.</p>
![http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/images/IT-SURGE.jpg[/url]](http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/images/IT-SURGE.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
