Dorm Essentials

<p>hoosiermom, my S will be in a double in Read this year. We are trying to figure out what type of fan is best – tower type, or desktop one. Any recommendations? Thanks!</p>

<p>i would also look into bringing more than 1 flip flop. a flip flop for the shower and a flip flop for daily use.</p>

<p>I brought a fan that fit into my window. It worked out great, I kept it there almost year-round!</p>

<p>Donna101, D had a tower fan and then a small fan that clipped to the bed frame so that air blew across her when she slept. I asked her what she recommended and she said “a roommate who medically needs an air conditioner.” D loved Read and said the heat was only bad the first few weeks.</p>

<p>Good to know about the suite bathrooms being cleaned. I agree, I would hate to see what it looked like after a few weeks otherwise. Thanks for mentioning about a fan for Read. Somehow, we totally missed the fact that Read isn’t air conditioned.</p>

<p>At home we have those double fans that fit into windows and function to draw air out or air in, depending on how you set it and they really do cool the room down. I wasn’t sure though if the windows at Read would allow that type… </p>

<p>Thanks Hoosiermom for the input. Last year my S did have a roommate with a “medical condition” wink, wink, and it was helpful. But I think he’ll survive with just a fan.</p>

<p>Wow, to those of us with kids with a REAL and HUGE medical conditions (no wink)…I’m officially offended.</p>

<p>R124687 – I’m not sure how my post could be construed to be offensive to those with legitimate medical issues that require air conditioning, but if it was insensitive, I apologize.</p>

<p>Do the residence halls have televisions in the lounges? Is there any reason a student would really need a television in his or her room, or would it be an unnecessary expenditure of space, time and money? DVDs can be played on the student’s computer. If a TV is needed, would it be better to get a real television or just a TV tuner device for the computer? Is there any need for a VHS player?</p>

<p>Are students permitted to use audio recording devices in class? If so, which one really work?</p>

<p>LivingNIndy–There are no TVs in the lounges. I wouldn’t say a TV is essential since most shows can be watched online, but it really is personal preference. My roommate and I liked to turn it on as background noise while studying and I would have friends over to watch shows at night. It just depends on what you like to do! There is no need for a VHS player, but a DVD player is nice to have since you can rent DVDs from each dorm building for free with your student ID. That’s one of the great things about dorm life!</p>

<p>LivinNindy, IU has a pretty good cable lineup, and cable is free in all dorm rooms. You can pick up a small analog TV for $20 or less at a thrift store that won’t take up a lot of space and get all the channels they offer by hooking up the coaxial cable that is standard for most any TV. A lot of students even have 32"-46" HD televisions, but small analog TVs are fine for the generally small dorm rooms.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://iutv.indiana.edu/iutv/channellineup.asp]IUTV[/url”&gt;IUTV]IUTV[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Last-minute questions before moving in:</p>

<p>1) Is a laptop computer lock needed?
2) Is there a need for a stapler? Can student find one in the library or around the dorm printer?
3) Is the bunk bed guard rail provided for the upper level?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>1.) I don’t have one, but I would never leave my laptop out of my sight except for in my locked room. </p>

<p>2.) There are staplers in the library. I took a summer class and an emergency came up and had to reprint a paper not very long before it was due, and I couldn’t get to the library to staple my paper. Then I got two points off the paper for not stapling it. We haven’t gotten back final grades yet, but those two points on the paper may end up being the difference between getting an A and an A- in the class. </p>

<p>3.) No, I was on the top bunk during the summer and could have fallen off either way. The way the corner was constructed neither side of the bed was able to be up against the wall. I got used to it though.</p>

<p>1) I don’t know a single person who has a lock for their computer. As long as you keep it within your possession at all times and don’t leave it unattended no one’s going to steal it. Also, lock your door at night/whenever you’re not in. Dorm theft isn’t that uncommon but I know of someone who it happened to last year.
2) My dorm computer lab (Foster) had a stapler right next to the printer as did every other computer lab I ever went to on campus
3) Not from what I remember. My bed definitely didn’t have a guard rail</p>

<p>I’d recommend getting dorm insurance that will cover laptop theft as well as damage or loss of other items. While my daughter never had anything stolen, she did break two iPods and her laptop battery cord got smashed under her chair. The dorm insurance (which if I remember right cost us about $80 for the year) covered full replacement, thereby paying for itself several times over.</p>

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