<p>honestly, do the RA's really check if you have cooking appliances? i want to get a coffeemaker or electric teapot but am wondering if i'll get in trouble. how else can i get my java fix?</p>
<p>Oh, that's not an issue. I ordered a hot pot from Bed Bath and Beyond, best 10 dollars I ever spent. I used it all the time to make hot chocolate, Ramen, mac and cheese, whatever. Just keep it out of sight in your room, if you're worried. We even kept my hot pot out in the lounge during all-nighters and our RA never said anything, hahaha. I vaguely remember someone saying that they're allowed if they have automatic shutoff, but that might be pertaining to some other appliance...</p>
<p>If there are rules like this, they are in place for a reason and you ought to think about the potential consequences, despite what an RA does about it. Perhaps you are not familar with the nightclub in RI which ignored fire codes in which 100 people died in 2003 or the tragic dorm fire at Seton Hall.</p>
<p>Isn't there a common area in the dorm with a kitchen where such appliances can be safely used?</p>
<p>I was under the impression that the problem with the hot pot is that it didn't have an automatic shutoff and if you forgot to turn it off, the water would run out and it would still be heating and bad things would happen. Knowing to turn the hot pot off when the water's done is kind of a given in using it, I thought.</p>
<p>The RI nightclub fire happened because people used pyrotechnics, which, last time I checked, is overkill as a means of heating up one's coffee.</p>
<p>Most of it's an insurance issue - if you ban microwaves/hotpots/grills/anything that sparkles, your insurance rates go down considerably. I know of a bar (i.e. one small building run by professionals) that had to close down its grill because the insurance premium would be an extra $50,000 per year. </p>
<p>Do the math. Think of what universities have to pay if they don't have those policies in place.</p>
<p>Hot pots and coffee makers are allowed if they have automatic shutoff :)</p>
<p>Yup, seconding mjones comment. It's all about the magic shutoff switch =)</p>
<p>What, you mean you don't use pyrotechnics when heating up a cup of coffee (or tea)???!!? </p>
<p>Anyway, I'm going to guess that mini-fridges are allowed? And, if we don't want to rent the fridge/microwave combination, is there a microwave in the common areas/kitchenette that is available?</p>
<p>Mini-fridges are allowed. There are microwaves in most kitchenettes, I believe, but a lot of them are pretty bad. Ours in Bush didn't heat anything. So I would recommend either getting a microwave and keeping it under your bed or on top of your fridge (covered a little with a towel, maybe) or finding a friend on your floor with a microwave (there will be many). Seriously, there's little point in renting the Tufts one, just because it's poor quality and super-expensive.</p>