<p>Ok, so I just noticed in the other thread people had a bunch of questions for someone who had lived in Forbes. Sorry i didn't notice them before. I am happy answer question. That thread is getting cluttered so I started a new one. </p>
<p>Here are the questions I remember.</p>
<p>Q: Who provides Toilet Paper?</p>
<p>Toilet paper is provided. I am not sure where they keep it because I basically never used my bathroom it was so disgusting so I never had to get toilet paper (the people i shared it with did).</p>
<p>Q: Are there places to store things in the bathroom</p>
<p>Not under the sink but I think the mirror comes out maybe. I am a guy so I don't remember such things clearly. Or you can do what I did and devote a drawer of your desk/dresser to it.</p>
<p>Q: What are in the kitchens?</p>
<p>A sink and a microwave (and I would assume that both will be filthy most of the time especially on the guy's side)</p>
<p>If people have more questions I am happy to answer them.</p>
<p>Thanks, CuttingEdge, for offering to do this. You mention a “guys side.” How are male and female rooms divided, if at all. It appears that there are 3 clusters of rooms on each floor. Are they divided by these clusters? </p>
<p>Another question from a previous post was “Are the floors carpeted?” I’d also like to know if curtains to cover the closet are provided. And, if not the curtains, how about the rods?</p>
<p>Male and female rooms are divided by wing. Basically there are two main wings on each of the 4 floors. Each one of these houses 25 people (either 12 double rooms + the RA or 12 doubles + 1 single). On every floor one of these wings is a guy’s wing and one of these is a girl’s wing. The middle wing is traditionally called the “midget wing.” On two floors it houses 8 guys (4 doubles) and on two floors it houses 8 girls. These rooms are somewhat bigger but they lack bathrooms (a plus in my view). </p>
<p>The carpet is green (kind of ugly but overall ok). It is made to pretty durable and not show stuff so it not like all that soft or attractive or anything. </p>
<p>I feel like there are curtain rods in some of them because I think my best friend lost his (he was in the midget wing) but I am not absolutely sure (it may have been something similar). My room had closets but no curtains or rods. I don’t really notice these kind of details…</p>
<p>Thank you for answering our questions CuttingEdge.</p>
<p>I suppose that a vacuum is available for those adventerous enough to actually want to run it?</p>
<p>Now for a question that most don’t want to talk about, but is sometimes inevitable in urban buildings - and one with students not necessarily making sure that leftover food is property disposed of…What kind of critters did you find when you lived in Forbes? Hopefully none…but should students be prepared to see one or two - and therefore bring the Raid?</p>
<p>One last thing - when you look at the floor plan for Forbes - [Forbes</a> Hall Floor Plan](<a href=“http://www.pc.pitt.edu/housing/floorplans/forbes.html]Forbes”>http://www.pc.pitt.edu/housing/floorplans/forbes.html) - besides the “midget” section, it appears as though all of the other rooms have attached powder rooms. True? I’m not sure what the story is with 21/22 or 8. And I’m assuming what is adjacent to 17 and 12 are the study lounges??</p>
<p>A vacuum is available at the guard’s desk and people bring them too.</p>
<p>I never had any pest problem which is surprising since my dorm was worse than my current South Oakland room (in terms of filth) and my current room is infested with ants. </p>
<p>Yeah, all of the rooms not in the midget wing have bathrooms. </p>
<p>Next to 17/12 are the kitchenettes, which are often used as study lounges.</p>
<p>I tried terro but they keep coming back. The problem is that they have become quite a robust colony due to the fact that they have an almost unlimited supply of food from the beer bottles that keep getting broken (partially full of beer) on our porch by the people who live in the other part of our house. </p>
<p>I guess they probably live a pretty care free existence as well…</p>
<p>If you are just going to the gym and back, yes. I usually go before/after classes so bellfield, which is less nice but has all the stuff most people would want (light and heavy weight room, cardio equipment, and a pool) is better for me. It by the cathedral towards craig.</p>
<p>Plus you can be lazy and take a bus there though that kind of beats the point.</p>
<p>No toasters unfortunately. You can always sneak one in your room though. Just hide it under a blanket or something for a week and then after that (after initial inspection) the RA’s won’t even care. I know a kid who had a full computer/electronics work station complete with a welding iron in his room and no one ever cared. </p>
<p>Everyone lives on floors 3-6. I think your question implies you think some people live on the second floor but no one does. The second floor is definitely well used, but I have the feeling some people rarely went down there. I certainly used it a lot. </p>
<p>It probably depends on how integrated you feel on your floor’s (probably cliqueish) social scene and whether or not you use the area to study or play ping pong or whatever.</p>
<p>Toasters aren’t permitted in university housing, probably because it’s a fire hazard, so I don’t recommend trying to get away with having one in your dorm even if the RAs don’t care.</p>
<p>Toasters are a fire hazard in apartment buildings too but people decide to have them.</p>
<p>Life is all about weighing small reliable benefits against small risks with big negatives. For instance, every time you decide to get in your car and drive somewhere you are risking your life for the small benefit of getting somewhere and not having to walk/stay home. </p>
<p>So yes, it could start a fire. That is true of any toaster everywhere. As a society we seem to have agreed that in this case the benefits of toasters outweigh their risks. Why would the calculus be any different in a dorm room? </p>
<p>The rule isn’t enforced because everyone recognizes that it is a dumb rule and so no one cares to enforce it.</p>
<p>Toasters are actually allowed in the university apartment-style housing but in the kitchen areas. When you have a toaster in a dorm room, it’s in closer proximity to flammable objects such as paper, blankets, and clothing. It’s a rule, there’s a decent rationale behind it, and just because you can get away with something doesn’t mean you should do it.</p>
<p>Continuing on the same example, there is always the risk of getting into an accident while driving a car. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t wear a seat belt just because that likelihood is small and you can often get away with not buckling up. While unlikely, the potential harm that can result from not wearing a seat belt during an accident is much greater than playing it safe just like the potential harm from having a toaster start a fire in a dorm room is much greater than playing it safe.</p>
<p>Personally I think it is much safer to let people have toaster ovens then it is to have them trying to cook cookies and other such non microwave cook able stuff in the microwave. </p>
<p>I can assure you. That did cause several (contained) fires last year.</p>