<p>How strict are they on this in the apartment style communities?</p>
<p>The page says "Halogen lamps and multi-bulb light fixtures (ie, "octopus" or "spider" lamps) are expressly forbidden in the residence halls." </p>
<p>I wont be living in a "Residence Hall" since I'll be in Ram..</p>
<p>I bought this from Ikea so I could read in bed / at the desk or whatever: IKEA</a> | Lighting | Floor lamps | ANTIFONI | Floor/ reading lamp</p>
<p>Any ideas?</p>
<p>I’ll have to double check this with some other people, but Ram is still considered a residence hall. So I don’t think you can have that in your dorm as it is considered a fire hazard.</p>
<p>or do what any logical person would do and sneak it in.</p>
<p>You can sneak it in if you want, but RA’s will peek in your room over the breaks, so I would at least bring it home with you whenever you head out.</p>
<p>I have a five-bulb “octopus lamp,” which I love, but will an RA probably confiscate it during the semester (before the breaks)?</p>
<p>The problem with halogen lamps is that they can explode. If anyone touches the bulb with a bare hand the oils from your fingers make them a ticking time bomb.</p>
<p>About ten years ago I had one explode at my desk while at work sending tiny pieces of glass everywhere. Fortunately my glasses blocked most of it but I did have to pay an emergency visit to my Ophthalmologist to get a few random slivers removed form my eye.</p>
<p>Since its nearly impossible to control who touches what in a dorm room you are far better off not having anything with halogen bulbs in them.</p>
<p>If you can, return the light to Ikea and get one that uses conventional bulbs.</p>
<p>I saw plenty of octopus style lamps in the dorm the two years that my son lived in them though unless you are planning to use it for reading, having one that serves as an uplight will actually throw more usable light into the room.</p>
<p>Another thing you can do for more lighting is to buy some rope lights. My S and his roommate hung them under the rails of their beds (both were lofted) and it created enough light for them to be able to get into the room and navigate if the other was already in bed and asleep.</p>
<p>They had their room set up with a futon under one of the beds and had a 32 in flat screen and a surround sound system and regularly held “movie nights” so the rope lights also provided low level light without interfering with the picture.</p>
<p>Well I have a private bedroom in Ram Village, which is where it was going to go… so no one would be touching it… but honestly I’d rather not end up with something I’m not going to be able to use due to some inspection or whatever…</p>
<p>I just hate to have to drive back down to Charlotte again so soon</p>