<p>My d has not heard anything about dorms or roomates yet. I would suspect we will hear something by mid-Aug! Did your D get her common book in the mail from OC or did she buy it? We haven't heard anything about orientation or received the common book in the mail either.</p>
<p>Nan,her book came in the mail Thursday...I bet she will receive it soon</p>
<p>Yep, she got it in the mail yesterday! We are confirmed for the last orientation.</p>
<p>Hope the housing arrives soon as well.</p>
<p>Hello all-</p>
<p>Sorry I forgot to report back in! I didn't think there was much new information - but then I sat through freshman orientation a few years ago w/ my daughter at OU - so maybe I tuned alot out. The main thing for us was - very very few air conditioned rooms for the guys. They suggested bringing 3 fans - one to pull air in - one to pull it out - and one oscillating. Seems that some of the older buildings can't handle the electrical needs of AC. Lets hope for a cool autumn and spring!</p>
<p>In addition, the rooms do not come w/ a fridge or a microwave - or a computer. Seems they are working on a plan - to provide a combo fridge/microwave - to rent for the year - it sounded like if the plan was a go - information would be sent out. She also mentioned that a fridge larger than 3.0 cu ft - would probably be too large.</p>
<p>There was a seperate session for computer questions/needs - but I didn't attend that one - my husband did - so I have no info on that. </p>
<p>When we went (July 18) - room assignments had not been started yet. I'm thinking that in early August we will get the news. The 'first' criteria in pairing roommates - is how messy they keep their rooms!</p>
<p>Orientation was well organized - the parents had a 'track' and the kids had a 'track'. The session on the Common Book selection was very interesting - as well as residential life at Otterbein. We did not get to see a dorm room - but now I wish we had at least tried!</p>
<p>There was a part of a session that involved security. I was very impressed by the head of security - he is a former Ohio State Highway Patrol officer - very likable - but no nonsense - and still has that ability to make you feel inches tall (like when you got pulled over for a speeding ticket!!) He teaches self defense classes there (I'm sure they would be excellent) - and also reviewed what Otterbein has done in reaction to Virginia Tech. I wish he could have spoken longer.</p>
<p>Kyle did meet w/ Dr. John to review his schedule - and it really didn't last that long - Kyle had already scheduled on-line.</p>
<p>We were able to sign up for a bank - Fifth/Third - that has an ATM in the student center - it is a great bank - so for those of you out of town - don't hesitate to do that. Not quite sure what the kids talked about - Kyle didn't have a whole lot to say about that. He is on page 50 of the book - says it's confusing (isn't that the point to make them think?! :-).</p>
<p>Really can't think of anything else. I rather feel like I'm on hold - until we find out who the roommate is and where he is staying.</p>
<p>On a side note: our high school is one of 6 in the country to do Phantom of the Opera next year! That is Kyle's dream role - and he is leaving! Sigh. I also heard that Baldwin Wallace and Elon are doing it on the college level.</p>
<p>Hope everyone else is doing well - is this your first child to go off to college? Kyle is our last of 2 - so things will be quite different around here!</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any other questions-</p>
<p>Kate</p>
<p>Im the starlight,thank you for all of the information!I appreciate the suggestion for banking..good to know.I must say it was good to hear that security seems tight.I do worry about that.D is the 2nd oldest of 4 children.Our son is a jazz/percussion/music major here at the University of Tennessee.He does live on campus but we are 10 minutes away.It will be strange to have a child 6 hours away.She is so happy with her choice of a school that it makes it a little easier.Our other D is a junior in high school and we have a 10 year old D to keep us busy.I knew this would happen one day but it does make me sad to know the dynamics of our family life are changing......sorry to ramble,thinking out loud!....Enjoy your empty nest!!!</p>
<p>How interesting that you are from TN - and your son is at UT in jazz. Kyle plays the trumpet (since 5th grade) and before he caught the MT bug in 10th grade - he took private lessons from someone who got their trumpet performance degree from UT - and he spoke about how wonderful the program is there. I also graduated HS in Blountville, TN - up near JOhnson City/Kingsport/Bristol area. Are you natives of TN or move there? Is your d a MT major??</p>
<p>Wow,small world starlight....yes we are Tennessee natives,my husband has extended family from johnson city,the mcdougals(spelling?)..UT does have a wonderful music program...D auditioned for a BFA in MT and was offered a BA in vocal performance....she is still excited and plans to audition for as much as possible..she has been onstage since age 9,mostly with leads in both musical theatre and theatre...we will see what happens</p>
<p>I wanted to throw in a word about Otterbein security; it really is an impressive and reassuring department. I'm not trying to start a panic here, since this was very unusual for Otterbein...but there were some "incidents" last year of robbery...students being approached and told to hand over their purses/wallets, if I recall correctly. There were also some robberies in town, near campus. The campus security response was both swift and effective. Students were notified by e-mail almost immediately, and notices were posted in the dorms. Students were reminded that security escorts were available when walking the campus, and for a short period, they even had student security guards patrolling inside the dorms. The administration took the additional steps of reevaluating campus lighting, and additional lighting was ordered for installation. My daughter said that although there was initially some anxiety amongst the students, she felt that security was so responsive that students felt safer. Security is obviously required to meet the Clery requirements, but they went well beyond the "letter of the law" in order to give the students a sense of security and empowerment (self-defense classes were started within weeks of the first robbery). I should add that the suspected assailant(s) were thought to be from off-campus, and the Westerville police did make some arrests related to the town incidents. </p>
<p>After my daughter informed me about this, she started rehearsals for the operas and was frequently heading back to her dorm late in the evening. I asked her to call for an escort, if necessary (although usually she travelled "in a pack" with other opera performers), and she said it usually wasn't an issue...security knew of the late rehearsals and often had someone waiting for them as they left.</p>
<p>And last, but far from least, when my daughter developed appendicitis (the day before winter quarter finals!), security took the lead (after being contacted by the RA) and arranged for the ambulance to take her to the hospital. They sent someone over to the dorm to wait with her until the ambulance arrived and help with manning the doors (and ensuring dorm security) while the EMTs carried her out. When she got back to campus (sans appendix) the next day, the first phone call she got was from security, asking her how she was and if she needed any assistance. It was the first of many phone calls she received from administrators and professors, but I was very impressed and touched that the security people took the time to follow-up on her emergency. My daughter was impressed too; she says that the security people are some of her favorite people of those who work in a non-teaching capacity on-campus.</p>
<p>mezzomom,this is very comforting,expecially as the mother of a daughter.I will pass this information on to her.what grade will your d be in?what is her major?</p>
<p>Mum2four, my daughter is a rising sophomore. She started as a vocal music major (declined BM to pursue a BA instead), but she is currently putting the finishing touches on a proposal for an individualized BA. The working title of the degree is Global Cultural Relations (with a cultural emphasis in music).</p>
<p>Kate, thanks for all the info! Where did you stay when you were there? We are in the same boat as you, sending off our second of 2! It will be so different with no kids in the house. On top of that, my husband's company has requested his assistance over seas from the middle of Oct. to the middle of Dec., so it will deinitely be quiet around here!</p>
<p>Mezzomom, thanks for sharing the info on security, that IS comforting to know. I was concerned about D walking back from late classes as I know she probably wouldn't want to call for an escort. I know when we took oldest D to orientation last year, they stressed how a lot of thefts took place in the dorm rooms because kids leave their doors unlocked when they went to the bathroom or laundry etc. We bought her a cable lock for her laptop and a stongbox as well so she could lock everything up to her bed frame when she wasn't in the room.</p>
<p>NanE</p>
<p>Because we are so close (about 1 1/2 hrs) we just drove up that morning. When we went up for the audition we stayed at the Baymont - it has a Bob Evans across the street - and was less than 5 min. from campus. I think I read in an earlier post in this thread as to another hotel where some are staying. There is quite alot out towards the Polaris shopping - and that is only about 5-10 min or so the other way from campus.</p>
<p>Kate</p>