<p>just a question about things that we are allowed to bring into the dorms.</p>
<p>-plastic underbed storage? i was reading online that some colleges dont allow this because it can be considered a fire hazard
-a hot pot? </p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>oh and does anyone know specifics about the closets in perkins? i know that they are wardrobesque, but how much storage space is there on the floor?</p>
<p>Thanks for the great advice everyone. I have a question about Keeney Dorms. Is it true that some of the basement rooms occasionally have water seeping in? More specifically, in Bronson, do the 100 level rooms get wet? I want to avoid getting a large carpet for DS if that is the case. And, I need to know whether we need to make sure that the stuff on the floor can withstand water. Thanks!</p>
<p>Is there an ice skating rink (available for figure skating) near the Brown campus?</p>
<p>^
yeah I wanted to ask this (figure skating) too…</p>
<p>We have an ice ring on campus that has some open time as far as I know. There’s an outdoor rink in Providence proper as well, though I doubt you’ll want to figure skate there.</p>
<p>I’ve heard of the basement rooms getting wet in Keeney but I think it’s a more an 0-zone thing.</p>
<p>Plastic storage is encouraged and awesome. Hot pots are most definitely not allowed.</p>
<p>Roommate switching is a relatively straight forward process that you can discuss with your C but I’d give it a month before even thinking about that.</p>
<p>On Brown website, it says, “Please Note: During University Ice Skating Hours, no Jumping, Figure Skating, Pairs Skating or Speed Skating practice is allowed.”</p>
<p>Does this mean we can’t use the ice rink that’s on campus to figure skate at all?</p>
<p>^That is my concern as well.</p>
<p>
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<p>I think most people use handcarts. There are distribution sites all around campus during move-in, so I don’t think you’ll have to go far to move boxes into your dorm. I’m not aware of anyone else renting cars.</p>
<p>Underbed storage: If you are in Perkins, you have a lot of underbed storage – the beds are particularly high off the ground in Perkins. You might even be able to fit a few drawers under there. The wardrobes are not very spacious. Not sure about the floor space in them.</p>
<p>WIMom: I didn’t know about water in basement rooms in Keeney. That’s pretty bad. Many many years ago there used to be a water problem in the dorm then known as Appleby, now called Barbour. There were mushrooms growing in the hallway carpet. </p>
<p>Roommate switching: read this: [Residential</a> Life: Policy - Room Change Requests](<a href=“http://reslife.brown.edu/policy/room_change.html]Residential”>http://reslife.brown.edu/policy/room_change.html) and this: [Residential</a> Life: Policy - Roommate Difficulties](<a href=“http://reslife.brown.edu/policy/roommate_difficulties.html]Residential”>http://reslife.brown.edu/policy/roommate_difficulties.html).</p>
<p>Prohibited items, like hot pots: [Residential</a> Life: Policy - Appliances](<a href=“http://reslife.brown.edu/policy/appliances.html]Residential”>http://reslife.brown.edu/policy/appliances.html). You are allowed to use some items in the community/dorm kitchens.</p>
<p>Also, I don’t know how they will do things this year-you might want to check with residential life, but when my son moved into Keeney, we just pulled the car up and they had lots of football players(? big strong guys) asked what room and they swarmed the car and just made trips. My son was on the 4th floor so we didn’t know how we were going to get it all up there, but these students moved it all in for us which made it so much easier.</p>
<p>Thanks Fire and Rain! I only read about the water on one site so I am hoping that it is not a real issue. I would think that some folks would be talking about it if there was a true problem. I will put this on the list of “things to worry about if and when they actually become a real issue!” </p>
<p>By the way, one other question. Do folks loft their beds in Keeney? I know a lot of DS friends are counting on lofts at other schools but I have not read much about them on the Brown boards.</p>
<p>WI Mom: People in Keeney do not usually loft their bed. However, I have seen it done and it looks really dangerous. Students in Keeney usually keep the bed frame low. If you want to, you can invest in bed raisers (which will give you more breathin’ room). I would just wait until move in day. If it all can fit underneath the bed then don’t worry, however if all of the stuff cannot I would just goto Bed, Bath, and Beyond at the mall…</p>
<p>Thanks Arapollo! I was concerned about the lofting issue as well. And, with a tall son I figure that, with a loft, he will spend an inordinate amount of time trying not to bump his head on the ceiling! I will probably encourage him to get the risers. Since we are staying right next to the mall it will be an easy visit to BBand B. We need to go there to pick up all the stuff that we selected out here, any way! Any other specific needs for Keeney?</p>
<p>WI Mom: A good fan. A small rug for winter salt/dirt. A mirror. A hamper for dirty laundry. A nice desk lamp. Hopefully your B B and B experience will be smooth. When I went to pick up my stuff, of course they hadn’t gotten all the items together and made up bogus excuses and then took an hour finding everything again, so if they do this be sure to ask for a coupon or something. Also be sure to spend a little extra for a high end comforter, high thread count sheets, and a nice pillow. A comfortable bed goes a long way.</p>
<p>Arapollo: We are arriving on the 3rd and cannot move in until the 5th. That will give us a day to run around and buy the stuff that it did not make sense to send or carry with us. So, hopefully the BB&B thing will go smoothly but, if not, we have time to resolve. Had not thought about the rug for winter. Would that be for the spot right inside the door, in addition to the regular rugs? More like one that you would have outside your front door? Not a bad idea… Do the rooms need floor lamps? Are they lit well? I got the comforter from The Company Store so that is set. It is just really hard to know what to pick up until we see the kind of space that we will have. One more question, are the rental fridges fine? Some folks are encouraging us to just buy a new one. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Hey, I would put the rug in the room inside near the door. Just a place to stomp the feet off and leave wet shoes without having to worry about someone coming by and taken them. I advise against putting stuff outside the door. People will take stuff, and janitors may have a harder time cleaning up if they have to work their way around the rug.</p>
<p>I used a rental fridge +microwave they are great. Just be sure to tell the room mate before you sign up. And also be realistic, is your son the type who will store alot of food? My room mate and I used our fridge a little (we probably could have gotten away with using a neighbors). So while it was great I think we could have done better with a smaller fridge. Buying a fridge is up to you, but the rental fridges are fine.</p>
<p>Floor lamps are tricky, they take up some floor space. I would advise against it and maybe get a clip on lamp. The rooms are lit well when you have a nice desk lamp.</p>
<p>WI Mom: When you get to Providence on the 3rd, go to Keeney and hang around until someone lets you in. There are pre-orientation programs, and the RAs will be there, and students will be around. You should be able to walk around inside and peek into other rooms to get an idea of what your son’s room will be like. Your son may even be able to meet some of the other kids rooming near him.</p>
<p>My daughter used a floor lamp and was very very happy with it. She doesn’t study at her desk, and liked being able to move the lamp to where she needed it. The overhead lights tend not to be very strong, so an additional lamp is a must.</p>
<p>Some students who rent the minifridges kick themselves afterward. They are expensive. You can buy a new one for the cost of the rental. Plus, one of the frats has a sale of used fridges during move-in weekend.</p>
<p>As for lofts – I believe that Brown says you are only supposed to use “approved ones.” Keeney rooms are pretty spacious, so there really isn’t the need to loft beds.</p>
<p>My son who lived in Keeney, needed a floor lamp. The rooms were not that well lit. We got one of those multiple head ones at BB&B and he positioned them as he liked them. We did not loft the bed but did get the risers and he put some under the bed storage bins for extra stuff. We also bought a double pole which he used in the closet and could double up on clothes.
We rented the university fridge. We split it with his roommate -$100 for the year for each of us. I personally liked that-we didn’t have to carry it up 4 flights of stairs and then store it over the summer at the end. You can buy them at the nearby Tartet, Walmart too and prob spend less, but it was worth it to us to rent it. Plus, he moved into a house for sophmore year and no longer needed the small refrig after that.
Keeney rooms are pretty big. My son’s room held ALOT of stuff!</p>
<p>You have all been SO helpful! I think that we will take fireandrain’s advice and hang around the dorm. Once we see the space it will be easier. Now if I can only find a way to get DH to relax and accept the fact that we will NOT have everything purchased before we arrive…</p>
<p>Thank you, fireandrain and modestmelody, for the room switching info – hopefully, DS will never need it!</p>
<p>Thank you so much Fireandrain!</p>
<p>My parents would like to know if there are taxis in Providence.
Also, where is the closest gym to Perkins and about how long of a walk is it?</p>
<p>I bought a Mac laptop. Does anyone know if it comes with iworks or do I have to purchase that separately. Also for those who bought macs, did any of you buy Microsoft Works 2008 and if so, how good is it compared to the 2004 version?</p>