Dunster House Newsletter September 8, 2009

FROM THE ALLSTON BURR RESIDENT DEAN:
CARLOS E. DIAZ ROSILLO
I’m excited and honored to be your Resident Dean. As the Allston Burr Resident Dean of Dunster House, I am responsible for your academic and overall wellbeing and success. I also teach in the Department of Government, where I focus on the study of presidential power in the United States. Over the course of the year, I hope to be able to help you think through and manage the various challenges and opportunities that may impact your happiness and success at the College. I look forward to getting to know you well and to many great conversations.
I am available for much of the week in both formal and informal settings, in my office (J-39) and around the House at meals and various functions. Office hours are really good times to get to know you and to have good, productive conversations. I have both open hours as well as sign-up hours (posted on the bulletin board outside the House office, on the third floor of J entry-way). You will be informed about those on a week to week basis here in the Mooseletter.

CARLOS’S OFFICE HOURS
September 8-11

Tuesday, 9/8: 3-6 p.m., open
Wednesday, 9/9 : 3-5 p.m., open
Thursday, 9/10: 10a.m.-5 p.m., open
Friday, 9/11: 3-5 p.m., by appointment

Why and When You Need My Signature and What to Do About It

Cross-Registration, Add-Drop, Independent Study, Change of Concentration, Foreign Language Citation, Leave of Absence.

All of the above, most of which are accomplished by way of a trusty form, require that you talk to me and/or get my signature. These forms are available from my Assistant’s Office (J-35) Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm. All of them are described in the Handbook for Students, which you should consult for details.

The following is a general rule of thumb to follow when you need to do one of the following:

Simultaneous Enrollment: set up appointment to see me (please read carefully the Handbook for Students before we meet).
Cross-Register: get other required signatures first, drop off in J-35 for my signature, pick up in J-35
Add-Drop: get other required signatures first, drop off in J-35 for my signature, pick up in J-35
Independent Study: set up appointment to see me
Change of Concentration: meet with concentration advisers from old and new concentration, set up appointment so see me
Foreign Citation: get signatures from Department, drop off in office for my signature, pick up in J-35
Leave of Absence: set up appointment to see me

Any other Issues: I’d be happy to meet with you!

Dropping/ Adding Courses: Students may add a course until the fifth Monday of the term (with the permission of the instructor. Students may drop a course from their record only until the fifth Monday of the term. There is a fee for most drop/add petitions after the deadline, beginning at $5 and going up incrementally each week.

Tutor On-Call: The tutor on-call for the week of September 8 are Ed and Tizzie Likovich. They can be reached at 3-2226 or in F-14.

PARTIES: There are no parties allowed on Friday, September 11 due to the MCAT taking place on Saturday. Please respect the students who are studying for this exam and keep the noise level down.

Important Dates:
Thursday, September 10 - Study Cards Due by 5pm
Friday, September 11 – Last day undergraduates may cancel their registration for the fall term without payment of tuition. Last day undergraduates may submit cross-registration petitions (note that some schools have earlier deadlines.) Last day undergrads may register late for the fall term.
Friday, September 18 – Final applications for November 2009 degree candidates due.
Sunday, September 20 - Master's Open House, 8:30 - 9:30 pm, Masters' Residence
Monday, September 21 – Last day to add/drop a course without a fee

From The Building Manager’s office
It is strongly advised that you consult with the Harvard Student Handbook or the House Superintendent prior to decorating your suite. This is especially important if you are considering any construction within your suite.

Guidelines for postering and other wall decorations are quite specific. To avoid substantial charges and fines it is strongly advised that you follow these guidelines

The only furniture you may remove from your suite is your bed. All other college furnishings must remain in your room.

Beds can be brought to the basement of A-entry. Please keep in mind that beds must be returned to to your room before you vacate your room in the spring.

Do not leave anything outside your room. Custodians are instructed to keep all hallways clear of debris and other obstructions.

Keep your doors locked at all times. Thieves commonly exploit these move-in times to steal.

As a reminder, please use bulletin boards located in the entry ways
for posting/notices. Please refrain from using hallways, walls or doors.

The Sprinklers
Each and every room, closet and hallway has been appointed with new sprinkler heads. When the temperature reaches 155 degrees, the sprinkler head breaks causing water to Flow at about 30-40 gallons per minute. The average response time for the Cambridge Fire Department is 8-10 minutes which translates to between 300 to 400 gallons of water at any location.

If a resident, through horseplay or negligence or even accidentally sets off a sprinkler head, the college takes the position that the individual causing the water damage will be held financially responsible for any damage to the building and the personal property of others.

Residents should be especially mindful of the above when engaging in any activities that might result in activating this system. It isn’t just about water, its about a LOT of water in a very short period. This system was designed and put in place to keep you safe. Like any other source of power, it must be treated with respect.

Under no circumstances may anything be attached, hung from or propped against a sprinkler head; water damage is a serious problem not only to personal property but it most certainly result in students being displaced from their rooms.

All residents should check their respective insurance policies to insure that adequate insurance coverage is in place should any personal property be damaged as a result of these devices be activated. In most cases, damage to personal property is not covered by the College.

Pull Stations
The new pull stations installed throughout the House have been equipped with protective covers to avoid accidental operation of the system. These covers (when lifted) will also emit a clearly audible alarm that will be heard by occupants. This primary alarm is local and will not initiate a response from the Fire Department.

Please take special note that activating pull stations as a prank is not only irresponsible, it is AGAINST THE LAW. In addition to the penalties provided in the Harvard Handbook for Students, perpetrators of this type of crime may face action from agencies outside the College

New Fire Alarms
The new fire alarm system has both smoke detectors and strobe alarms in every room of Dunster House. The new system is more sensitive and provides greater range of coverage throughout the House. Smoking, candles, incense or the burning of food or popcorn will set off the local alarms. Any smoke in the hallways or entries sound the alarm at the Fire Department.

New Fire Extinguishers
These have been upgraded too! In the same locations as before, this ABC type of fire extinguisher is designed to address fires from wood and paper, as well as fire from liquid and electrical sources as well. Though smaller than those we’ve had in the past they will discharge for a longer period.

Residents should also note that when these extinguishers are discharged for any reason, they will most often foul the smoke detectors. As such, the Cambridge Fire Department will insist that all detecting devices must be cleared before residents can return to their rooms.

Please be aware that all of the fire doors in Dunster are now equipped with sound alarms. All of the fire alarm doors will be labeled and should not be opened. However, if students are living together across fire doors than those doors can be opened. In order to open a fire door in this case the students should come to the Building Manager's Office to request that the fire doors be opened and the sound alarm be deactivated. If a fire door is opened accidentally at night then students should come to the Building Manager's Office to request that the security guard on call deactivate the sound alarm.

Deadline for Dunster House newsletter submissions is Thursday at 3:00 pm for Monday publication. Submit concise notices with a brief headline in writing to Melanie Ester, Assistant to the Resident Dean, either at the House Office (J-35), by fax at 496-3850, or preferably by e-mail at mester@fas.harvard.edu

The newsletter is also available on the Internet at http://dunster.harvard.edu/