A Guide for New Residents

Welcome to Adams House! This guide is meant to answer the vast majority of your questions and even refresh the memories of those juniors and seniors who need help. If you don't see your question answered here, please feel free to contact Jorge.

Beginning the Residential Year

Though most juniors and seniors are familiar with the challenges of settling into the House, sophomores generally are not. A review of what to expect and what to do should be beneficial for all members of the Adams House community.

Telephone Service

Harvard University has selected PaeTec Communication to provide your local and long distance service telecommunications. Call 1-800-960-6555 or visit them at http://uis.harvard.edu/telecom/student_phones/ to activate your PBN (formerly known as PAC).

Keys

All House residents will be issued a suite key and a mailbox combination, for which they will sign a receipt form upon moving in.

The following materials will be available in the building manager's office when you pick up your keys, or in your mailbox:

Cue Guide (one per suite)
Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard (one per suite)
Handbook for Students (one per Student in your suite)

Your Suite and Furniture

When moving into your suite you should expect to find a clean set of rooms with walls that have been painted within the last few years. Each student is allocated one bed (including mattress and pillow), one desk, one dresser, one chair, and a bookcase. You may also expect to find that the windows have storm windows, screens and shades, and light fixtures for general room lighting.

Insurance for Belongings

Harvard does not carry insurance covering damage to or theft of property. It is advised that you or your family obtain such coverage. Information about insurance, offered by a private company, will be available after registration.

Common and Activity Rooms

Adams House accommodates about 460 students and has dining rooms, common rooms, and facilities for academic, recreational and cultural activities. A complete list of rooms and ways to reserve them is available here.

Maintenance Requests

The Superintendent, Jorge Teixeira (teixeir@fas), is the main contact for maintenance-related problems. Please contact him first before attempting to remedy any problems in your suite. The College must insist that all maintenance be handled through the superintendent's office. Even well meaning, do-it-yourself maintenance can cause serious damage and liabilities. For example, using over-the-counter caustic drain cleaners to open clogged drains can damage pipes and be a threat to the safety of maintenance personnel. Even the seemingly simple task of changing a fluorescent light bulb has resulted in shocks, injuries, and damage to the fixtures. We will soon have online maintenance requests, but for the time being, to place a maintenance request, please stop by the Superintendent's Office or email Jorge

Reporting a Building-Related Emergency

Building-related emergencies (floods, black-outs, etc.) should be reported to the superintendent's office, 617-495-2258. If the Superintendent's office is unattended, call the University Control Center directly at 617-495-5560.

Screens, Storm Windows, Shades, and Doors

Do not remove any screens or storm windows, shades or doors, as they are easily lost or broken. Report any problem to the building manager. A charge for repair or replacement that can be attributed to neglect or student damage will be placed on your term bill.

Pest Problems

If you find cockroaches, ants, mice or other pests in your suite, the first thing to do is find the source that is attracting them. Make sure that absolutely all perishables are in sealed containers, that there are no spills or crumbs on the floor or empty unwashed beverage bottles. If the problem persists, report it to the superintendent.

Supplies

Toilet paper, trash can liners, and wall fixtures (poster gum, etc.) are available from the Superintendent's office. Equipment such as hand carts, vacuum cleaners, brooms, and dustpans may be borrowed from the building manager's office. No equipment will be lent out unless your identification card is left in its place.

Keys

Students must request replacement keys from the building manager. Keys lost during the term cost $5.00. Do not copy your room key and give it to a friend; it is not allowed.

Lock-Outs

If you get locked out of your suite, loaner keys may be checked out in the building manager's office from 8:00 a.m.-12:45 a.m., Monday through Friday, and 5:00pm-12:45:am Saturdays and Sundays. There is a Roving Guard on Saturday and Sunday, and the HUPD can get them on there 2-Way Radio

The Police will respond to lock outs from 1:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. seven days per week. The Tutor on call will respond to lockouts on the Weekends only Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mail

Mail is delivered daily, Monday through Saturday.

Your Adams House mailing address is:
Student Name
Box Number, Adams Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138

Packages

You will be notified of package deliveries through the e-mail system.

Due to the overwhelming number of packages received at the beginning of the school year and the lack of space to safely store packages, the building manager must insist that all packages sent to students arrive after Labor Day.

Students are reminded that all personal property sent to or brought onto University premises, including any mail or parcels, is at the sole risk of the owner. The University assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for articles that are lost, stolen, or left behind.

Bathroom Cleaning

Common bathrooms are cleaned Monday through Friday between 10:00am and 2:00pm. If your bathroom is not cleaned at this interval or to your satisfaction, please call the Dorm Crew Office at 495-5569. Persistent problems should be reported to the superintendent.

Trash Procedures

There is no door-to-door pickup of trash at Adams House. The superintendent will provide a supply of trash bags for your use. For the health and safety of all residents, it is essential that no trash ever be left outside your suite. All trash should be disposed of in one of the appropriate receptacles (in the basements of A, C, E, or H entries).

Batteries

See the Superintendent for the disposal of "used and old" batteries, or use the disposal bin located by the mailboxes next to the superintendent's door.

Recycling Program

Adams House participates actively in recycling, and when in doubt, ask! Full information about recycling can be found in Living in Your Adams Room.

Laundry Facilities

There is one laundry room for all of Adams House, so please treat it well. If you spill detergent or other materials, please take a moment to clean it up with paper towels found in the adjacent Porter's Room. Additionally, it is in your best interest to be prompt with your clothing retrieval! When traffic backs up, clothing often goes missing.

The laundry facilities are maintained by MacGray. If you are having a problem with one of the washers, dryers, or card readers, please fill out the appropriate web-form to notify MacGray of the problem. It's easy and quick. That form is available here.

A Few Policy Reminders

As with any viable academic and social community, life goes better for all members if everyone endeavors to follow a few simple guidelines. These reminders are based on a much more extensive set of specific regulations and rules found in the Handbook for Students.

Entry and Suite Doors

Entry doors are not to be propped open at any time. Doing so constitutes a breach of security. The majority of thefts each year occur in suites where the door to the entry has been left unsecured. Do not block Fire Doors within your Suite this is a dangerous practice.

Security

• Do not prop open or leave your suite door unlocked at any time.
• If you live on the first floor, lock your windows (and, if applicable, close storm windows) when you leave.
• Do not copy or lend your keys to anyone.
• Do not allow anyone access to the House unless you know him/her or they can show a Harvard identification card. A Centrex phone is located at the main entrance of Russell Hall (C-entry) and Randolph Hall (G-entry).
• Report all faulty locks and burned out lights to the superintendent's office.
• Report any suspicious looking or acting persons immediately to the University Police at 617-495-1212.
• Do not leave your keys unattended (particularly when accompanied by an identification card) as this creates a safety threat to you and your roommates.

Lock Changes

If your keys have been lost or stolen and you have reason to believe that your security is threatened, you and your suitemates may request to have your suite door lock changed. There is a charge of $50 for replacing the lock and keys.

Emergency Exit Doors

Emergency exit doors between adjoining suites may be opened by special arrangement with the building manager, and only with the written permission of all occupants of both suites.

The small red boxes found on the doors separating one suite from another are "fire egress locks," to be broken only in an emergency. Anyone breaking these for any other reason will be charged for the repair, which is $30, as well as facing the possibility of disciplinary action.

Keep all egress doors, corridors, and passageways clear of furniture, baggage, bicycles and other obstructions. State law requires that these passages be kept clear.

Do not block Fire Doors between Suite; it is against the City Fire Code. Suites are inspected once a Month for this Violation and a copy sent the Senior Tutor for appropriate action if a violation is found. Do not use the Fire Door from your Suite as a form of exit/egress--especially if it leads out to a stairwell.

Fire Safety

Please read all fire safety information that is given to you during the orientation conducted in your entryway. There will also be a Handout placed in your Mailbox please read it very carefully. Familiarize yourself with the locations of emergency exits and fire extinguishers. Evacuation procedures are posted on the inside of each suite door.

Tampering with fire extinguishers (including breaking the seal on the handle) is viewed by the College as a disregard for the safety of fellow occupants and is treated as a disciplinary offense.

Individuals deemed responsible for tampering with or altering emergency equipment will be charged for service and repairs and will face disciplinary action.

Fireplaces

The use of Fireplaces is strictly prohibited.

Cooking Appliances

Harvard College regulations forbid cooking in any room or apartment not equipped with permanent cooking facilities. Cooking equipment (toaster ovens, hot plates, microwaves, electric coffee makers, grills, teakettles, etc.) is prohibited in such places. Please don't bring them; we can't let you keep them. If found, they will be confiscated.

For more information, please see Living in Your Adams Room.

Suite Inspections

Suites will be inspected periodically during the year and at the end of the academic year. The purpose for inspections is to make sure all rooms comply with safety regulations, to check for needed repairs and that the guidelines noted on this page are followed. Inspections during the academic year will be conducted with proper notice.

Again, for more information, please see Living in Your Adams Room.

Decorating Your Suite

Please make yourself familiar with the following guidelines:

• No nails, tacks, picture hooks, or other objects that create holes in a surface may be used on walls, doors, moldings, ceilings, or floors.
• No masking tape, scotch tape, two-sided tape, glue-backed corkboards or other adhesives may be used.
• Only College-provided poster gum ("HOLD IT"), wall mounting tabs or molding hooks and picture wire may be used in these rooms. These supplies are available in the superintendent's office.

The cost to you of filling in nail or tack holes, sanding and spray-painting one wall will be a minimum of $100 and could be more than $200. These rules will be strictly enforced.

Painting Your Suite

Residents will not be permitted to paint their rooms or suites. If there is a section of a suite that is in particularly bad condition, the building manager can arrange to have it painted at his discretion. Please note that any change to the fabric of a suite or apartment will be considered damage subject to charge.

Partitions and Lofts

Partitions and lofts are not allowed unless permission has been obtained from the superintendent. There are strict guidelines for putting up partitions, as they could otherwise be a fire hazard or cause permanent damage to the structure of the room. The installation of any temporary room partition which is not in accordance with regulations and which has not been specifically authorized by the building manager is strictly prohibited. Check the Student Handbook for more detail.

All partitions and lofts must be removed before the suite is vacated and materials properly disposed of.

Air Conditioners and Space Heaters

The use of space heaters is not allowed because they are fire hazards and are an inefficient use of energy. Ideally, they should not be necessary; if your room is overheated or cold, bring it to the attention of the Building Manager so that the necessary alterations can be made.

Air conditioners are allowed only with the written recommendation of a physician.

Refrigerators

Students may keep a refrigerator in their room for personal use if the unit meets the following specifications:

• Size: dimensions not to exceed 36" high x 24" wide x 24" deep.
• Weight: 85 pounds or less.
• Defrosting: if there is a freezer, try to obtain an automatic defrosting mechanism.

Refrigerators must be thoroughly cleaned before storing for the summer.

Pets

Students may not keep any mammals, birds, or reptiles in Adams House. Those students looking for companionship should purchase a plant from the annual PBHA plant sale at the beginning of the year.

Term-Time Storage

There is no term-time storage. You must keep everything you bring in your suite. Items (including bicycles) left in hallways, stairways, and basements will be removed at the student's expense.

Bicycle Racks

Bicycle racks can be found in many basement areas around Adams House. Bicycles may not be chained to any of the stairwells, gates, posts or handicapped ramps. If this occurs, the chains will be cut and the bikes left unlocked or removed. Be courteous, and use the bicycle racks provided.

You are urged to register your bike with the University Police Department at 1033 Mass Ave. The registration sticker on your bicycle will ward off many prospective thieves; it will also greatly improve the chances of locating and identifying your bicycle should it be stolen.

Postering

Poster and distribution materials meeting the criteria outlined in the Handbook for Students may be posted on House bulletin boards. Postering on corridor walls, stairwells, suite doors, entry doors and windows is prohibited and will be removed.

Distribution

Any Harvard University publication may be placed in the Distribution Center located in the main lobby of C-entry. Paid subscriptions to daily newspapers may be distributed to the baskets on students' doors. Harvard publications, with written approval by the Dean of Student's office and the building manager, may also be distributed in the baskets on student's doors. Organizations may obtain the distribution permission form from the Dean of Student's office in University Hall 4.

Move-Out

The "move out" deadline is announced in late April in the House Newsletter and on the Adams House Website. Students are typically asked to vacate their suites 24 hours after the College's last scheduled spring term final examination. Seniors and those students who belong to undergraduate organizations given permission from the Dean of Students are allowed to extend their stay through Commencement. For more information on Move-Out and Summer Storage, please see Move-In, Move-Out, and Storage.

Keys

After vacating your suite, be sure to return your original coded keys to the Adams House superintendent�s office. An addressed envelope will be provided for you to return these items. If you do not return all the keys assigned to you, a charge of $15 per key will be added to your term bill. Uncoded keys will not be accepted in lieu of the Original key.

Important Phone Numbers

For ways of getting in touch with important people University-wide, please see Adams Contacts.

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