Cabot House Building Guidelines

Building Manager Office Hours
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Building Manager
Mon.-Fri. 5 p.m.-12:45 a.m. Security
Sat./Sun. 5 p.m.-12:45 a.m. Security

Maintenance
To report a problem with washer or dryer, click here.
To report a problem with the crimson cash swipe in a laundry room, click here or call 496-0329 (8am-5pm M-F).
For all other problems, fill out this maintenance request form or call the Building Manager's office at 5-8694.

Do-It-Yourself Maintenance
The College must insist that all maintenance be handled through the Building Manager'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.

Reporting a Building-Related Emergency
Building-related emergencies (floods, black-outs, etc.) should be reported to the Building Manager's office, 495-8694. If the Building Manager's office is unattended, call the University Control Center directly at 495-5560.

Screens, Storm Windows, Shades & 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, or other insects 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 Building Manager.

Supplies
Toilet paper, trash can liners and cleaning supplies are available at the Building Manager's office. Equipment such as vacuum cleaners, brooms, dustpans, mops and buckets may be borrowed from the Building Manager's office. No equipment will be lent out unless your identification card is left in its place.

Bed Boards
Students who wish to borrow bedboards may do so through the Building Manager. There is a $50 charge for bed boards not returned to the Building Manager's office at the end of the academic year.

Keys
Students must request replacement keys from the Building Manager. Keys lost during the term cost $10.

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 5:00 p.m. - 12:45 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, the resident tutor of each hall can let you into your room/suite. The Police will respond to lock outs from 1:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. seven days per week. Unless your resident tutor happens to be in, THERE IS NO ONE AVAILABLE TO UNLOCK YOUR DOOR 8:00 a.m. TO 5:00 p.m. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NOR ON ANY OFFICIAL HOLIDAY.

Mail
Mail is delivered daily, Monday through Saturday. The official Cabot House mailing address is:
Student Name
Box Number, Cabot Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138
Some mail carriers will not deliver to a box number, and in those cases you can use Cabot's street address (60 Linnaean Street) IN ADDITION TO your box number.

Packages
In Cabot House, you will be notified of any package, special delivery, flowers, etc. delivered to the Building Manager's office by e-mail. Packages can be picked up at the Building Manager's office between 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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 College 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, are 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 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Private bathrooms are normally cleaned every two weeks by the Student Porter Program. If your bathroom is not cleaned at this interval or to your satisfaction, please call the Student Porter Office at 495-5569. Persistent problems should be reported to the Building Manager.

Telephone
Your room is equipped with a red Harvard University telephone and on-campus/911 service. You may use your own phone if your prefer, but the red phone itself must remain in your suite. Please contact PaeTec Communications to activate local and long distance phone service or to activate an additional phone line in your suite. If you have questions you should visit www.uis.harvard.edu/student_telecom/.

Trash Procedures
 - Residents should bring trash to receptacles in the following locations:
 - Briggs B, C & D--C Entry basement bicycle space, opposite the elevator.
 - Cabot--E Entry basement opposite the elevator.
 - Whitman--F Entry basement opposite the Whitman Laundry Room.
 - Eliot I & J Entries--I entry basement opposite the stairs.
 - Bertram K & L Entries--basement around the corner from the K entry stairs.
 - Barnard M & N Entries--basement of N Entry (bicycle space).
 - 103 Walker St.--Trash receptacles at F Entry on Walker Street.

Liner bags for trash are available in the Building Manager's office.

Recycling Program
Cabot House's recycling program depends entirely upon your cooperation. Please do not put trash in recycling receptacles, and pay attention to the specifications throughout the house. Remember: have respect for those who process your recyclables. Your carelessness will create more work for them. Receptacles for recyclables are situated near the trash stations listed in "Trash Procedures" (see above).

Corrugated Cardboard MUST be flattened in order to be recycled, due to the inconsistent sizes and shapes of boxes.

Click here for a complete list of recyclable items and how to properly prepare them for recycling. Click here for the Recycling FAQ. More information is available from the Harvard Solid Wastes and Recycling page.

Laundry Facilities
Ample washing machines and dryers are provided in the four basement laundries: B01 (Briggs), F005 (Whitman), I05 (Eliot) and L05 (Bertram). Click here to report a problem with a washer or dryer.

Entry & 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.

Security
A centrex phone is located at the main entrance of Cabot House as well as the Quad side entrances of Cabot Hall, Eliot Hall and Briggs Hall. For your safety and that of the Cabot community, please follow these guidelines.

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 $100 for replacing the lock and keys.

Emergency Exit Doors
Emergency exit doors between adjoining suites may be opened by special arrangement with the House 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.

Fire Safety
Please read all fire safety information that is given to you during the orientation conducted in your entryway. 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. Individuals deemed responsible for tampering with or altering emergency equipment will be charged for service and repairs and will face college disciplinary action.

Fireplaces
There are thirteen fireplaces within various suites in Cabot House. The College prohibits the use of any of these fireplaces.

Cooking Appliances
City of Cambridge ordinances and 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, tea kettles, etc.) is prohibited in such places. Please don't bring them; we can't let you keep them.

Condition of Suite
At the beginning of the term each suite group will be given a completed condition of suite form. Students are asked to look over the suite carefully and to note any discrepancies between the information on the form and the actual condition of the room. It is your responsibility to return the form to the Building Manager by registration. Any discrepancies noted on the form should be discussed with the Building Manager and any changes mutually agreed upon before signing it. If the form is not returned in a timely manner with the signatures of all suitemates, the Building Manager's most recent update of the form will serve as the basis for inspection and any subsequent damage assessment.

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 in this booklet are being followed. Inspections during the academic year will be conducted with proper notice.

Decorating Your Suite
Please make yourself familiar with the following guidelines:

These supplies are available in the Building Manager'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 of 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 may 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 & Lofts
Partitions and lofts are not allowed unless permission has been obtained from the Building Manager. 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. All partitions and lofts must be removed before the suite is vacated and materials properly disposed.

Air Conditioners, Space Heaters
The use of space heaters is strongly discouraged 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 and approval by the Building Manager.

Refrigerators
Students may keep a refrigerator in their room for personal use if the unit meets the following specifications:
Size: 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
Cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, or any other animal may not be kept in Cabot House by undergraduate students.

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 are located outside and in the open bike spaces in the basements of each hall. Bicycles locked to handicapped ramps, stairs, or in any of the common areas of the House (other than the bike racks) will have their locks cut and will be removed.

You are urged to register your bike with the University Police Department online or at HUPD headquarters at 1033 Massachusetts Avenue. The registration sticker on your bicycle will ward off many prospective thieves, it will give you a way of proving that you own the bike (should you, for example, lose the key to your lock and need to get it removed), and 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, windows and dining room tables is prohibited.

Distribution
Any Harvard University publication may be placed in the Distribution Center located in the main lobby. Paid subscriptions to daily newspapers may be distributed to 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 students' doors. Organizations may obtain the distribution permission form from the Dean of Student's office in University Hall 4.

Moving Out
The "move out" deadline is announced in late April in the House Newsletter. 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.

Summer Storage
The college will store students' belongings on campus for the summer under the following conditions: Students who live within 150 miles of the College will not be permitted to store. Students who take a leave of absence, withdraw from the College, or graduate, may not store any belongings at the College. All articles are stored at the Student's risk. The University assumes no responsibility for loss or damage. Students are strongly urged not to store items of significant value, or to insure them if they must leave them. Each student is limited to store up to six boxes of the approximate size: width = 1', length = 1', height = 2' or equivalent to 12 cubic feet. Oversized articles (such as sofas, lamps, etc.) may be accepted for storage in addition to boxed items. No access is permitted to stored belongings until the House opens in the fall. Articles will be held until seven days after registration in the term following the one during which the articles were placed in storage. If articles are not picked up within the week following registration, they will be treated as abandoned property. As such they may be discarded, destroyed, used by the College for its own purposes, or sold for the College's account without any obligation to the student for its disposition or the proceeds thereof. A small number of store rooms, used as classrooms by the Registrar, must be cleaned of student belongings by the first day of classes. The Building Managers will clearly notify the affected students of this requirement in the spring before articles are stored.

Move Out Guidelines
Following the guidelines below should make moving out a relatively painless experience:

Change of Address/Mail Forwarding
Prior to moving out for the summer, visit http://www.uos.harvard.edu/smfc to set up mail forwarding.

Keys
After vacating your suite, be sure to return your original coded keys to the Cabot House Building Manager's office. An addressed envelope will be provided for you to return your keys. If you do not return all the keys assigned to you a charge of $25 per key will be added to your term bill.