Air Conditioning / Heat
The thermostats in the residence halls are very sensitive. For this reason, students should adjust only the fan switch (high, medium, low) and not the thermostat. If residents experience any problems with temperature, they should place a work order with RLO. The charge for replacing a damaged thermostat is $150.00. In many buildings, opening a window while running the air conditioner can upset temperature control for the entire floor. Opening windows also creates conditions conducive for mold growth. Students should keep windows closed while the air conditioner is operating.
Appliances
Due to the risk of fire in the hall, Davidson College approves only the following appliances for use in residence hall rooms:
- Coffee makers, hot air popcorn poppers, slow cookers/crock pots, blenders, can openers
- Refrigerators and microwave ovens (see restrictions)*
- Hair dryers, electric shavers, irons (with auto shutoff)
- De-humidifiers and air purifiers
Prohibited appliances include (but are not limited to): open coil burners (hot plates), griddles or grills (including Foreman-type grills), toasters, fryers, indoor/outdoor grills or hibachis, window air conditioners, portable space heaters, electric blankets, halogen lamps, and heat lamps.
Most of the prohibited appliances are allowed in the Martin Court Apartments, since they have full kitchens and are used much more extensively for cooking on a day-to-day basis.
Electrical Equipment
Sharing a residential community includes sharing the utility capabilities of that facility. Outlets and overall electrical capacity in all student-housing areas can easily be overloaded if misused. As a result, this policy requires that students use caution and limit their use of electrical equipment in the residential buildings to minimize risk of harm to themselves and the community. Therefore:
- All electrical items must be Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed and in good operating condition.
- Extension cords are not allowed. Students should only use power strips for additional outlets.
- Students should spread out appliances within a room or apartment to lessen the load on individual outlets - do no overload outlets.
- Microfridges, hair dryers, and other such appliances should be plugged directly into the wall outlet rather than a power strip.
* In order to reduce the use of electricity, Davidson College endorses the use of the Energy Star rated Microfridge product. This is a special refrigerator/freezer and microwave oven combination appliances that is available to Davidson College students through Standards for Living. Please visit their website to learn more about how students may rent or purchase a Microfridge. Standards for Living will deliver your unit to your room just prior to your arrival on campus in the fall.
Cable Television
Cable Television is provided to Davidson College from Campus Televideo (CTV). The cable television charges CTV assesses to the College are based on the number of cable connections. Cable TV is provided to students via one cable connection in each residence hall room. Each Martin Court apartment is also provided with one cable connection, located in the living room. Unfortunately, the wiring in the apartments will not support cable television service in each Martin Court bedroom. Therefore, "splitting" or rewiring cable to provide additional connections in bedrooms without paying for the additional connections is considered stealing and a violation of the Davidson College Honor Code.
Common Area Damages
Claimed Damages
If a student causes damage (to building structure, lights, furniture, etc) in a public area, he/she is duty bound to accept responsibility and report these actions to the hall staff member or their Area Coordinator. Once a student claims responsibility for a hall damage, he or she will almost always be billed for the damage repair or cost of replacement. In most cases, when a student claims responsibility for causing damage, especially if the student reports their actions soon after the damage occurs, no other policy violation charges will occur. If damage to a residence hall occurs as a result of vandalism by the guest of a student, that host is responsible.
Un-claimed damages
When damage occurs on the hallway or some other public area and no one claims responsibility for the damage, Residence Life bills the charge for repair, replacement, and/or cleaning to residents of the entire residence hall, floor/community, or apartment as common damages. The total cost is split among the number of residents and is added to individual room damages in the January and/or July billing. The college bases this policy on two understandings:
- Residents of a floor or residence hall make up a community and, as such, have certain responsibilities to that community, such as keeping the community free from damages.
- The possibility of incurring a common damage charge encourages residents to hold one another responsible for behavior.
Students should feel comfortable about confronting fellow residents and others who do not respect college property. Individuals who feel uncomfortable confronting others should report damages to the student hall staff member or to their Area Coordinator.
Failure to take responsibility and allowing members of the hall to pay for damage is tantamount to theft. If common area damage is determined to have been caused by an individual, but that individual did not claim responsibility for the damage, that student will likely be charged with a Code of Responsibility violation. In the case of damage that is determined to have been caused by unknown students who do not live in the hall, Residence Life will cover the cost of the damages.
Cooking
Students have access to kitchens in the Tomlinson and Duke Halls and the Martin Court Apartments. Students who use these facilities must leave the kitchen clean. Cleanliness includes but is not limited to all utensils, pots, pans are washed; counters are wiped clean with no food residue; all cooking materials are removed to cabinets or student rooms and not left out on counters other than to dry.
Students who use common refrigerators should mark food with their name and room number. The college handles theft of someone else's food as any other theft of personal property.
Furnishings
Students may arrange room furniture as desired. Students may not move permanently attached items (including mounted bulletin boards, light fixtures, vents, doors, etc.). Residents must always leave mattresses on the bed frame (not on the floor). RLO does not allow homemade lofts in any residence halls. Most rooms include lofts or bunk beds. Upon request, residents may obtain safety rails by coming to RLO and picking one up. Issued room furniture must remain in the student's room.
Many students bring extra furnishings from home to complement the college furniture and to make the room more comfortable; however, RLO reserves the right to restrict any furnishings regarded as potentially destructive, dangerous to person or property, or obtrusive to the academic mission of the college (i.e. waterbeds, bars, etc.) A student MAY NOT move college furniture from the room or exchange furniture from one room to another without approval from RLO. RLO cannot store any college furniture originally assigned to a room and students cannot leave personal furniture in the rooms over the summer. RLO removes and discards any abandoned personal furnishings found in rooms upon check-out (including carpeting) and charges the resident for its removal.
Painting
The Physical Plant Office requires that its staff complete any room painting on campus. Students may request painting through RLO, although rooms will be painted the College's stock color only. Physical Plant does not charge for this service; however, painting will occur only if Physical Plant deems it necessary and as resources permit. Residence Halls are scheduled for painting on a rotation basis.
Pest Control
Insects abound in this region. In order to help control pests, students should make sure to seal and secure all food containers in the residence halls. Dirty laundry, filthy sinks, and food left out will generally attract ants within a few hours. A contracted pest control technician comes to campus every Tuesday to spray in common areas as well as individual rooms, upon request. Students who detect an insect problem should promptly contact RLO to schedule Pest Control.
Room Maintenance and Work Orders
The Physical Plant employees repair any damaged or malfunctioning areas in the residence halls. Residents may turn in work requests in any of the following ways:
- Notify their student staff member,
- E-mail rlo@davidson.edu,
- Call the Residence Life Office (704-894-2188)
- Stop by RLO and turn in the request in person during office hours
Residents should report the following incidents immediately (to RLO during office hours or their student staff member on nights and weekends):
- Malfunctioning air conditioning or heat
- Lighting or electrical problems
- Plumbing issues (water leak, clogged toilet, etc.)
In most cases, Maintenance completes work orders in 24 to 48 hours. (Note: It is helpful to submit work orders before lunch.). Maintenance addresses urgent needs more promptly (e.g. lighting and plumbing).
RLO bills roommates equally for irresponsible or malicious damage to the room, unless the perpetrator takes full responsibility for the damage. Residents take responsibility for windows and screens as part of the room and must therefore pay for repair or replacement of damaged windows.
Storage
There is no space available in the residence halls for personal storage outside individual rooms. Fire regulations prohibit storage of any item in direct proximity to the heating system and water heater. Therefore, the maintenance closets in the Martin Court apartments remain locked at all times.
Students may not leave any personal property in the rooms or residence halls during summer break because of renovations and summer conference use. College Boxes provides storage for students and arrangements can made with them via their web site or at (866) 269-4887.
Any property of obvious value found by the Residence Life staff or turned into RLO is bagged/boxed, and labeled with building and room number where it was found, name of person who found it, and the date. RLO attempts to contact students to notify them of abandoned property in the residence halls. If a student wants the property, RLO makes arrangements for immediate pick-up or mails the items at the student's expense. Building Services will dispose of any items left in residence hall hallways, bathrooms and common areas. The College takes no responsibility for any personal property stored anywhere on campus.
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