Since assignments went out yesterday, we have had a few students and parents share concerns about on-campus safety.  The University takes a strong position in providing security measures on all parts of campus, but we also place some responsibility for personal safety on the individual student.  The Division of Student Affairs website has extensive information about the safety measures we take and tips for personal safety.   We recommend you review this information prior to your arrival on-campus.

While we understand the concerns that have been shared, we want to emphasize that no building is more or less safe than another.  We take the safety of all of our residents very seriously, and we don’t assign students to a space that we don’t consider to be safe.  If you have specific concerns about safety, we recommend contacting Duke Police.  Members of our team are also happy to speak with concerned students and parents.

Hi Everyone!

We have some exciting progress updates about Central Campus.  As you may know, RLHS and other University offices have been working to enhance the facilities on Central Campus.  Projects that are currently in the works include:

• The tennis court is being repurposed and resurfaced with turf for use by intramural teams and other students.
• The basketball court is being resurfaced.
• The laundry room at 208 Alexander is being renovated and expanded to include a study room and new e-print station.  The building will also be used to sample new finishes for the exteriors of the rest of Central Campus.
• Uncle Harry’s is moving to the “mill village” area.  The mill village is the series of buildings on Anderson between the bus stop and the intersection with Yearby.
• The original Uncle Harry’s building is being renovated into a pub/food service venue.
• A recreation space is being installed in the mill village.  It will have a few machines (ellipticals, treadmills, and a universal machine) and a space for stretching, etc.

Progress is already being made on many of these projects.  We hope to have some of them done by opening and during the Fall semester.  We appreciate your patience!

Several updates from OIT that we want to share with you…

Telephone Service in Student Rooms and Apartments

Duke’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) has informed RLHS that normal telephone services (ability to call the room or make outgoing calls) will not be available in university residences.

You can, however, plug your own phone into the phone jack in your room/apartment to dial “911″ and connect directly to the Duke University Police Department (DUPD).

Cell Phone Coverage in University Residences

All campus residences have cell phone coverage, however, the university only assures coverage for cell phones with services provided by Verizon or AT&T. Students with other cell phone plans may wish to consider getting a plan through one of these two companies.

Data Connectivity in Duke Residences

Students have increasingly utilized wireless connections to access the university’s computing system. In fact, less than 5% of students are connecting to the system using the data ports in their rooms.

All university residences have wireless coverage.

To make better use of the equipment required to support data connections across campus, there will be only one wired port in your room/apartment this coming year. If you and your roommate find that you need more than one wired port, the university’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) will activate a second port. Second ports not used for a 30-day period will be deactivated.

Please go to the OIT website for additional information regarding these services:  http://www.oit.duke.edu/

Some tips for keeping your stuff safe during inclement weather:

Check http://emergency.duke.edu/ for official status updates about inclement weather. News about canceled classes or canceled major events will be posted on the emergency website.

• Close and lock your windows to minimize any dribbles of water that may seep in and soak your walls and window sills.
• If your room has window unit air conditioner, close the vent to decrease the ability for water to enter the room. Consider putting a towel underneath the unit as well to absorb any other water that gets through. We also suggest unplugging the unit until the storm has passed.
• Pick your stuff up off the floor, especially electronic devices. In the event that you do get some rain in your room from an open window or other means, the water tends to soak into the carpet or spread quickly across the wood floors. We recommend that you move computer towers, TVs/DVD players, cell phones, etc to an elevated place in your room (such as on your desktop or dresser).
• Pull your furniture an inch or two away from the walls to prevent condensation or leaks from soaking your belongings.
• Report any leaks to your RA right away! Horizontal rain behaves differently than normal vertical rain and may find a crack that does not normally impact the building.
• Some of the rain may be heavy at times and our storm drains may need a little time to catch up so please let a staff member know if you notice any large puddles of water near the buildings.
• The recent drought has weakened many of the tree limbs around campus. Windy conditions could make some of these branches susceptible to falling. Be cautious when walking underneath trees and report to DUPD any limbs or trees that appear to be in danger of falling.
• Stay attentive to the weather report. In the event that the need for more drastic measures develops (such as evacuation), more information will be made available via university communications (email, websites, or postings).

Remember to stay safe!