Dormgasm

This semester we’ve had two major fires. The most recent fire was a lot closer than the other but they both impacted us here at CSUN greatly. A lot of people who live in the dorms were worried that it was going to be evacuated. If the Dorms were to be evacuated, everything would be okay. When a fire affects the air quality so much that the sky becomes orange and its raining ash outside, the most important thing anyone can do is just stay in doors. Unless you enjoy inhaling smoke so rough it can make you choke, it is imperative to only be outside when it is absolutely necessary. Pay attention to where the fire is going, whether it be checking news websites or watching television, and know that even if the fire is close if you haven’t heard the need for evacuation from the police than you’re okay. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, voluntary evacuations are always an option. if there is somewhere you would like to go to feel safer and actually be able to breathe, then you should go there. But the police will be there to assist you in knowing when it is mandatory to evacuate. In the dorms there are RA’s to help with that as well. Just know that between the police and RA’s, you won’t get left behind. The most important thing is not to panic. Know that in the end, no matter what, as long as you and your loved ones are safe everything is okay.

People like to party. I know that is a duh statement but its human nature to want to go and be social with others and party and have fun. Whether or not you drink is really up to you, I’m not going to say either way. What I am going to say though is remember to stay safe. I know that sounds really lame and something everyone has heard a million and five times, but it is really really important so I am going to go for saying it for the million and sixth time.  STAY SAFE WHILE DRINKING. Don’t drink and drive, drink plenty of water, be smart and be safe. Know your limits because alcohol poisoning isn’t fun. I know its repetitive and redundant, but this is the advice that can save lives. Just please be aware of your surroundings and what you do. One night of partying is not worth dying over.

One of the worst things about living in the dorms is the close proximity everyone has to each other. When one person gets sick it definitely goes around. Worse than a classroom because everyone lives together and sleeps in rooms close to each other and sickness gets passed around. Just make sure to take care of yourself: plenty of rest, loads of vitamin C, doing everything you need to do not to get sick. Its really not fun but really easy to get. Just pay attention to your surrounding and take care of yourself. you’ll be fine

I just got finished voting and everyone else should go out and vote!! You have no excuse, there is a polling place in the Sattelite Student Union in the dorms, a mere 10 minute walk from main campus. Its close and easy and takes seriously 10 minutes at the most. its important to get out there and make your voice heard. you have no reason not to.

Don’t forget to vote in the A.S. Elections!! tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. its important because they are voting on a campus quality fee, which might get raised if enough people vote in support. just take a look and get your voice out there. you can vote online at www.csun.edu/elections or at any of the booths around campus. don’t forget to vote because every vote makes a difference. besides, its practice for the upcoming major vote, just get your voting juices flowing.

there is something incredibly convienent about living in the dorms. I’ve been listening to people complain about parking every day since the school year started and I can honestly say that I have never had a problem. With our school growing and the amount of parking spaces not growing until Feburary, I and the many other people at the dorms are lucky to have parking spots dsignated for us specifically. It means we have to walk 10 or 15 minutes to get to school and home everyday. But it also means that i have a parking spot in the dorms, or even near hte dorms, if I want it. Parking spaces near the dorms are much easier to come by, even ones that don’t require a parking pass. Its a benefit to dorming and i wanted to share it with everyone.

The dorms is holding a huge program on the basketball courts on October 30 called the ghostly get down. There is going to be food, dancing and awesome halloween games. Anyone in the dorms should go check it out because its going to be a lot of fun!!

Recently there have been rumours going around that there was Turberculosis going around the dorms. This message is for anyone who lives here that may be worried about it. My tip is: don’t worry.

There was a case of TB in the dorms. I’m not gonna lie about that. It occurred at the beginning of the summer, one of the conference students was diagnosed with TB. The person didn’t attend CSUN and was just on the campus for a summer conference. Once they were diagnosed, they were taken to the hospital and the room was sterilized. Yessiree bob. Completely sterilized and cleaned.

So although the rumor is partly true, it isn’t something that happened to a CSUN student, nor was more than one person affected. So don’t worry, no one is likely to get sick. Everyone is safe. The person with TB has long since left the building.

So last time, I blogged about something that is appreciated in the dorms, the sense of community that can be created. And now I want to talk about some ways to achieve that.

The first place to start building community is on your floor. It’s important to get to know the people that live around you. Any part of this is challenging because it is difficult to leave your apartment, but the only way to build community is to put yourself out there. Don’t be offended if people aren’t initially open to hanging out. Ask if they had a time that they would be more available to do something like watch a movie or play a game or something like that. Sometimes people are just nervous and afraid they will be awkward or that they won’t know what to talk about.

If that really just doesn’t work, have no fear. The best part about being in the dorms is that there are other floors than just your own and other buildings than just your own, so go on an adventure. Attend park wide programs and socialize with the people that are there. I don’t know about anyone else, but I have respect for someone who is willing to come up and talk to me especially if they don’t know who I am. It’s a really cool thing to do and ultimately (though it may take a couple of tries) you can get a new friend.

If you don’t know of anything going on in the dorms, ask your RA. If there isn’t anything going on, then maybe you and your RA can plan something to get everyone involved. The biggest problem is that your RA can plan all that they want to but it won’t make any difference if people don’t show up. It’s really up to the you what can happen next, your excitement may rub off on other people.

The basic point of all of this is don’t be afraid to talk to people. Talk to people in your classes, talk to people you pass in the hallways of the dorms, just talk. Its okay to be intimidated and nervous but you’ve got to do it otherwise, nothing will happen. If you want something to happen, don’t just sit there… Do something about it!