Because you have to be here for six weeks, you have to make your room just like home. Here's a short guide to living (peacefully) in your temporary home:

1) The walls are boring and drab. So bring anything you can to DECORATE the heck outta your walls and bulletin board. You can only use tape on the walls, but tacks are permitted only for the bulletin boards. This will help cut down on the level on homesickness, and plus, it helps to portray your creative talents. And if you aren't into decorating, try getting a potted plant at the local Wal-Mart to add a splash of color to the room.

2) It is key to keep the room clean. The R.A.'s check every room every day while you are in your major. If you don't keep up your room, you might get room restriction (which is something nobody wants). Just do as your mother taught you so long ago: make up your bed, hang wet towels on the towel rack, put your shoes and clothes in the closet or drawers, turn off and unplug all electronics, and dump out your trash (you MUST do this every day, unless you want cockroaches in your room and/or that much-dreaded room restriction).

3) Be in your room when you are supposed to be. You cannot be in your room during majors, even if you are sick. If you do come down with something during the time of your major, you must go to the infirmary. There is a hall check every night at a designated time (10:30 Sun.-Fri. and 11:00 Sat.). If you fail to be in your hall at this time, then, you guessed it -- room restriction!

4) Because there will be times when you'll just want to sit down and watch the tube by yourself, there IS a cable hook-up in each room. That means you won't have to give up MTV for six weeks. You can bring your own TV and hook it up when you get here. If you don't have the cables or splitters you might need, there's a Home Depot around the corner.

5) You can control the air conditioning in your room. It usually is too cold in the rooms, so it is advisable to bring a blanket or comforter in case your roomie likes it to be this chilly. You can also bring a fan if you feel that it's not cold enough.

6) Each hall has about 30-something people. But there are not 30-something telephones on each hall. GHP provides two phones for each hall, since phones are NOT permitted in the rooms. Be courteous to your hallmates. They all want to talk to their loved ones as much as you do, so don't be a phone-hog.

7) You and your roomie each get a key to your room, but you should keep up with your own key at all times. It is your responsibility. Lock your room whenever you leave it. The only times when the rooms are required to be unlocked are when you go to bed at night (for safety reasons) and when you leave for your major (don't worry, though -- your R.A. always locks it back after he or she has done the daily room check).

8) HAVE FUN!!! Don't be a hermit and confine yourself to your room. It might be your living quarters, but don't let it become a four-wall jail cell. Go meet your fellow hallmates, since you'll be seeing them almost as much as your roomie. You can participate in daily activities held in different places on the VSU campus to help you get to know people, too.

9) You are NOT permitted to have the following in your room under any circumstances:

Telephones, modems

Open flames (candles, incense, matches, lighters, etc.)

Cooking appliances

Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, etc. (you shouldn't have these, PERIOD -- otherwise, you'll be sent home immediately)

10) Respect those around you by keeping the volume down on your radio or TV. It might be wise to bring your headphones if you do like your music loud. Also, treat you R.A.'s with respect. They are there to watch out for you and help you when you need it.

11) There are bathrooms on each hall, but there aren't nearly enough shower stalls to allow everyone on the hall to shower at once. Here's some things you should keep in mind about the bathrooms:

Wear flip-flops whenever you shower. Athlete's foot is something you don't want to have while you're here.

Plan your shower time. Get up a little earlier if you want to avoid waiting in early-morning lines.

Use a bucket or shower caddy in which you can put all your shower materials. It's much more convenient and organized than having to hold all your stuff with only two hands.