Wisdom on living in residence

Living in a dorm is a quintessential part of the university experience. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you get through it.

Do: Get to know the people in your building. Residence life offers a perfect chance to make a bunch of friends. Go to building/floor events, do your work in the house lounge, leave your door open while studying. Communal living can be hard, but being friends with your neighbours makes it easier. Don’t: Set off the fire alarm. No one wants to be the one that forces everyone in their building to stand out in the cold at 3 a.m. because they burned their Pop Tart in the microwave. And if you ever think about pulling the fire alarm for funsies — don’t do it. Do: Wear flip-flops/slides in the bathroom. Communal bathrooms can get nasty fast, especially the showers. To avoid getting a hair stuck to your foot, or a fungal infection, always wear some sort of shoe when entering the bathroom. Your feet will thank you. Don’t: Blast music during quiet hours. We all love a rave, but we also love sleep. Be kind to your neighbours and keep the music (and noise) to a minimum between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weeknights and 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. on the weekends. If you must have a dance party, try a silent disco — they’re just as fun. Do: Explore Vancouver. Living on campus can be super convenient. You don’t need to take a bus to get to class, there are places to grab food and the beach is a short (and steep) walk away. But, it is also easy to find yourself never leaving campus. So take a break from studying, hop on the 14 or 33 and see what Vancouver has to offer. Don’t: Annoy your RA. Being nice to your RA has many benefits. They are a great person to turn to for advice, can serve as a reference and may even look the other way when you’re breaking UBC Housing rules. Plus, they’re students just like you. Solidarity forever, as they say. Do: Enjoy it! There will be ups and downs, but remember to live in the moment. Res life doesn’t last forever, so appreciate it for what it is. U