What do you mean I can't cook for myself?

[hinakiba777]

Alright, so I haven't been around for a while. Between exams, a trip to examine the school I might transfer to, and a few other things I've been busy. Plus, I'm not working so no customers to complain about. However, I would like to talk about something that happened that has got me quite annoyed. A few people said I should have asked ahead, but I really think I should have been informed.

So, I'm doing my language credit right now. It seemed to me that if I had no other commitments, than I would do better in the course. It's proving to be true, I'm doing quite well.

Anyway, since I'm only here for 7 weeks, I thought it best to stay in residence over the summer instead of subletting and apartment. It seemed like a nice plan. The residences are my school are quite nice, and there wouldn't be too many people here over the summer.

There are two kitchens on campus for student use. One in the building I live in during the year, and the other in the building I'm staying at in the summer. During the school year we have fully access to these facilities.

So I'm at the grocery store on the day I'm going to move in. I have not brought my microwave because I thought it redundant when there is one in the kitchen. I'm grabbing food, and I realize that in my room I only have a mini fridge, and the freezer is tiny. So I call the school up to ask if I can keep some of my food in the student kitchen. This is the conversation.

Me= The lovely Ms. Hina
SDS= Summer Desk Staffer

SDS= University of King's College Conference Services. SDS speaking.
Me= Oh hey, SDS. It's Hina.
SDS= Hey
Me= So I was just wondering am I allowed to keep my food in the kitchen?
SDS= You mean the residence kitchen?
Me= yeah, I'm moving in today and...
SDS= Guests aren't allowed in the kitchen, liability reasons.
Me= What?!
SDS= Sorry that's the policy. I'll see you when you move in. Bye
Me= Yeah...okay. *hangs up*

Apparently no guest, including long term guests, are allowed using the student kitchens in the summer. I asked staff continually to explain this, but no one says anything except "It's for liability reasons." It's really frustrating because the staff run in and out of the kitchen with cooked food while I'm stuck eating Mr. Noodles and Stauffer's meals. Also, no one mentioned this rule to me until I made that phone call. I think that's something you should inform someone of when they are going to be staying somewhere for almost two months. Just a simple "Oh, and you don't have kitchen access at all, so try to plan around that."

Luckily I was able to get my microwave sent up to me two weeks later by my parents. However, my food options are severly limited by lack of fridge space and inability to actually cook anything. I'm starting to feel ill. I'm hoping I get through this last month.

[Food Lady]

Now that I've been cooking healthy, I'd hate to have to eat microwaved meals! Are you allowed to have an electric burner in your room? If so, maybe you could cook on that. (get a saucepan & frying pan maybe?)

[hinakiba777]

No I'm not. The microwave is the extent, Besides, the fridge is tiny. I wouldn't be able to keep any food in there. Like meat and veggies. After you put in the milk and juice it's pretty much full.

[edible_hat]

just get one of these... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXYpdqFovw

[Jester]

I hate to side with The Man (i.e., the establishment), but this is pretty much standard stuff here. And yes, as some have told you, you really should have asked ahead of time. It is not really the burden of the school to tell you every little detail about what you can and can't do.

I am not saying this is fair or good or right, mind you. Just that it is pretty standard stuff.

[Boozy]

And yes, as some have told you, you really should have asked ahead of time. It is not really the burden of the school to tell you every little detail about what you can and can't do.

Given that students have full access to the kitchen during the school year, and hinakiba is fully aware of this, I can understand why she wouldn't have asked. I wouldn't have asked either. Why would there be any reason to assume that the rules would suddenly change during the summer months?

[lupo pazzesco]

Given that students have full access to the kitchen during the school year, and hinakiba is fully aware of this, I can understand why she wouldn't have asked. I wouldn't have asked either. Why would there be any reason to assume that the rules would suddenly change during the summer months?

Agreed!

Also, and this is just my experience with schools in TX mind you, if a student is staying in on campus housing for summer school, arrangements MUST be made to accommodate both room AND board. While I lived in the dorms over the school year, when summer rolled around I was moved into an efficiency apartment with a kitchen because I had to be provided, within reasonable means, access to cook and prepare food for myself because the dining hall was on restricted hours over the summer. And the school had to assume that anyone in the dorms would be in hinakiba's situation: only a micro and mini fridge, if they're lucky.

Just my opinion/experience.

[Kiwi]

Try to eat lots of fruit, it holds without being in the fridge.

[lupo pazzesco]

Try to eat lots of fruit, it holds without being in the fridge.

And certain veggies, too. I know tomatoes don't have to be refrigerated. Nor do zucchini. If you can find a small thing of grated parmesan cheese, you can sprinkle a little on sliced zucchini and nuke it. Tasty, cheesy, and a nice change from canned soups and pastas. Just a thought.

Sorry they're being goofs, hina. Try to hang in there!

[Jester]

Why would there be any reason to assume that the rules would suddenly change during the summer months?

Because the summer months ARE different. Reduced occupation of the residence halls, residence halls being closed, lower enrollment in classes, less offered classes, etc.

I know that my experience at ASU was that during the summer, the normally busy campus was rather ghost-town like. There ARE summer classes, of course, but not nearly to the level of the normal school year.

[hinakiba777]

I'm sorry Jester, but I don't see why less people here suddenly makes it more dangerous for me to cook a stake. I mean, there's the same amount of security here. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding some piece of your argument.

[Aethian]

I think it just depends on where one is and what their schools rules are.

Western has dorm halls open year round and a dining hall available.
MSU has select dorm halls open and ONE dining hall available thats open with very strict hours.

[Jester]

I'm sorry Jester, but I don't see why less people here suddenly makes it more dangerous for me to cook a stake.

It doesn't make it more dangerous. That was not what I was saying. Personally, I think the policy is idiotic.

What I was saying, though, was that a down time like the summer changes the rules, and that is why you should not be surprised by this. I am not saying the policy makes sense. I am merely saying that you should have made queries about this beforehand, and that it is not that odd for the school to have different rules for this time.

[Shards]

Honestly, I'd just be thankful you were allowed Kitchen Privileges at all, ever. When I lived in student housing, my cooking options were a microwave and delivery, the entire time I lived there (granted it wasn't long, since I only lived there during the semester during which I withdrew), and our fridge wasn't even big enough to hold the amount of milk/juice my roommate and I consumed during a week.

Just accept the microwaved food as part of the higher education experience. That's what most of us did.

Also, the fact is that most colleges employ less active staff for any given area during the summer months than in the school year, and if you were to hurt yourself in an area where there were no staff to supervise you, and had been allowed to do so, it would be a liability to the school. Frankly I think it would be intelligent of the school to tell you no kitchen use except by staff period, but that's their call. However, I cannot see any logic in arguing that a step in the direction of 'less likely to get sued' is a bad thing. Inconvenient, maybe, but as the student/tenant it is on you to go out of your way to learn the rules and abide by them, not on the school to go out of their way to teach you them.

I suppose the point I am trying to make is: "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." That applies to leases and house rules as well.

[ArcticChicken]

I have to say, I agree you should probably have asked, but I wouldn't have thought to ask either.

Have you considered getting drinks that don't have to be refrigerated, so you can have room for other thing in your fridge?

I am the queen of adding things to prepackaged meals. Onions and cheese are going to be your best friends here, along with garlic and tomatoes.

It's pretty easy to steam veggies in the microwave, then you just put on whatever seasonings you like.

Ramen is good with onions and garlic, you can add zucchini, or pretty much any veggie you like, and not go wrong.

Potatoes can be nuked to a pretty good resemblance of a baked potato. I like mine with cottage cheese and butter.

Bacon can be cooked in the microwave, and it lasts forever in the fridge.

Lunch meat, always.

Also, treat yourself to a nice lunch or dinner at a restaurant. It doesn't have to be fancy, but make it something you can't get right now, you'll feel a lot better.