With a few late — or sleepless — nights left of the semester, many Emersonians have already left Boylston Street for whatever their summer has in store: quiet time at their family’s house, working some job or internship, or flying to another country to “study” abroad for a few months. If you’re still packing up your dorm room, this one’s for you — from me, your local Resident Assistant.
While most students breathe a sigh of relief when their last final is submitted, my busiest days as an RA are still ahead. On May 2 and 10, I’ll be donning a beautiful gray tie-dye Housing and Residential Life shirt and name tag, banging on the doors of Piano Row, and asking residents to hit the road unless they have extended stay. To make my — and your — life better as Boston finally warms up for the season, here are my two cents on a smooth move out.
Take all of your belongings
If you don’t think this applies to you, think again. I have seen a lot in my four semesters working for HRE, and many of those come from closing days. Please, just for my sanity, double check your drawers, wardrobe, or that space behind your bed. You never know what might’ve slipped somewhere and gone undetected for a few months — but I do! Namely, a heavily-worn g-string, a fake ID, a nice pair of shoes, purses, and an almost-too-large stash of condoms.
If you don’t double check, I might have to awkwardly call you and ask how you’d like to retrieve your forgotten treasures.
Stop using trash rooms as your personal cleanout space
If I’ve learned anything from my tenure as an RA, it’s that Emerson College students own a lot of things. I see it when you call me for a beeping smoke detector, or because your window somehow broke but you swear-you-weren’t-trying-to-open-it-too-far, or for the ever rare noise complaint.
I get it — it’s been a long semester and the only thing standing between you and your departure is another trip on the Red Line to your overpriced storage locker you’re still sharing with your freshman year roommate. It can be tempting to part ways with clothes, a minifridge, or some pans. But please, read your email and the exorbitant number of signs around campus and donate your somewhat-loved but still fairly unused items!
Emerson sustainability services runs the Griff Gives program throughout all the residential halls; you can drop your unwanted — and clean! — clothes, unopened nonperishable foods, microwaves, or books at the locations around campus. You can even donate your fridge in Little Building if you no longer desire the three-cubic-feet food storage.
Return your keys … please
I hope you’ve kept up with your old timey, sometimes-falling-apart Emerson dorm key! Because those are due back . . . like now. When you depart from your on-campus residential space, please find the little yellow packet, seal your keys in it, and fill out the information. Those keys cost you $75 a pop if you don’t give them back.
You might’ve survived this semester with a taped door and always kept your bedroom unlocked, but not everyone likes to live life on the edge. For the sake of the new residents moving in and your RAs who will spend the next week sorting all your keys, just return them nice and neatly.
Also . . . untape your door. No RA wants more paperwork on move-out day.
Stage your empty dorm like you’re trying to sell it
I know it’s tempting to leave after you pack your last bag, but maybe take out the trash before leaving? Someone will be checking the space after you, and it’s always a tired, ready-for-summer student worker. I shouldn’t be able to tell upon entry that you lived off canned tuna during finals week.
I’m not saying you have to vacuum and spray down every surface, but just be considerate of the people who will clean up after you, especially our lovely facilities team. If you broke things in your suite, put in a work order to get them fixed. If you ripped paint from the walls . . . well good luck; spackle or toothpaste can only get you so far. You might as well expect a charge.
