Panels on Fountain

I won't get into my whole diatribe about how much it disturbs me that the powers that be decided not to install geothermal heating and cooling at the new prototypes on Fountain and Pine, but it looks like the prototypes are more energy-efficient than they appear. Introducing the first woodframe-mounted solar panels on campus, courtesy The Wesleyan Connection:


The page also notes that "Each solar panel generates 225 watts. Combined, they will create enough energy to support one of the units in the triplex." Also, the whole house is EnergyStar certified, so perhaps Wes is more sustainability-savvy than it looks. Though if anyone from the construction department is reading this: seriously, guys, the all-white siding just isn't doing it for me.

I think they were looking at installing solar panels on the power plant stacks and the roof of the admissions office; does anyone from EON (Alex?) know what the status if this is?

(Photo by Intisar Abioto '09)

You've got to fight / For your right

Not sure whether or not this is related to the (shelved?) 25-person party policy, but a "Party Hosting Liability" link has been added to the e-Portfolio under "Student Life at Wesleyan." It leads to a page containing four points concerning host liability:

• "According to Connecticut state law, you may be held liable for the actions of individuals [to] whom you have served alcohol."
• "You should never serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21."
• "You should never serve anyone who appears to be intoxicated."
• "You should contact Public Safety for assistance if an individual becomes intoxicated, or if you are concerned about their [sic] safety."

The page also asks a user to click a "Submit" button at the bottom certifying that (s)he has read the four points and is aware that (s)he "face[s] potential criminal, civil & institutional sanctions" for violation.

It seems like this would be something that's covered during the pre-GRS Community Standards Workshops (which are mandatory if your group wants to choose a woodframe); any current or past woodframe residents who paid attention, please tell!

Learn useless things about your woodframe

Seniors and others lucky enough to have a woodframe house: find some quirky details and other useless but somewhat-interesting information on your woodframe house by looking it up at the City of Middletown's Assessor's Database. It's like Google for Middletown. But not really.

I found out that my house, 324 Washington, was built in 1829 as a one-family house (it is now a two-family). The 0.39 acres on which my house sits are apparently more valuable than the house itself. I also learned that 202 Wash had 11 windows replaced last March.

Apparently it's not just residential listings, either. You can find North College (237 High) and Exley (265 Church), among other administrative buildings, too. If you're bored, take a look.

Attn Rising Seniors

Just a quick reminder for those of us who are angling for woodframes - you need at least one member of your group to attend a Community Standards Workshop. The first two already happened, but there are three (3) more opportunities:

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

See more relevant information here.

Woodframe House Networking

The head of ITS has posted an entry in his blog giving some history on the continuing plight of iffy internet connections and lack of resnet in campus woodframes. He also included some tips for woodframe residents that may, in the meantime, somewhat alleviate the situation. The dude also wants "to hear directly from students, especially those who live in the woodframe houses," so if you're currently living in or are thinking of living in a woodframe, go check it out and get to communicating.