Survival Guide 2005: C

CABLE TV – All dorm rooms are equipped with a cable TV jack, usually found in the same wall outlet as the phone and internet connection. The campus cable system offers most basic cable channels, as well as HBO, HBO2, SBU-TV (the student-run campus cable station on channel 20), and a bunch of instructional channels which usually don’t show anything but a Windows 2000 screen saver. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the blue screen of death instead. Most, but not all (including Mendelsohn and H-Quads) dorm buildings also have lounges, which typically offer big-screen TV’s. For a list of cable channels, tune to Channel 14 or visit http://tesla.noc.sunysb.edu/cable.shtml.

CAMPUS MAPS - All the official campus maps you can dream of can be found here: http://ws.cc.stonybrook.edu/sb/map.

Additionally, be absolutely sure to check out the Press'  very own detailed, infortmative, and comprehensively labeled campus map, which will truly help you navigate all corners of the campus.  In the centerfold of the print issue of the survival guide.

CAMPUS ODDS N' ENDS –

• Nights Alone in Your Dorm Watching Television and Eating Chinese Food: Take advantage of these nights, dear freshman. This is what makes college great. When your friends say they want to go to J.M. Firefucks for Beer-goggle Thursdays and Sluts-Drink-Free Fridays, tell them no thanks. You have “I Love the Eighties” and some Moo-shoo Pork. You’re set for the night. Enjoy it.

• The New Union Bathrooms: Cool beans, man. These bathrooms rock the socks. Well, kind of. I mean, there’s nothing special about them. They’re just new, and we had to go a long time without bathrooms by the Union Deli just so these could be built. I guess they’re pretty cool. Fight back the temptation to turn the light off on your way out. The guy in the stall will be very unhappy and scared.

• The Tabler-Roosevelt Connection (The Magical and Enchanted Passageway in the Woods): This is the greatest path on campus. It’s amazing. Here’s what you do: go to Eisenhower college and bear east to the big tall fence. There should be an elevation of stone and grass that gradually meets an apex. Go to that apex and climb the fence. Once on the other side, you will be in Lothlorien. The ground consists of colors of green you thought you’d made up in your dreams. Climb that beautiful hill and be careful not to fall in any holes covered up with autumn leaves. After a minute or so of this, you will reach another fence. Climb that fence and… BAM! There you are, right at Toscannini. A walk that would normally take you fifteen minutes has just taken you three. Pat yourself on the back. Well done.

• The Tree Right Near Roth Pond That's On A Strange Angle: This tree is the greatest freak of nature. It’s right there, in your way, as you try to get to Tabler Quad in a hurry. It’s on such a unique angle that you will practice different stylistic ways of hurdling over it each time you pass. Simply wonderful.  (Also check out a similarly weird tree near the Physics building)
  

• The Union Basement Bathrooms: The only reason these, the worst bathrooms ever built by anybody, get a rating at all is because of the sentimental value they hold. There are some things that will never be fixed, and perhaps shouldn’t. This bathroom is so run down you’ll have to see it to believe it. This is the bathroom the Press and Independent staff and editors use (and it shows).
  

CAMPUS SIGHTS – On a campus often considered drab and boring, and often rightfully so, there are some interesting sights to see, even if not always picturesque.

• Roth Pond, in the middle of Roth Quad, is the artificially-made pond that is the butt of many student jokes, and home of the Roth Pond Regatta each spring (more in student traditions). Look out for the days when it is refilled with a fire hose.

• World's First MRI Machine: In the lobby of the Graduate Chemistry building, the world’s first MRI machine, invented right here at Stony Brook, is on display.

• Staller Center for the Arts: The Staller Center offers a variety of theatrical and musical productions, including major names in the arts. (More in “arts on campus”)

• The Bamboo Forest: Hidden behind the West Apartments is the legendary Bamboo Forest, a botanical experiment gone amusingly awry. Wandering through the secluded and shaded groves, you'll feel transported to a faraway East Asian paradise. A favorite of Stony Brook party-goers or anyone looking for a secluded area to try forbidden things.

• The Canada Geese: Gaggles of Canada geese are an ubiquitous presence at Stony Brook. They never seem to leave; even in the dead of winter, you can still find geese eking out their existence on this glorified sandbar known as Long Island. Beware their repugnant and abhorrent droppings littering the paths and fields of the campus. They're usually quite docile and unafraid of humans; you can easily walk right up to them and feed them. But whatever you do, leave their chicks alone, or you'll get bitten.

• Fountain in front of ESS: This lovely tree-shaded fountain is a nice place to study between classes, especially in the spring or the fall, when the foliage is so vividly colorful. The squirrels are fun to watch and the gurgling water of the fountain can be quite soothing. When classes let out you'll have to deal with a throng of students passing by, distracting you, but that's a momentary inconvenience

• Art Galleries: The art gallery on the first floor of the library, by the main entrance, is often home to student art exhibits. Likewise, the Wang Center is often home to numerous exhibits of Asian art and culture.  (More information in "arts on campus").

• 9/11 Memorial: The 9/11 memorial, between the Humanities and Psychology buildings, is a simple, yet somber memorial to the lives lost on that tragic day.

• Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences: The Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) building is home to the Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, with interesting exhibits on the geological history of Long Island.  Tel. 632-8230, http://pbisotopes.ess.sunysb.edu/molins/.

• Ashley Schiff Forest Reserve: Finally, the Ashley Schiff Forest Reserve is a 26 acre stretch of untouched natural forest, and features hiking and biking trails, as well as numerous native species of plants. The reserve is between Marburger Drive (the road that leads to the South-P Lot) and Nicolls Road, south of Roth and Tabler Quads. http://pbisotopes.ess.sunysb.edu/a-schiff/home.html.

CARS AND PARKING – Oh boy, one of our favorite topics. As this is a major commuter school (over half the students commute), one would expect that parking services would be top-notch. Wrong. Probably the most frequent commuter complaint is the lack of accessible parking on campus. We’ll guide you through the ins and outs of bringing a car on campus.

• Residents: Normally, residents with fewer than 57 credits (in other words, freshmen and sophomores), are not allowed to receive a parking permit to park in the resident lots. The exception to this is if you can prove that you need the car for employment or health reasons (proof constitutes a note from a doctor, employer or other such figure). If you are eligible to park on campus, you will receive a blue parking permit, and you will be able to park in the resident lots (likewise signposted in blue). Some of these lots are easier (Tabler) to find spots in than others (Roth).

• Commuters: Any commuter, regardless of number of credits, is eligible for a green commuter pass. However, that’s where the problems start. Most commuters opt to park in the South P-Lot, which typically involves a 20 minute commute to the main part of campus by bus (including wait). Others opt to park in the North P-Lot, by the railroad station, but this lot fills up quickly except for its furthest reaches, and also requires a bus ride, albeit shorter, to the heart of campus. There’s also a very small commuter lot by the Sports Complex, which fills up extremely quickly as well.

• Other parking lots: Of course, you could opt to park in one of the metered lots (behind Social and Behavioral Sciences, behind Earth and Space Sciences, behind the Union, behind the SAC), or get on the waiting list for a stadium pass (allowing you to park in the conveniently-located Stadium Lot…however, there are over 200 names on this list and it literally takes years to make it to the top), or search for one of the precious few—and we mean few, curbside parking spots on campus (mostly on Engineering Drive). You could also risk a ticket and park in the faculty/staff lots, signposted in red, or in other areas designated as “special services” or “no parking.” Tickets are typically $15-$25 and can be appealed, but are issued frequently. However, everything changes after 4 p.m., when parking is allowed in all areas of campus except where otherwise designated (either as a “no parking” section or as a 24-hour staff or special services lot). Our advice? Choose the lot that is nearest to your first class, and get to campus 30 to 45 minutes, if not more, before class begins.

• Parking services: 632-AUTO3 – http://www.sunysb.edu/parking

CLASS SELECTION – If you are an incoming freshman, undoubtedly you have already been through part of this process during orientation, though we learn that this year, class schedules have been made up for freshmen, instead of allowing freshmen to make their own with help from advisors. This, we feel, is a mistake, as class selection is truly a skill, and doing a good job of choosing your classes can help make or break your undergraduate career.

• Registration and Enrollment: First things first, in order to register for classes for the following semester, you will need to know when your enrollment appointment is set for. These are usually posted on SOLAR by early November, under “Enrollment Appointments.” Simply, this is the exact date and time that you will be able to start registering for classes on SOLAR. Enrollment appointments are given in order of class standing—i.e., seniors register first, followed by juniors and so on. Athletes, RA’s, honors college students, etc., also receive priority appointments. To be a full-time student, you need to register for a minimum of 12 credits. You can register for up to 17 credits up until a couple of weeks before the start of the semester, when the limit is raised to 19. There are no printed class schedules, in order to find out which classes are available, you need to use the “Class search” option on SOLAR, and to add the class, the “enroll” option.

• Degree Requirements: Most students need 120 credits, including 39 upper-division (300 or higher) credits, a minimum 2.00 GPA, all DEC’s must have been completed, and at least 36 credits earned at Stony Brook after their 57th credit, in order to graduate. You also need to choose your major by the end of sophomore year, and have completed the upper-division writing requirement within the major, preferably by the end of junior year. Students in the college of engineering must complete 128 credits to graduate.

• How do I select a major or minor? You pick up the major/minor declaration form in the lobby of the second floor of the Administration Building, fill in your majors and minors of choice, and get the signature of the head of the respective academic department you are choosing. You then submit the completed form to the Registrar’s Office, in the lobby of the second floor of the Administration building. You can choose to double major, and can choose up to three minors. Be sure to scan the Undergraduate Bulletin (available in book form or online in .pdf format at http://www.stonybrook.edu/ugrdbulletin ) to be absolutely sure of all the requirements within your major or minor, as well as to explore all the different academic offerings available to you. There are many minors which share many classes with many majors, and even a few majors which overlap the same classes, so with careful selection, you can easily knock off a minor or two or even complete a double major!

• DEC Requirement: What are DEC’s? Short for Diversified Educational Curriculum, these are the closest thing to a “core curriculum” at Stony Brook. There are 11 categories of DEC’s, some of which have one class, while others have two. When searching for classes online, you can specifically search for all the classes from a specific DEC, and all DEC classes are also noted in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Our advice? If you at least have an idea of what you will choose to major (or even minor) in, check the Undergraduate Bulletin to see if any classes are offered within that department that count towards any DEC requirement. That way, you won’t take a class needlessly for a DEC, if your major or minor also offers a class which will not only count towards your DEC, but completion of your major or minor as well. For all other DEC’s, choose wisely, and ask around. Some classes are easier than others, and just because a class is listed as a 300-level course does not automatically make it more difficult than a 100-level class. For DEC categories which are not covered by your intended major/minor, try to take the classes as early as possible in your undergraduate career, just to get them over with. Sites like www.ratemyprofessor.com are great for checking out other students’ comments on professors. Finally, make sure that you meet all the prerequisites for any class you intend to take.

• Dropping/Withdrawing: For about two weeks or so after the start of the semester, you can continue to add/drop classes for whatever reason, with no penalty. After that, however, dropping a class will result in a “withdrawal,” which appears on your transcript as a “w.” It honestly isn’t the end of the world if you have one or two on your transcript, but a consistent pattern of withdrawals will not look good if you intend on going on to graduate study. You will also need to maintain at least 12 credits after withdrawal.

• Pass/No Credit Option: Fortunately, there is another option besides withdrawal. You can choose to P/NC a class, which means that if you pass, even if your grade was to be a D, you will receive a “pass” for the class, and “no credit” if you fail. This does not count on your GPA, but this class cannot be counted towards your major, minor, or 120/128 credits towards graduation.

• Petitions: Sometimes, extentuating circumstances will necessitate that you petition for a late add/drop of a class, an increase in the amount of credits you can take for one semester, etc. For such things, you need to fill out a petition form, complete with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You can pick up a petition form in the Academic Advising Office (see “academic advising”) and submit it to the Undergraduate Affairs office in room E-3310 of the Melville Library, and await the decision (which can be appealed).

• AP Credits: Stony Brook recognizes AP credits and they are a great way to get a head start on your academic career, and in some cases, can partially fulfill a DEC requirement or count in place of an introductory course in topics such as economics, psychology and history. A listing of AP scores recognized is on Page 22 of the Undergraduate Bulletin (http://www.stonybrook.edu/ugrdbulletin). In order to get credit for your scores, they need to be submitted to the Transfer Office (Administration Building, Room 134, Tel. 632-7080, http://www.sunysb.edu/transfer).

• Changing Majors/Minors: All you have to do is pick up the same form you used to choose a major, and select the option to drop the major that you write in.

• Waiting lists for classes: Most classes, once full, do not have waiting lists to enter. Your best option would be to keep checking on SOLAR, in case another student drops the class and a seat becomes available, or to show up on the first or second day of class and attempt to have the professor sign you in. The latter is officially discouraged, but common practice in most classes, and usually, professors will keep an unofficial list of who wishes to enroll, or if there aren’t too many students, might give permission to enroll.

• Checking grades: After the end of the semester, grades are posted on the SOLAR system, under “view grades.” Usually, they take a week or two to be posted, but it’s not unheard of for some professors to take even longer. Whatever the case, don’t expect your grades to be available the day after finals.

• Academic Probation: If your GPA falls below 2.0 for a semester or overall, you are immediately placed on academic probation. There’s no reason to panic, but if your GPA continues to remain below 2.0 for another semester, you may be expelled from school. While you are on probation, you have periodic meetings with an academic advisor, who oversee your progress in classes, assist you with your schedule and time management, etc.

• Final advice: Don’t try to go all out, taking 19 credits each and every semester, but don’t slack off either, and make an informed choice about which classes and major/minor you choose. If you have an idea of what path you will be taking, consult with the undergraduate bulletin and attempt to “map out” a rough sketch of what your 4 (hopefully) years will be like. If you’re taking a major and a minor that are of similar subject matter, look for classes which overlap and will count for both. Likewise, if your major offers classes that fulfill specific DEC’s, plan on taking those instead of an unrelated class for that same DEC (do make sure, however, that it is a class that is regularly offered—the undergraduate bulletin often lists classes that have not been offered in a few years). Try to get the rest of your DEC classes over with as early as possible, and don’t be afraid of upper-division classes after your freshman year, but be sure to ask other students about specific classes and professors before deciding. Be careful of pre-requisites and co-requisites that some classes have (they are listed in the course bulletin and on SOLAR), and avoid taking classes that don’t count for anything—DEC, major, minor, upper division credits—unless you are seriously interested in that particular course. Finally, especially in your junior and senior years, look into opportunities for credit outside of a traditional classroom setting: internships, research projects, teaching assistantships, and study abroad opportunities.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS – There’s over 200 student-run clubs and organizations on campus, and new groups appear each year. Whether you are interested in another culture, politics, sports, the arts, or an area close to our hearts, media, odds are that an organization on campus already exists that matches your interests. During the first few weeks of the semester, a number of involvement fairs are held, and individual student clubs hold open houses, which are advertised throughout campus, and which are open to any interested student. The office of Student Activities, on its website and at its office, has a listing of all registered clubs on campus. They are located in the SAC, Room 219, Tel. 632-9392, http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/studentactivities/.
If, however, there is no existing club out there that meets your interests, you can start your own. The deadline for registration is October 1st, and there are a number of steps which you will need to take, including attending required workshops, filling out applications, choosing a faculty advisor, and drafting a constitution, but it is doable! More info is available at Student Activities.

CLUB REVIEWS – Reviews for some selected clubs on campus, especially from our favorite group, the student media.  Don't just rely on this list below, there's clubs out there for all sorts of interests.

• Blackworld: Blackworld features news and features from the perspective of Stony Brook’s Black community. Blackworld won an award for Most Improved Student newspaper last semester, in addition to the awards and accolades it’s received over the years, and it shows in its intelligent and enlightening articles. Unfortunately, due to budget problems that are endemic to student media on this campus, the newspaper put out fewer issues than usual last semester. But that’s USG’s fault not Blackworld’s. Here’s hoping they kick even more ass this year. http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/clubs/bknews. Union 072, Tel. 632-6494.

• Independent: The Stony Brook chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists started this website last semester, and already it has gained respect and a good reputation for delivering serious campus news. The Independent delivers news and features with an emphasis on campus news and events, but it also offers national and world news with enthusiasm and authority. Overall, it’s awesome. And it’s independent. Oh yeah, you gotta love that independence. Check it out at www.sbindependent.org (wait a second, you must know this if you’re reading this). Union 071, Tel. 632-1395.
  

• NYPIRG: One of the most active groups on campus, involved in issues such as preventing tuition hikes to SUNY schools, environmental issues, the small claims action center, and registering students to vote. You’ll remember us in a few weeks when numerous NYPIRG volunteers badger you in an attempt to get you to register. Our advice? Just do it. http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/clubs/nypirg. Union lower level, next to the SINC site. Tel. 632-6457.

• SBU-TV: Did you know that Stony Brook has it’s own campus TV station? You didn’t? Well now you know. Last semester the station debuted “Stony Brook Idol” and “Broken Radio”, with more programs to come. And don’t forget the side-splitting “Late Night with Beverly Bryan”. It’s Channel 20 on your TV, be sure to tune in! http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/clubs/sbutv. Union 073, Tel. 632-9349.

• The Statesman: One of the editors of the Press’ past, Sam Goldman, put it best: “this paper is the print version of white noise.” Trust him on that. http://www.sbstatesman.org. Union 057. Tel. 632-6479.

• The Stony Brook Press: Don't join this newspaper. I repeat. Don't join this newspaper. I'm warning you. Avoid this paper at all costs. Oh wait, I thought we were talking about the Statesman. Whew. Yeah, the Press. The official paper of Stony Brook University. One of the most awesome publications on the planet. Just don't sit on the couches in the Press office ;-). http://www.thepress.info. Union 060. Tel. 632-4137.

• WUSB 90.1 FM: Did you know that Stony Brook has its own radio station too? It’s 90.1 FM on your radio dial. Support the good folks at WUSB by tuning in while studying. The station has a diverse variety of shows including “In Focus”, a public affairs program hosted by Dustin Herlich and Michael Nevradakis, “Long Island Liberty”, a libertarian talk show hosted by Bruce Alan Martin. Blues by the renowned Sam Taylor, all sorts of music by Vincent Michael Festa are programs that are well worth checking out, among many others. The station recently added the excellent news program Democracy Now! to its lineup. Finally, WUSB also runs a semester-long training class, for anyone interested in learning about radio or getting their own show on WUSB.  Remember, it’s 90.1 FM on your radio dial, check it out. They also broadcast online, http://www.wusb.fm. Studios located in Union 240, information/program guides available in Union 266. Tel. 632-6901 (on air), 632-6498 (voice mail).

COMMUTING – As mentioned again and again, this is a hardcore commuter school. Unfortunately, being a large campus, many commuters fall into the trap of fading into the crowd on campus, coming to school only for their classes, and leaving at the end of the day. We feel that as a result, commuters miss out on what could actually be a very fun and rewarding experience outside of the classroom.

Yes, we understand that parking is extremely difficult (as covered in “cars and parking” above). We also understand that many commuters also have outside jobs or other responsibilities which require them to be off-campus. But we’re also sure that most commuters have at least some free time which they could spend on campus. And, looking around, there are a number of clubs and organizations on campus, all of which welcome commuter students. In fact, some of the students who are most involved and dedicated to student life on campus are commuters—commuting hasn’t stopped them, and it shouldn’t stop you either.

There is also an office of Commuter Student Services, which runs a number of workshops and programs for commuter students, and from our experience at least, has a very friendly staff. They are located in Suite 222 on the 2nd floor of the SAC. Tel. 632-7353. http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/commuter/.

Additionally, there is the Commuter Students Association, which is an actual campus organization made up of commuter students, featuring various programs put together with the commuter in mind. They hold weekly meetings and often serve free breakfast for commuters in the Commuter Commons, a commuter lounge on the 1st floor of the SAC across from the Seawolves Market.

Finally, there is also a commuter lounge in the library on the first floor. The entrance is by the art gallery, across from the elevators.

COMPUTING ON CAMPUS – A word of warning before you read any further. If you will be living on campus and plan on bringing your computer along, please, PLEASE make sure that it is equipped with the latest anti-virus and anti-spyware software (AdAware is a good start, as well as any major AntiVirus software maker). We cannot stress this enough. The residential network on campus is polluted with spyware, viruses as well as malicious users who have nothing better to do with their time than to cause problems for everybody else. Protect yourself and your computer by doing this.

 

• In the dorms: if you will be dorming, the first thing you will realize when you plug in your computer is that it needs to be registered. During the start of the semester, this is a process which often takes a couple of days, as thousands of students are all moving in and registering their computer almost at once. During that time, you won’t be able to access the internet, until your computer is finally fully registered by the system. Once it is registered, you will have access to the internet, but another word of warning: downloads of mp3’s and certain programs like IRC are almost impossible to use, thanks to the very stringent firewalls in place on the network. However, surfing the web, e-mail and instant messaging should work properly. Beware, however, of frequent network outages.

• SINC sites: If you will not be bringing a computer, don’t despair. Each residential quad has a computing site, usually open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., where you can get online, writer a paper, print things out, etc., though printing anything over 10 pages is usually frowned upon. There are also computing centers, known as SINC sites, in the library (1st floor), Union basement, and smaller ones in the Computing building, Harriman and in the Central Reading Room of the library. The library is by far the busiest, and there are often very long lines if you wish to print something (typical limit: 30 pages). The Union site offers the same services as the library, but in a much more relaxed atmosphere.

• Wi-Fi: There is also Wi-Fi access at some main points throughout campus, including the SAC lobby and commuter lounge, the Fireside lounge on the first floor of the Union, the University Café, the Union SINC site, the main lobby, SINC site, commuter lounge, east side stacks and north reading room of the library, the Harriman Café, the Computer Science library and the Javits lecture building. You will need an 802.11b adapter. Call 632-8568 or e-mail telnet(at)notes.cc.sunysb.edu for more information about connecting.

• SOLAR system: This is where you add/drop classes, enter timesheet information if you are a student employee, search for which classes are open, check for your grades at the end of each semester, get an unofficial transcript, etc. The system is annoying and sometimes confusing to use, but there’s really no other way around it. Use your student ID number and password (which you should have set up during freshman orientation) to log in, http://www.sunysb.edu/solarsystem.

• Blackboard: More and more classes seem to be using Blackboard to supplement the course material in class. Many professors post syllabi and other course documents on blackboard, while others even make use of other features on Blackboard allowing the student to submit homework assignments, check homework/exam grades, or use the message board for a virtual class discussion. Use your sparky username (typically your first initial and first seven letters of your last name, or some variation thereof) and student ID to log in, http://blackboard.sunysb.edu.

• Student e-mail accounts: Every student has their own “sparky” e-mail account, which consists of your sparky username @ic.sunysb.edu. Visit the SINC sites in the Library or Union and speak with a representative there about setting up your password. You can configure programs such as Microsoft Outlook to check your mail for you (POP/SMTP server: mail.ic.sunysb.edu), or check online at http://webmail.ic.sunysb.edu. There’s also a FAQ at http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/helpdesk/docs/student_accts/index.php.

• Student webspace: Every student is entitled to 20MB of free webspace, hosted on Stony Brook’s servers. The format of the URL is typically http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/stu/sparkyusername. You can upload files to your site via any FTP program, and get information on how to start your site at: http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/helpdesk/docs/webdevelopment/index.php.

• Dialup access: If you find yourself off-campus and needing to get online by any means possible, you have access to the university’s dialup system. More information at: http://clientsupport.cc.stonybrook.edu/modem/numbers.shtml.

• Computer/network help and repairs: For help with any computer or networking problems, contact Client Support at 632-9800 or 632-9602, or submit a work request online at http://clientsupport.cc.stonybrook.edu/. Be prepared to wait as much as a week, or longer, for help, especially during peak times (start/end of each semester).

• Special software pricing for students: The university has a license with major software makers, including Microsoft, allowing for students to purchase programs at minimal cost, as well as Dell computers with a discount over regularly advertised retail prices. More information at Client Support’s website (above).