Off Campus Student Services March Newsletter

March brings us to Boston Restaurant Week. For two weeks all the finest restaurants in and around the city create a 3-course fixed menu where lunch is $22.09 and dinner is $33.09. It's a perfect time to experience the restaurants you'd never have the chance to try. Click Here for more information

For places around campus that you go to regularly, sign up for their frequent buyers cards and get rewarded with the occasional free menu item.

Portions are enormous at a lot of restaurants, so check out the kid's menu. Less food and lower price!

Most restaurants around campus feature lunch specials or student discounts. Always ask about them before ordering, and carry your Husky card on you just in case.

Off Campus Student Team Competes in Broomball Tournament!!!

The "Off Campus Comrades" Team played great and won it's first match during February's 3rd Annual Broomball Tournament at Matthew's Arena. When boots were disqualified footwear, the team shoe-swapped during the breaks and a player ran home to pick up an extra pair of tennis shoes. Though we lost the second game, spirits were high and all had a terrific time. All proceeds went to the Children of Peace Charity Foundation.

Apartment 101 Workshops

Time is running out...
If your plans for Fall include a move off-campus, NOW is the time to get informed about off campus living. Get educated on the in's & out's of searching for apartments and learn how our office can make your move a more pleasant and successful experience during Apartment Hunting Season!!!!

Locations and Times:

March 16 @ 7:00PM in West Village C Classroom

March 25 @ 12:00PM in 333 Curry Student Center

	Healthy Heart Dinner & Discussion! Monday, March 23 @ 7:30 PM
Eat dinner with fellow off-campus students and discuss how to finish the semester strong at the Healthy Heart Dinner & Discussion with Professor Cahalin from the Physical Therapy Department. Dinner will be provided at an area restaurant! RSVP soon! Spaces are limited: Click here to sign up!

Question of the Month:

How do I find a good realtor?

Your goal when searching for off campus housing should be to feel good about the place you end up renting. Realtors are a big part of your apartment search, so it is also important to feel good about the realtor who is helping you find what you want.

Some criteria to think about when choosing your realtor:

Ask around! Have any of your friends or anyone else you know used the same realtor you're thinking about using? Did they have a good/bad experience? Do they like/dislike the place that the realtor found for them?
Professionalism: is the realtor professional in terms of calling you back, being on time, and being courteous when showing you apartments or setting up appointments? If a relator is hostile to you, or doesn't respect the time you are taking out of your busy school schedule to look at apartments, it may be a sign they aren't sensitive to your needs, or care about the places they try to "sell" you. In this case, move on and get yourself another realtor/agency.
It is important to remember that the realtor's priority is to represent the landlord or property manager, not the tenant. However, you are paying them - so be sure to get the best deal for YOU!

The following are Good Practice Standards that you should expect when working with Real Estate Professionals and Agencies:

A Real Estate Agency should maintain an up-to-date license issued by the Mass Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers & Salespersons
They should provide you with a written description of the services they are offering, including details related to fees and when they're due
They should agree to comply with all state and local housing regulations, including Boston's "No more than four" zoning code
The Agency and all its agents should be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau
The Agency and all its agents agree to show clients actual available properties that are listed with them
The Agency should have a physical office location, where clients can go with questions

For more information please feel free to come into our office in 226 Curry Student Center, e-mail offcampus@neu.edu, or call (617)-373-8480

WANTED:

Community Ambassadors

for

2009-2010

Community Ambassadors, or CAs, are upper-class Northeastern students who live off-campus and serve as a resource for other NU students. Want to learn more? Read what current CA's say about their experience, then come to an Information Session!

Being a Community Ambassador has helped me feel connected to campus and to my community; I've met so many of my neighbors and made new friends along the way.

I enjoy helping my fellow off-campus students by solving their apartment issues and planning events.
I've developed good leadership skills as a Community Ambassador.

A great experience that I would recommend to off-campus students interested in being more involved in campus life, and helping solve the off-campus disconnect.

Please note! You must attend an information session in addition to completing an application.

Wednesday March 18, 2009 12:00PM-1:00PM - 443 CSC

Thursday, March 19, 2009 6:00PM-7:00PM 348 CSC

Monday, March 23, 2009 4:30PM-5:30PM 348 CSC

Thursday, March 26, 2009 4:00-5:00PM 448 CSC

For More information about Community Ambassadors and information on the selection process, visit our website at:
http://www.northeastern.edu/offcampus/aboutus/comambassadors.html

ISSI CARNIVALE 2009:

"UNMASK THE WORLD"

FEATURED EVENT:

Fisherman's Wives Cooking Demonstration

Wednesday

March 11

ISSI, 405 Ell Hall

12:00 PM-1:30 PM

Experience a unique cooking demonstration that utilizes a range of fresh fish presented by the members of the Gloucester Fisherman's Wives Association. They will not only prepare a variety of Italian influenced dishes, but also engage the audience in learning more about Sicillian fishing traditions and issues that relate to the current New England fishing industry. Sponsored by the ISSI in cooperation with the Italian Culture Society of Northeastern. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn about Sicillian culture and enjoy delicious Italian Cuisine.

For more information on this event or any other events presented by ISSI for Carnevale 2009 go to www.northeastern.edu/issi

Off Campus Cooking Workshop a Success!

In February, we hosted a cooking workshop in the Xhibition Kitchen presented by Chef James from NU Dining Services. In this active and engaging workshop he showed students how to prepare six variations from a "mother" or "base" sauce. There were samples all around and no one left the workshop hungry! Students who attended said:

"The recipe was very quick & easy! A way to make variations of sauce for different dinners! So useful!"

Mariya Rudfeld, Class of 2010, Pharmacy Major

"We learned to make a dozen delicious pasta sauces from one basic recipe. Chef James had great tips for grocery shopping and cooking on a budget, too!"
Celia Ho, Class of 2009, International Affairs Major

NewChefJames3

Sad that you missed this workshop? Sign up for "Stir Fry Made Simple", another workshop by Chef James in April. CLICK HERE.

RECYCLING!!!!!

As of late it seems that off campus students don't recycle as much as they should. In fact, there is even a NU news article that brags about how much better on campus students are doing at recycling. The problem seems to be that most people do not know when they are supposed to recycle or do not have the proper containers.

In Mission Hill, trash pick-up is on Tuesdays and Fridays. Recycling is Tuesdays. You can place your trash or recycling out after 5 p.m. the day before pick-up. Paper is to be recycled in a paper bag or a bin, and bottles or cans can also be recycled in a separate bin. For other neighborhoods, place your recycling bins out on your designated trash day(s).

To get a bin in the Mission Hill area, you can contact Rich Johnson of the Community Alliance Mission Hill at rjohnson@camhonline.org for a bin that will be delivered to you! Rich deals with all sorts of issues within the Mission Hill area, including recycling and a neighborhood watch type program. Feel free to contact him with any questions.
If you live in a different area then please check http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling/ for information on obtaining bins and when to put out your trash and recycling.

For more information on recycling check out:
http://www.northeastern.edu/facilities/Recycling%20Newsletter.pdf

Northeastern University Recycling
Cullinane Hall
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-5000
617.373.5711 (voice)
617.373.8505 (fax)
p.lembo@neu.edu email)
www.facilities.neu.edu/waste.html

SAFEnet Advisory:

Recently, there have been a number of reports of break-ins of apartments taking place in the Fenway and other areas surrounding our campus. Items taken have included IPods, laptops and other electronics. These items are small and easily concealed. They are often carried in a backpack which would raise little suspicion in an area such as Northeastern's neighborhoods. While many of these incidents have taken place in the daytime hours, it should be understood that crime can, and does occur at any time.

SAFEGUARDING PROPERTY
Being a university student brings added responsibility. Please keep in mind though: your laptop, MP3 player, your camera or even your textbooks were not free. If you leave your property on a table in the food court or in the library it could be free to the person who walks off with it. You, on the other hand will have to find ways to have these items replaced. Take simple steps to secure your property such as not leaving it unattended, locking doors and offices, keeping it out of sight in vehicles, secure laptops with cabling, STOP Theft plates and using tracking and recovery software, engrave other items such as external drives and DVD players. Registering them with a service such as Mythings.com, or Juststolen.net is helpful. Keep documentation in a safe and accessible location for future use.

SECURING YOUR APARTMENT DURING VACATION
Spring Break is here. Close your windows to keep the heat in and the cold out. This is to prevent damage from freezing pipes in addition to keeping heating costs down. Securing your windows (and doors) by using the regular latches as well as any riser restrictor device will also help to secure your property by preventing a thief from getting into your apartment. Make sure the windows are locked and put the riser restrictors in place for the added level of security they offer. Make sure the door to your apartment is locked when you leave. If you have roommates, make sure they shut and lock the doors when they leave. Leaving a radio or lights on gives the impression that the residence is occupied, using timers for a radio and/or lights gives the impression of activity in the residence. If you are traveling over the break, consider removing those valuable items frequently stolen by burglars such as laptops. IPods, cameras, phones, etc.

PERSONAL SAFETY
Please review your safety practices: travel in groups; stay in well lit areas; be aware of your surroundings; don't flash large amounts of money; carry your wallet in a front pocket; carry a purse close to the body, keeping a firm grip on it; avoid fights and disturbances; avoid shortcuts such as through parks, alleys, etc.; trust your feelings; use the Public Safety Division's escort Service when possible and contact police via cell phone, or use one of the many Emergency Phones if you feel that you are in danger.
Enjoy your Spring Break, but please remember to use common sense and stay safe.

"Your Safety Is Our Reward"
Northeastern University Police Department
Routine Business: 617-373-2121
Police - Fire - Medical Emergencies: 617-373-3333
Public Safety Division - Administration Offices: 617-373-2696
http://www.neu.edu/publicsafety

BIKE SAFETY

Now that the snow is melting off (keep your fingers crossed!) it is starting to look like bicycle weather. If you are going for a long ride to workout, or just commuting to school, here are some tips to stay safe and secure:

-ALWAYS wear a helmet
%85 of injuries while riding are because people don't wear a helmet

-Beware of other cars, but keep in the lane if there is not a bike lane

-Be sure to wear reflective clothing, and have lights so cars can see you

-Get your bike engraved (its free at NUPD)

-Lock your bike with a solid U-lock to prevent theft

OFFICE OF THE MONTH:

University Health & Counseling Services