Outfitting Your Student Apartment

Student Apartment Furnishings
All Northwood III apartments are "semi-furnished" and come with the following:

• Stove
• Refrigerator
• Garbage disposal
• Shower curtain
• Window treatments
• Computer data port
• Telephone
• Hardwired smoke detector
• Fire extinguisher
• Dinette table and chairs
• Floor lamps (except in economy one-bedroom apartments)
• Building Block Furniture in bedroom(s)
• Bed
• Desk
• Desktop organizer
• Dresser

(See below for a more extensive description of Building Block Furniture.)

Unfortunately, we can not remove any furnishings from these units and students are not allowed to supply their own personal beds.

Mattresses and Bedding

• University Housing-provided mattresses are fire- and flame-resistant; residents may not substitute another mattress.
• When you are purchasing linens and bedding to bring to campus, you should look for extra-long styles, not the standard twin size.
• Sales staff at department or linen stores will be able to help you determine what linens and bedding to purchase for the 36'' x 80'' mattress.

Building Block Furniture
Modular Building Block Furniture allows residents to customize their rooms and maximize space with various configurations. Building Block Furniture may not be used in a loft configuration, and may not be stored or used outside its original room.

Dimensions of Building Block Furniture
Bed: 40.5"W x 84"L x 30"H
Desk: 24"D x 36.5"W x 30.25"H
Desktop Organizer: 12"D x 34.75"W x 30"H
Dresser: 24"D x 36.5"W x 30.25"H
Bookcase 12"D x 34.75"W x 30"H

You may be happy with the configuration in your room at Move-In, but if you want to change it we can show you how to do it safely and easily. You won't need any tools nor is any special assistance or training needed. You can find information on various designs by following the links below or by watching the CD available from the Northwood Community Center.

This furniture may be configured into any one of three basic designs:

• the trundle
• the bunk
• the single bed

Contents of Building Block Furniture
One set: Building Block Furniture
Separate pieces: Desk with attached organizer, chest of drawers, bookcase, bed and mattress, ladder
Tools required: None

Changing Your Configuration

• In a stacked setup, you need to make sure the safety rail is positioned on the outside of the bed and not against the wall, so it can be utilized as a safety guard rail.
• Steel pins are provided and must be used in all stacked configurations to position the pieces and lock them together. The pins are very important, since the stacked furniture isn't truly safe unless the pins are placed correctly. See the NOrthwood Community Center front desk for replacement steel pins or to obtain a copy of the CD.
• Two or more people are needed to lift and stack pieces, using proper lifting techniques.
  

The University of Michigan is not liable for injuries you may receive as a result of configuring your Building Block Furniture system.

Get Help and Use Proper Lifting Techniques
Because much of this furniture is heavy, be sure to ask for help lifting the heavy pieces. And when you are lifting, be sure to use proper body mechanics to prevent a serious back injury.

• Size up the situation before you begin.
• Remove all obstacles in your way and all contents of drawers and on tops of furniture.
• Before you lift, get close to what you want to move.
• Center yourself with what you are going to lift.
• Plan the lift so the lift will not take you off balance, which could cause you to lose control of the object and hurt yourself.
• Plant your feet firmly.
• Don't bend from the waist to lift, as it places too much stress on your spine.
• Bend your knees to pick up the furniture piece, keeping your back straight.
• Don't rely on your arms and back alone; let the trunk and leg muscles do the work.
• As you move during a lift, do not twist your body; turn with your feet while your spine remains straight.

Storage
Personal Property
Storage space is available for each Northwood III apartment, during the contract period. There is no storage space for residents' personal property before or beyond the contract period. Students may be able to arrange for storage on their own and at their own risk and expense through John's Pack and Ship, a local commercial vendor, or through another vendor of their own choice.

Phones
Information about telephone equipment, basic service features, rates and payments is available in the Telephone Service Quick Guide and at www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/telephone/reshalls.html.

Electrical Items
Electrical equipment and appliances must be UL-certified (UL stands for Underwriters Laboratory).

Look for the UL mark.

• Extension Cords-only 16-gauge or lower permitted
• Power Strips-with integrated (built-in) circuit breakers only permitted

For information about permitted and prohibited items, see Community Living at Michigan for Northwood III.

University Housing is striving to live and work in more environmentally friendly ways. Consistent with that philosophy, we recommend purchasing goods made from recycled and recyclable content materials as well as electronic appliances and devices that carry high Energy Starratings whenever possible.

Cable TV
Cable Television is automatically provided to all Northwood III apartments, with an option to cancel the service. Complete information and troubleshooting is available online at the Cable Television site.

Laundry Facilities
Northwood III apartments do not accommodate laundry equipment; however, there are seven laundry facilities located throughout Northwood for your convenience. Locations are noted on our online Northwood III map.

Computers and Networking
Computers are essential tools at the University of Michigan. Students find them invaluable for writing papers, browsing the Internet, creating their own Web site, and communicating with family, professors, classmates, and friends.

There are hundreds of computers at computing sites across campus. The Duderstadt Center, located on North Campus, offers a wide range of computing options. The Residence Halls Computing Program (ResComp) provides helpful resources and support, as well.

Computing sites, schedules of events and classes, job opportunities, and reference material for computing at UM:
Web site: http://rescomp.umich.edu/
E-mail: rescomp.office@umich.edu

Computer product sales through the University:
Web site: http://showcase.itcs.umich.edu/
E-mail: showcase.web@umich.edu

What to Bring to Campus
This "What to Bring to Campus" list is a general overview of the items that one might expect to use in a typical apartment. In addition, you can print this checklist for your reference while shopping and packing.

Did you forget something or do you need to pick up some supplies? No problem! You can view driving directions, maps, and bus route information to many local shopping centers in the Ann Arbor area from both Central Campus and North Campus.

What to Bring to Campus

What NOT to Bring to Campus

• Drug Paraphernalia
• Expensive Jewelry
• Explosives
• Fireworks
• Mercury Thermometer
• Pets
• Only fish in a 30-gallon or less aquarium are permitted.
• Sleeping Pod
• Waterbed
• Water chair