Irritations vs. conveniences

[img1]Students at the UW enjoy a lot of perks. Odegaard Undergraduate Library stays open all night during the week, the IMA offers a free and convenient way to stay in shape, and (most) intercollegiate sports teams can be fun to watch.

But the good comes with the bad. Most of the inconveniences you'll encounter as a freshman here are a direct result of the huge size of the University. Here are a few of the nuisances -- and benefits -- the UW has to offer.

[b]THE CAMPUS[/b]

The UW campus is big -- 703 acres, according to the University's General Catalog. This in itself can be daunting, especially to someone unfamiliar with the layout.

While the campus is generally divided into separate areas for liberal arts, science and professional departments, a lack of space can lead to classes being placed in odd areas. It's not uncommon to see, for instance, a political science class held in the Electrical Engineering Building.

This can make for a few long walks, often more than the 10- minute period between classes allows. There aren't a lot of ways around this, but helps to figure out the shortest possible path (in terms of time) if you get stuck in that situation.

Construction has picked up lately as well. In the last few years, it's become common to see at least one or two buildings encased in scaffolding. They come out of the process with a brand new interior, but even this has its drawbacks.

New lecture halls have well-cushioned, comfortable seats. Unfortunately, sometimes they're comfortable enough for an unplanned nap, which usually leads to the expected not-so-comfortable glares from professors. The seats also seem to be placed very close together. As a result, walking by other students to get to a seat in the middle can be a pretty awkward process (for both the standing and the seated).

[img2][b]CLASSES[/b]

Even higher class status doesn't guarantee easy navigation though several of the larger introductory classes will have sections reserved for freshmen. But even so, it's not always easy to land one of these spots. You'll have to deal with this inconvenience for a year or two, but it gets easier as you pick up more credits.

Registration for each quarter also starts each day at 6 a.m. -- regardless of class standing -- which can be frustrating for those who aren't early-bird types.

[b]LIVING ON CAMPUS[/b]

As most students are aware, the majority of freshmen spend their first year in the UW's residence hall system. While the dorms are generally close to classes, libraries and other campus services, they're also very cramped, especially for students in triple rooms.

Haggett Hall's interior is often described as reminiscent of a prison's hallways, and its rooms are an odd hexagon shape. Terry Lander are nicer, but very small. The Princeton Review, in fact, regularly puts the UW among the top contenders in its national "Dorms Like Dungeons" ranking (the UW stands at number 16 in the nation for the honor this year).

There have been some improvements in recent years, though. The dining areas in the residence halls look a lot better than they did a few years ago. However, the food can set you back a few bucks pretty easily. Whether it's better than it used to be -- that's debatable.

[b]THE GOOD (AND FREE)[/b]

UW students can combat the high costs of tuition and other expenses with some of the free services (and a few "unofficial" free offerings) provided by the University.

[b]LIBRARIES[/b]

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<img src='http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/images/SU06/060816abuse3.jpg' alt='The Digital Audio Workstation is located in room 216 in Odegaard.  This room has all of the technology necessary to record music and can be checked out up to four hours at a time by UW students, faculty, and staff.'>

<div class='photoCredit'>brooke mckean / The Daily</div>

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The UW offers more than a few services students can use (and theoretically misuse). Though it's definitely not what University departments had in mind, impromptu home theaters, a more varied selection of kitchen condiments and other unintended benefits are possible for UW students.

Classroom Support Services (CSS) offers a few pieces of equipment for checkout designed for student use in classrooms, but that are open to slightly more creative uses. Projectors are perhaps one of the more notorious items available.

According to the CSS Web site, students can reserve a projector up to the business day before the requested pickup time. Reservations require a current Husky Card and another piece of photo identification. Another benefit -- under the banner of protecting privacy, the UW won't ask the intended use for the equipment. This opens up the range of possibilities to anything from classroom presentations to 8-foot-tall video game marathons.

Beyond its book collection, students can use Odegaard Undergraduate Library as a free alternative to establishments such as video stores, record stores and recording studios. The library's media center carries more than 25,000 items, including DVD and VHS movies and CDs.

The library is also home to the Digital Audio Workstation, a room on the second floor with digital recording equipment. For students with skills in audio engineering, this free service can make for a good alternative to professional recording studios -- to a degree. Drums are generally not allowed due to noise issues, but students can escape the high costs of a recording studio for other instruments.

[b]THE HUB[/b]

The HUB may not seem like the ideal place for free food acquisitions, given the store-like atmosphere on its lower floor. Still, there are a few conveniences students can take advantage of hidden among the building's commerce.

Etc., the UW-run convenience store, can be useful even for those who choose to provide their own food. A few microwaves are located inside, as well as a wide assortment of "free" condiments (although the single-use packets can cause a certain degree of annoyance).

[b]ART[/b]

Almost anyone affiliated with the UW can visit the Henry Art Gallery, located on the west entrance to campus at Northeast Campus Parkway, for free. The general public can also visit free on Thursdays.