Hi guys, so I've been living in the coops for a while. I lived in Oscar Wilde for a year, and in the Fenwick Apartments for two more years + 2 summers. I'm going to move into the houses for this upcoming fall semester, and I've been offered a spot in Oscar Wilde again. I'm a gay, 22 year old, Mixed/Mexican, Raver, 5th year student.
The thing is, I'm hoping to get a single in whatever house I move into. I know that Oscar Wilde has 8 Single bedrooms, but I'm thinking that someplace like CZ, with 32 possible singles could be the better option.
I figure that with a house as large as Casa Zimbabwe I should be able to meet plenty of people I'd get along with, but have really only been there for one party.
I can live with a roommate, but would really prefer not to. LOL. I won't be able to bid on a single until I've already accepted a contract, so I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions on which course of action seems the wisest, and/or if you think I could mesh well with other CZers.
I got accepted to Cal for this Fall as a transfer student, and my boyfriend, who will be attending a community college, and I want to be housed in Lothlorien. However, being as we're living in Portland, OR it's not easy getting down to Berkeley to check out the other coops, so I'm wondering based on the fact that we're vegan, goth, and environmentally conscious...what we should list as our second and third choices.
Apparently the USCA has changed its name to "Berkeley Student Cooperative."
Edit: Well, not really:
Rest assured, the official name of the organization will remain the University Students’ Cooperative Association, while the organization will soon begin to operate under the nickname Berkeley Student Cooperative.
My co-op experience is one of my worst at berkeley. When I walked into a room recently, two managers made faces at each other, nodding in my direction. Everyone within a certain clique won't talk to me, as if I have the cooties and it is junior high. The other new girls besides me are courteous and mostly friendly, but with some oldtimers, there is an implied social structure, and only the"cool" girls sit at a certain dining room table. I sat there once before I knew this rule, but no one talked to me. I can't believe how stupid the unwritten rules are here and can't wait to go somewhere else next semester. The exclusion isn't depressing but being surrounded by this level of immaturity is. Maybe the environment explains why half the house is new this semester. (I bet everyone can guess where I live now. )
I am part of a four-person team (all current and ex-co'opers) who created a Sustainability pamphlet for new (and old) students at Berkeley. We are currently in the process of distributing this amongst the dorms, UCB recycling crew, SGB (Students for a Greener Berkeley), and various student groups on campus. If any of you know of any groups who might have use for this sort of thing, feel free to send it their way. Otherwise, it's all yours to love and enjoy.
Here are some jpg's of the pamphlet. However, if you email me (arielles AT berk DOT edu) I can send you it in pdf format...which is easier to print from).
Enjoy!
P.S. If you can, it is very feasible to post this on a website. In fact, we'd really encourage putting it on a website if you or your group have one (...reduce printing cost/waste).
I'm going to be starting at Lothlorien in the fall, and I have a couple of questions if you would be so kind:
1. do most people eat three meals a day from the coop, or do they get a caldining plan too for lunches, etc? could one take food from the Loth pantry regularly to make to-go meals? 2. how big a deal is it if I show up kind of late for move-in, i.e. late afternoon on Sunday the 26th of August? Is it vital to be there early to meet a roommate, and is it a bad idea to not attend the orientation brunch? I would like to delay my departure from home as much as possible, but will this be not a good idea? 3. what's a good way to make friends with neighbors in the coop? bring (vegan) cookies and hand them out along the hall?
confused
