Random Hall FAQ
These are frequently asked questions about Random. Look around here
before you ask J.Arthur.... he gets a mite crotchety sometimes when
people ask questions he's answered before....
- What a silly name! Where does it come from?
- Where IS Random Hall anyways?
- Isn't it a pain living all the way off campus?
- Who wants to live near Central Square?
- Isn't the Random Hall home page a little drab?
- What is Munchie's?
- How old is Random?
- Who is J.Arthur?
- Can you tell me all the secrets of ORK?
- Is everyone at MIT a nerd?
- Do people at MIT ever go on dates?
- I plan to work at MIT. What will they pay me?
- What are punting, tooling, hacking, and Athena usernames?
- What are the answers to the first 8.01 exam?
- What if I have more questions? Who can I contact?
What a silly name! Where does it come from?
Does it matter? I've lived here for four years and I have never found
out. There are so many more interesting things to do here.
Where IS Random Hall anyways?
42deg 21.401min N, 71deg 06.298min W
A more useful definition:
Random Hall is located at 290 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA
02139. This means it is on the same street as the main entrance of
MIT and the student center. If you stand at the entrance of MIT,
cross the street, turn right so that the entrance is to your right and
the student center to your left, go straight down the street. Random
Hall will be on your left, right after the Best gas station. The walk
is about five minutes.
Isn't it a pain living all the way off campus?
If by pain, you mean the feeling you get from knowing that you don't
have to walk through that wind tunnel otherwise known as Amherst Alley
in the dead of winter, then yes, it is. However, let me also mention
that Random is closer to main campus than many other dorms.
Being off campus also means that we're closer to the best restaurants
in Cambridge and just next door to a brand new fully-stocked
supermarket!
Who wants to live near Central Square?
I do I do! Central Square is home to many wonderful things! First
and foremost, there's a subway station conveniently located. Then
there's all the bus lines that go through Central Square. It has many
different types of restaurants, from really cheap to the kind you'd
take your parents to (assuming they pay). There's also your choice of
supermarkets, dry cleaners, a coffee shop, a post office with longer
hours than the MIT branch, three different banks, and at least 3
convenient florists! How can you go wrong?
Why yes, we think so too. As a matter in fact, it is the official
opinion of the Random Hall rush chairs that the dorm page is DRAB.
Feel free to tell our webmaster that you think so too!
What is Munchie's?
It's 4AM. Your paper is halfway done. You're falling asleep. You
head towards the fridge only to realize that you're completely out of
Coke. You also happen to be out of quarters and singles, so you can't
use the soda machine downstairs. ARRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!
Don't panic. The obvious solution is to go next door to Munchie's,
the 24/7 convenient store that's 20 steps away. (I've counted!) It
is also the solution when you're out of orange juice, eggs, or milk,
or if you want a snack without having to work for it.
How old is Random?
Random Hall is the youngest dorm on campus. It wins this distinction
by being founded on February 29, 1968, making it currently slightly
over 7 years old.
Who is J. Arthur?
J. Arthur Random is the resident in apartment #17. Don't bother
trying to find the room because you won't find it. Unlike all the
other rooms at Random which are numbered in order, J. Arthur's room
will only be found by those who are truly of chaotic mind and body. I
hope you don't find it, because if you do, we won't be able to find
you.
Can you tell me all the secrets of ORK?
ORK is an acronym for the Order of the Random Knights. According to
HowToGamit, "ORK is a small tightly knit hacking
group based in Random Hall." As to secrets, well, if I told you, then
I'd have to give you a noogie, and cybernoogies aren't much of a
threat, so when you come and visit during rush, we'll answer your ORK
questions.
Is everyone at MIT a nerd?
Didn't anyone tell you it was a prerequisite for admission?
But seriously, MIT students are proud of being nerds. To us, a nerd
is someone who, when seeing an equation on a t-shirt, immediately picks
out the errors. It's not something you can help. MIT sorta does it
to you. But don't worry. You'll fit right in.
Do people at MIT ever go on dates?
If, by dates, you are referring to the Carbon-14 type, then yes. If
you are referring to movie and a dinner, then yes. If you are
referring to doing homework together, then yes. If you are referring
to walks in the moonlight by the river, then yes. If you're referring
to dancing and partying, then yes. If you're referring to walking on
date trees, then no.
I plan to work at MIT. What will they pay me?
Minimum wage at MIT is currently $6.75 an hour. However, some jobs
pay considerably more.
What are punting, tooling, hacking, and Athena
usernames?
punting - the act of putting off work while doing something
else.
tooling - the act of doing school related work.
hacking - the act of climbing through undiscovered tunnels and
on roofs. (ie. everywhere you're not supposed to be)
Athena usernames - Athena is the computing environment at MIT.
A username is the account in which all your files are kept. Some
people are referred to by their usernames.
What are the answers to the first 8.01 exam?
As I remember, the first question on the exam was:
Write your name here___________________
Unfortunately, that's all I remember.
What if I have more questions? Who can I contact?
If you have any questions about Random rush, feel free to ask J. Arthur. If you want a more personal
response, please either email our rush chairs
or call LeeAnn at (617)225-7310.
If you have any questions about MIT, please check out their home page.