November / December, 2002

John Iannone, ed.,
Graduate Assistant

Happy Holidays!

Inside this Issue

What's in a Name?
Shuttle Etiquette
Leaks & Squeaks
Thoughts to Ponder
PaeTec's Corner
Towing Update

Click to Jump to an Article

What's in a Name?

Letter from the Editor

I’m sure you’ve been wondering why, overnight, the old “Knight’s Krossing” signs came down and the new “Pegasus Landing” signs went up.

Here’s the story, from the beginning: in 1996, a company called Knight’s Krossing L.L.C. Built Phase I, soon to be followed by Phase II in 1997, and Phase III in 1999. In March of 2001, Knight’s Krossing L.L.C. sold the property to an organization called CAPFA, the Capital Projects Finance Authority.

CAPFA contracted GMH Leasing Inc., who we know as College Park Management, to manage the property, thus giving the business structure we still see today.

In 2001, CAPFA, GMH, and UCF entered into an affiliation which would be the first of its kind in the nation—UCF Residence Life would staff the property with the very same RA’s and staff which you get on campus. In the agreement, the land on which the buildings are built was given to the UCF Foundation. So now, UCF owns the land, and CAPFA owns the buildings.

All was well and good, and the property was still called “Knight’s Krossing” until we learned that Knight’s Krossing L.L.C. still owned the plot of land next to Phase II, on Data Court Loop. They planned then, and still do now, to build Knight’s Krossing Phase IV on that land in about 4 years.

Obviously, when Phase IV is completed, it will have no affiliation to UCF at all—UCF won’t own the land, CAPFA won’t own the buildings, and Residence Life won’t be there.

The name was changed now so students coming here in four years will not be mislead and go to either complex expecting the living style of the other.

Along with being different from the future Knight’s Krossing, the name has been changed to reflect our many differences from the old Knight’s Krossing.

We hope you’ve noticed, and we hope you feel as we do—that the new Pegasus Landing is truly a unique place to live!

Best Regards & Happy Holidays,
John Iannone, Editor

Shuttle Etiquette

Sarah Kernan - Building 12 RA

As you all read in my last article submitted to this newsletter, I am an avid shuttle rider. This free form of public transportation seems to be something that all residents of affiliated housing should be taking advantage of. With all of my experience, I have come upon the realization that there are certain “unstated courtesy rules” that have shown the need to be stated.

First, let the people who have been waiting for the shuttle the longest get on first. It is bad enough to wait for a shuttle to come only to find that the next one is almost full and a limited amount of people will be allowed on. But to have someone scurry up at the last minute and get a ride while you must wait for the next shuttle seems downright unfair. And unfair it is.

Secondly, let those people who have been standing in the aisle the entire ride off of the shuttle first. Relax a little longer in that comfortable seat you have while those who have been standing are let off.

Third, let me ask you this: if there was one seat open on the shuttle would you offer it to your book bag or another person? I am convinced that unless asked to move their bag, there have been times when people would allow their back pack a seat while I stand alongside in the aisle. There is nothing more irritating than to get on a shuttle with limited seats only to find that half of them are taken by bags. Last time I sat mine on the floor, I received no complaints. I recommend you try the same thing and if you receive protest…write in!

As a final thought, there is nothing more appreciated than to have a boy stand up and offer his seat to a girl that is standing. I have seen this phenomenon occur once. Yes, only once, but I must say that it was a nice surprise. But that is beyond the rules of courtesy. That reaches all the way to being a genuinely nice guy, or one looking for a phone number.

Now if we all use a little courtesy when riding the shuttle, it will make the whole experience just that much more enjoyable. Happy riding.

Q: How many Pegasus Landing Residents does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Just one… YOU!

Kat tells you all about simple problems you can fix by yourself, so you don’t have to wait , not to mention the feeling of accomplishment you get!

Leaks & Squeaks

Kat Dilley - Building 14 RA

I know most of you readers have probably had at least one experience with the maintenance staff here at Pegasus Landing. And I'm sure they've all been positive encounters, right? I can hear the groans from here, guys.

I know what it feels like to have a slow draining tub and a porch light out, but working in the office on my duty nights has really opened my eyes to the obscene amount of requests that we bombard these poor guys with. The truth of the matter is that we have a maintenance staff of 10 and a grand total of 2,307 residents in all three phases of Pegasus Landing. That's a whopping 231 residents per maintenance man.

The point I'm trying to make is that your burned out light bulb may not hold as much urgency when challenged by twenty calls about air conditioning units not working. In fact, a couple of the maintenance men and I have compiled a short list of Quick Fix-Its and Tips for you to try yourself before you dial your RA on duty to put in your request.

Question: How many Pegasus Landing residents does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer: Just one! YOU! Light bulbs for your lamps and ceiling fans, and also bathroom vanity light bulbs are now available in your phase office-free of charge!

Winter is not too far off, folks, and pretty soon, you're going to be needing that heater to work full blast without any problems. One tip to speed along this process: on a cooler day, open your windows, and crank up the heater for about half an hour. This will allow some of the built-up dust to burn off of the unit. Be warned that your fire alarm may sound; however, have no fear, it should (note, I did say 'should' and not 'will') shut off when the smoky smell clears. After that, your heater will be ready to face Florida's vicious winter.

Maintenance men they are, cleaning crew, they are not. Upon looking through the Maintenance Request Log, I noticed a repetitive request for bathroom mold to be cleaned. When you moved into your apartment, you were (or should have been) given a Move In Condition Report. Things such as bathroom condition should have been written on that form and submitted to your R.A. or at least called in during the first couple of weeks. At this late in the game, bathroom cleaning is your duty and maintenance is not responsible for your green and slimy shower, buddy.

Other small jobs that can be fixed on your own include: putting the closet door back on its track-take a little time to figure out where the wheels and needle go, and you'll have it back on track in no time; and tightening a doorknob-use a Philips screwdriver and remember 'Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.'

Just as a reminder for those of you who don't know, Friday is pest control day for all three phases. Unless you have red fire ants in your apartment, no bugs will be treated until Friday. My advice: invest in some Ant and Roach Killing Raid. Then drown the suckers.

Following these tips will help ensure that you have a nearly trouble-free apartment for as long as you’re with us. If there’s something you want to fix yourself, but you’re not quite sure how, ask your RA or call the RA’s on duty—if we don’t know the answer, we’ll find it for you!

I would like to personally thank maintenance for doing such a wonderful job with Pegasus Landing. We appreciate all the time, effort and tolerance that goes into working in a college community and putting up with our crazy requests.

Hopefully, before you call in a maintenance request to the office next time, you’ll be able to determine if the job is actually a DIY (Do-It-Yourself), a GYBTDI (Get-Your-Boyfriend-To-Do-It), or a real maintenance issue. Good luck, fellow Pegasusians!

Thoughts to Ponder

Afi Pittman - Building 20 RA

What does it mean to be a UCF student? I’m sure every “Knight” along with other college students across America have vivid memories that shed insight into how their school makes their student experience worthwhile or traumatic. As I swiftly approach graduation, I’ve evaluated my experience here at UCF in an attempt to determine what it really means to be a UCF student. I think I’ve finally figured it out.

You know you’re a UCF student when…

Your textbooks sometimes cost more than your tuition,

It’s easier to get a cell phone and credit card on-campus than it is to graduate,

Financial Aid has dubbed you as the “Wench of the Day”,

At least one of your professors has had to yell to be heard over the construction workers (a.k.a. “Drill Team”) outside your classroom,

Those same textbooks that you bought in the beginning of the semester (that cost more than your tuition) are worth
$0.50 during buy-back at the bookstore,

You are determined to prove to yourself that UCF does NOT stand for U-Can’t-Finish

Going home for the Holidays?

If you’re going home for any extended period of time this break, and your apartment is going to be vacant, you should take a little time to ensure that 1) your belongings will still be there when you return, and 2) that your apartment does not become a health hazard in the time you are out! Neglecting to do either one could ruin the happy experience of coming back to college.

We’ve put together two short checklists for you to consider with your roommates before you go.

Security Checklist

Ensure that all windows, bedroom doors, and the patio door are locked.
Close all window & patio blinds.
Leave one common-area light on.
Arm your alarm system. If you don’t know the code, call the Phase III office. Be sure all roommates know the code—you never know who will be home first.
Lock the front door & have a safe
vacation!
For added protection, get a renter’s insurance policy before you go—and keep it for the year! It’s cheaper than replacing things!

Health & Safety Checklist

Clean out the refrigerator!
Take out the trash!
Don’t leave dirty dishes or food out!
Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer!
Clean your bathroom and the kitchen... don’t give mold or bugs a chance!
Unplug appliances & equipment you won’t be using. It saves power, saves the life of your equipment in case of a storm, and reduces the risk of fire.
Test your smoke detectors (push the button). Replace batteries if necessary, they’re available in the office for free!

PaeTec's Corner

David Forthuber - PaeTec Accounts Manager

College Park has invited PaeTec, your telephone and Ethernet provider, to contribute to your monthly newsletter. Each month, we’ll try to offer some interesting insight into the operation of the voice and data system College Park has secured for your use. We’re also open to a “Questions and Answers” format. You can email your questions to [email protected]. We’ll do our best to get answers to you the next month.

Last month, the chairpersons for the RIAA, MPAA, National Music Publisher’s Association, and the Songwriter’s Guild of America wrote to the presidents of all American colleges and universities asking for “immediate, concrete action” in addressing the problem of student piracy on internet networks.

Whether you agree or disagree that peer-to-peer file-sharing is theft, you should know that when you offer files for upload to others you are opening YOUR Ethernet up to serious bandwidth drain. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that at one university, 75% of its available, high-speed network was being used by individuals outside the university for file-sharing. It could happen here at your residence if you’re not concerned enough to speak up when roommates are engaged in illegal file-sharing.

Let’s all do our part to avoid using these services on our Ethernet—it slows everybody down!

Towing Update

We now have a new towing company serving our community. Their name is “A Reliable Towing & Recovery”, located at 9407 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32817. Phone: 407-275-1121. Remember that only people with valid parking permits may park around the buildings, while visitors must park in designated visitor parking (in most cases, this is along the perimeter of each phase). Also remember, a valid parking permit does not exempt you from towing if you park over the lines, on the sidewalk, or in the grass. Most importantly, this tow company will enforce handicapped parking spaces—this is a change from before. The towing company is on your side. They ensure that the community parking standards are adhered to—which makes our community a better place to live!