Office supplies: Pretty much anything you need can be found in th copy room on the first floor of the CSS building. You are welcome to take what you need, but if you take the last item be sure to write it on the ordering list on the cabinet so others won't go without.
Classes: There are more or less two points of view on this. Either you work with other people or you don't. There are positives and negatives to each view. You have to find the style that works best.
Pizza Fridays: At roughly 12:30 pm on payday Fridays, the department gathers for pizza in the lounge. A lucky first-year student is generally ``volunteered'' for the dubious honor of ordering the pizza and creating the pizza question of the week.
Colloquia and donuts: Colloquia are scheduled weekly at 4pm on Wednesdays. Before the colloquium (at 3:30pm) the department gathers in the lounge and munches on donuts as well as the usual tea and cookies. Unlike the cookies, there is no monetary fee for the donuts (although you are expected to attend the colloquium if you eat one). The donuts are supplied through the generosity of Dr. Marv Leventhal, who has paid for them out of his own pocket since 1993. The honor of buying the donuts each week goes to another lucky first-year student. Buy lots with chocolate and at least one with pink frosting, and everyone's happy. After the colloquium, everyone returns to the lounge for wine and cheese.
Computer Resources: Once you get here, find John Ohlmacher (john@astro.umd.edu; office phone 301-405-1522; Room #0235) as soon as you can to get a computer account here.
The computer system here is really first rate. We have tons of CPU We have so many common computers you will likely be able to have one anytime you want. You can use any computer you want, but there are some which have different priorities assigned to them, for example:
Pegasus, Atlas: These are computers devoted to numerically intensive jobs.
Surya, Phoenix, Lagoon (LMA machines): These have BIMA data disks attached to them and BIMA users have priority over others. Please don't use these to run Netscape, C-shell etc.
Library: Our very own Uco van Wijk library, right here in the department, is an odd beast. The cataloging system is non-standard, but Ms. Zitta can find anything in it in under 30 seconds. She is always willing to help you look for something. Books are checked out on the honor system (you just need to sign your name on the card and put it in the file boxes on top of the card catalog). Please do not take books which are on reserve for a class out of the library.
Mail: The nine digit zip code for our department is 20742-2421. It's really better to use all NINE digits on any correspondence as things move through the University mail system faster. There is no campus post office (even though we have our own zip code!!!); the nearest ones are in College Park by the Metro stop, north on Route 1 a bit past Greenbelt Road, and south on Route 1 near East-West Highway. Mail is delivered to the department twice daily.
UnJournal Club: UnJournal Club takes place on payday Fridays at 4pm in the lounge. No PhDs are allowed! This gives graduate students a chance to present their work in a friendly environment and to practice giving talks and fielding questions. The talks are supposed to last about 30 minutes, and the speaker is expected to supply snacks and drinks. (The rumor is that the more food and beverages you bring, the fewer (and the easier) the questions will be!)
Journal Club: Journal Club meets on Thursdays from 1:15 - 2 pm in the lounge. Everyone is welcome, although it's rare for faculty to attend. Generally one or two people will present a review of a recent article from the literature (traditionally it should be outside of your field) and lead a discussion on the article.