Welcome%20to

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Welcome to
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So youve got the jobnow what?

• Before you get to campus, we wanted to help
  prepare you for your first couple of weeks as a
  Resident Director at Radford University.
  Included in this information packet, you will
  find directions, maps, lists of local
  restaurants, and words of wisdom from current
  staff members.
• Although this might look a little long, we wanted
  to include information that we would have found
  helpful when we first moved to Radford. So, we
  hope this information will be helpful, and please
  do not hesitate to contact your Assistant
  Director/Area Coordinator (e.g., Mark, Laurica,
  Angela, or Pam) if you have any additional
  questions! See you soon!

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A little bit about Radfordthe town

• The facts we knew you were dying to know
• The population was 15,859 at the 2000 census
  (that population is without campus population).
• The city has a total area of 10.2 square miles,
  of which, 9.8 square miles of it is land and
  0.4 square miles of it is water (The New River).
• The age distribution,
• which is strongly influenced
• by Radford University, is
• 12.9 under the age of 18,
• 44.0 from 18 to 24, 19.6
• from 25 to 44, 14.3 from 45
• to 64, and 9.2 who were 65
• years of age or older. The
• median age was 23 years. For
• every 100 females there were 83.5
• males. For every 100 females age
• 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.

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Whats the weather like?

• Radford average annual precipitation is 38.1
  inches per year.
• Radford average annual snowfall is 27.8 inches
  per year.
• The average winter temperature is 31.0 degrees F.
• The average spring temperature is 50.5 degrees F.
• The average summer temperature is 71.3 degrees F.
• The average fall temperature is 52.1 degrees F.

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Downtown Radford

• Radford is predominantly a college town. When
  students are gone, the population dwindles
  significantly.
• Actual downtown consists
• of several small shops and
• restaurants and a movie theatre.
• There is also a farmers market that is open
  every Saturday 8 am-1 pm, rain or shine,
  beginning the first Saturday in May and will
  continue through the last Saturday in October.

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How do you get around campus?

• Hopefully youve had a chance to visit campus.
  Just in case you dont remember every building,
  heres a quick reminder

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Where can you park?

• As a Resident Director, you will have the option
  to purchase a Faculty/Staff parking pass. It is
  worth the money!!! This will allow you to park
  almost anywhere on campus (including close to
  your building).
• A detailed map of parking lots can be found at
  Parking Map

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What about mail?

• You will be issued a P.O. Box from the university
  when you arrive. So, it will be a week or two
  before you being receiving mail on campus.
• Also, if you are expecting a package via Fed-Ex
  or UPS, they may require that you use the
  following address instead of your P.O. Box
  number
• RU Station Box
• 801 East Main Street
• Radford University
• Radford, VA 24142

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Campus Traditions

• HighLander Festival

• The Radford Highlanders Festival, a popular fall
  destination for Southwest Virginia residents and
  tourists across the nation for more than a
  decade, will take place Friday, Oct. 10, and
  Saturday, Oct. 11, in downtown Radford and on the
  campus of Radford University. A joint partnership
  between the city and university, this is the
  festivals 13th year and features familiar and
  new events.

• The festival, held in conjunction with RUs
  annual Parents Weekend, takes place on Moffett
  Quad, Heth and McConnell lawns. Returning are the
  heavyweight athletic games, craft and food
  vendors, strolling minstrel groups and more. The
  Appalachian Folk Arts Festival, sponsored by RUs
  Appalachian Events Committee, will be near the
  campus fountain area and showcases some of the
  regions most celebrated traditional crafts and
  crafters including basket weavers, quilters, a
  blacksmith, artists and more.

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Traditions, Continued

• HOMECOMING

• Homecoming is a
• week long event that
• has recently been
• moved to the spring semester.
• The week culminates in a basketball game where
  the Homecoming court is presented.

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Campus Athletics

• Although Radford does not
• have a football team, it does have a
• growing basketball following. Other
• popular sports include soccer,
• baseball, softball, field hockey, and lacrosse.
• The Dread the Red is the new logo for all
  Radford University athletics. Students
  display their team spirit by causing a
  red- out at all major sporting events.

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Radford Lingo

• Light Side- The side of campus nearest the 7-11
  or Tyler Ave.
• Dark Side- The side of campus nearest the
  Delimart or Jefferson Ave.
• The Tartan- The campus newspaper that is
  available weekly at locations all over campus
  (including your lobby).
• CAB/BAP-The Campus Activities Board/Black
  Awareness Programming Board.
• The Bonnie- A nickname for
• Hurlburt Student Center.
• Highlander- Our mascothe
• may or may not creep you out.

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Local Restaurants

• Macados Restaurant/bar that features a karaoke
  night, wing night, and nightly drink specials. A
  local favorite. Menu
• Mi Puerto A local Mexican restaurant with
  fabulous margaritas. One of Penny Kyles (our
  president) favorite dining facilities.
• El Charro Another local Mexican restaurant.
• Highlander Pizza Famous for the Highlander
  Rolls. You really must try them!!! They
  deliver to all residence halls.

• BTs Restaurant/bar that is a local favorite as
  well. Nightly food and drink specials in
  addition to lunch specials are featured. A DJ is
  frequently around for the weekend crowds. Menu
• Sandros Italian eatery
• Sals Very similar Italian eatery.
• Additionally, Radford is home to an Applebee's,
  Sonic, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, Hardees,
  KFC, Long John Silvers, Taco Bell, Subway, and
  Arbys.

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Local Grocery Stores

• Kroger
• Located on Lee Highway
• Food Lion
• Located on Tyler Avenue
• Wades
• Located on
• W. Main Street
• Wal-Mart
• Located on Lee Highway

• If youre interested in organic or natural foods,
  try out the following grocery stores in
  Blacksburg
• Annie Kays (organic foods)-there is also one on
  Main Street in Radford
• Oasis World Market (international food store)

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Local Banking

• Wachovia-Branch located on Main Street
• Suntrust-Branch located on Main Street
• BB T-Branch located on Main Street
• Bank of America-Branch located on Peppers Ferry
  Blvd
• Bank of Floyd-Branch located on Peppers Ferry
  Blvd
• First Bank of Virginia-Branch located on Main
  Street
• Stellar One- Branch located on Main Street
• Additionally, there are ATMs located at
• all of the above mentioned locations and
• in Dalton Hall (Wachovia top floor,
• Suntrust bottom floor), Muse Hall (Suntrust
  in the lobby), and in the Bonnie (BB T and
  Wachovia) on campus.

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Local Sports Information

• The Salem Avalanche- A professional baseball team
  affiliated with the Houston Astros.
• Tickets range up to 8 (for the box seats)
• Conveniently located only half an hour away!

• The Roanoke Express-Although you may have heard
  of the Roanoke area hockey team, the team was
  disbanded in 2004. Sorryyoure a few years too
  late.

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Local Places of Worship

• Radford has a wide variety of places of worship.
  
• A complete listing can be found here. This list
  includes addresses, phone numbers, and websites.
  (Although all listings are not in Radford City
  Limits, the website gives details on the distance
  each location is from Radford.)

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Medical Information

• Wheres the best place to go when youre sick?

• Pharmacies

• Are located at
• CVS
• Kroger
• Wal-Mart

• The medical clinic on campus (in Moffett Hall) is
  FREE!!! However, you should expect a nice long
  wait. Calling ahead is strongly recommended.
• If you are in need of emergency medical care, the
  Carillion New River Valley Medical Center is just
  down Tyler Ave.
• From campus, go down Tyler Avenue (away from
  downtown and toward Interstate 81) until you
  cross over 81. Once you cross over the bridge
  the hospital will be on your left.

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Where to take your car

• For Gas

• For Repairs

• There is a NAPA Auto Care Center on Highway 11 in
  the Kroger Shopping Center.
• There is an Advanced Auto Parts on Peppers Ferry
  in the Wal-Mart Shopping Center.
• For more serious auto repairs, Radford Auto
  Center is highly recommended. They do good work
  for reasonable prices. They are located less
  than a mile from campus at
• 1000 Stockton St Radford, VA 24141

• The best prices are usually at
• BP located on Main Street downtown, on Tyler
  Avenue near Interstate 81, and on Peppers Ferry
  past Wal-Mart.
• Sheetz at the corner of Highway 11 and Peppers
  Ferry Blvd.

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Other car needs

• Dealerships

• Dmv

• The one dealership in Radford is Harveys GMC.
• The following dealerships are located within half
  an hour of Radford
• New River Nissan
• Thompson Chrysler Dodge
• Shelor Chevrolet Toyota
• Duncan Hyundai
• Duncan Pontiac GMC
• Jones Professional Vehicles
• Duncan Ford Mercury Chrysler Dodge Jeep
• Duncan Automotive Network Duncan Jeep Isuzu

• There are 2 DMVs that serve the
  Radford/Blacksburg/ Christiansburg area.
• 385 Arbor Dr Christiansburg, VA 24073 Map.
• 1901 Bob White Blvd Pulaski, VA 24301 Map
• All other inquires can be addressed by the
  Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

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How do you get to Wal-Mart?

• Wal-Mart is not far, and pretty easy to get to.
  From the backside of Muse, you will go left on
  Main Street toward downtown Radford. Turn
  right on US 11 at the light by the public library
  and you will go across the bridge. Then, take a
  right at your second light onto Peppers Ferry
  Blvd and Wal-Mart is on the left. (Theres a
  light in front of Taco Bell and Hollywood video
  where you can turn into the parking lot.)
• Just in case you need a visual, heres a map
  Wal-Mart Map

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Neighboring town of Blacksburg

• Some of the more popular restaurants include
  Sharkys, Moes, Backstreet, Poor Billys, Buffalo
  Wild Wings, TCBY, Awful Arthurs, Ben and Jerrys,
  The River Mill, Champs, The Cellar, and
  Beaudreauxs.
• Additionally, there is an annual festival in
  Blacksburg called Steppin Out. This festival
  will occur one of the first weekends youre here,
  and is a nice break from training. More
  information about this street festival can be
  found here.

• Home of Virginia Tech
• Since Radfords dining locations are limited,
  many more restaurants can be found in the
  neighboring town of Blacksburg.
• Downtown Blacksburg also features several shops,
  bars, restaurants, and a movie theatre.

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Greatnow how do I get there?

• Start out going WEST on E MAIN ST/ US-11/ NORWOOD
  ST toward UNIVERSITY DR. Continue to follow
  US-11/ NORWOOD ST.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-11 S.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto VA-114 E/ PEPPERS FERRY
  BLVD. Continue to follow VA-114 E.
• Turn LEFT onto PRICES FORK RD.

• Turn RIGHT onto N MAIN ST/ US-460 BR.
• Turn RIGHT onto COLLEGE AVE.
• If you need a map, try this.

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Neighboring Town of Christiansburg

• Home of the closest shopping mall!
• Store listings can be found here.
• Home of a much larger movie theatre. Show times
  can be found here.
• Home of several other major businesses such as
  Target, Old Navy, Office Max, Shoe Carnival, Best
  Buy, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Michaels,
  K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Dollar World, Lowes, Fed-Ex,
  Kinkos, etc.

• Some of the more popular restaurants in
  Christiansburg include Red Robin, Cinco de Mayo,
  Texas Roadhouse, OCharleys, Shakers, Applebees,
  Texas Steak House, Kabuki, Outback, IHOP, Cracker
  Barrel, Jimmy Johns, Chick-fil-A, CCs Pizza,
  Arbys, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Fazolis, Olive
  Garden, Panera Bread Company, Coldstone Creamery,
  and The Farmhouse.

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Greatnow how do I get there?

• Start out going WEST on E MAIN ST/ US-11/ NORWOOD
  ST toward UNIVERSITY DR. Continue to follow
  US-11/ NORWOOD ST.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-11 S.

• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto VA-114 E/ PEPPERS FERRY
  BLVD. Continue to follow VA-114 E.
• Just in case, heres a map.

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Neighboring Roanoke (sort of)

• Favorite local restaurants include Smokey Bones,
  The Flat Rock Grill, Logans Steakhouse,
  TGIFridays, Alexanders, Home Place Restaurant,
  Red Palace, Emilios Famous Pizza, Maggie Moos,
  Kobe, Famous Anthonys, and many more!

• Home of the nearest airport. Flight schedules
  and directions can be found here.
• Also known as the Star City.
• Roanoke is the nearest large city with a
  population of almost 100,000 people.
• Roanoke also has two malls (both much larger than
  the Christiansburg mall). The Tanglewood Mall
  and the Valley View Mall.

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Greatnow how do I get there?

•   Start out going NORTHWEST on E MAIN
  ST/US-11/NORWOOD ST toward UNIVERSITY DR.
• Turn LEFT onto VA-177 S/TYLER AVE. Continue to
  follow VA-177 S
• Merge onto I-81 N via the ramp on the LEFT toward
  ROANOKE.
• Merge onto I-581 S/US-220 S via EXIT 143 toward
  AIRPORT/ROANOKE.
• Merge onto US-11 S/US-220 BR S/US-221
  S/WILLIAMSON RD NE/VA-116 S via EXIT 5 toward
  DOWNTOWN.

• Need a map? Here you go!

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Local Entertainmentwhat exactly is there to do
in Radford, VA???

• Parks and outdoor recreation

• Bisset Park is located just across the street
  from campus. It features several playgrounds,
  miles of walking trails, tennis courts, soccer
  fields, and several picnic areas.
• Wildwood Park is also conveniently located just
  blocks from campus. This park features more
  rustic hiking paths than Bisset and several
  picnic areas as well.
• RU Outdoors also plans trips and outdoor
  adventures (caving, backpacking, hiking, camping,
  kayaking, etc.) throughout the school year.

• Claytor Lake is only 20 minutes away and a
  popular attraction during the summer months.
• Many students go tubing down the New River. This
  activity requires that you buy some sort of
  floatation device at Wal-Mart, and then just
  float down the New River. Rafts and a car
  service are available for a fee, but most
  students prefer to organize this themselves.

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Things to do, cont

• RECREATION FOR THOSE MORE APT FOR INDOOR
  ACTIVITIES
• Movie theatres can be found in downtown Radford
  (shows one movie at a time), the Kroger Shopping
  Center ( shows 2-3 movies at a time), Blacksburg
  (shows 1 movie at a time), and Christiansburg
  (shows a wide variety at any given time). CAB
  and BAP also sponsor movies on campus for .50
  matinees on Sundays and only a 1 the rest of the
  weekend with an RU ID.
• Miniature Golf can be found in Blacksburg at
  Coxs Driving Range located on Prices Fork Road.
  Batting cages, a driving range, and a putt-putt
  are all available!
• Adventure World (a skating rink and arcade) is
  located in Christiansburg.

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Outdoor activities in the area

• Dixie Cavern- The only caverns in Virginia. A
  visit includes a 45 minute cavern tour,
  year-round camping opportunities, and a unique
  shopping experience.
• Smith Mountain Lake- Virginias most popular lake
  that offers a variety of outdoor activities. The
  500 miles of shorelines are lined with hotels and
  other rental properties.
• Nearby Ski Resorts (most are only an hour or two
  away)
• Massanutten Resort
• Snowshoe Mountain Resort
• Wintergreen Resort

• Cascades-The Cascades
• National Recreation Trail
• ascends the gorge for two
• miles to the picturesque
• 66-foot Cascades Waterfall. It
• is a four-mile round trip.
• The area is beautiful in the
• autumn and only about an
• hour from campus. You can
• find directions here.
• Blue Ridge Parkway- Radford is conveniently
  located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. People from
  all over the country come to the area to see the
  beautiful foliage in the fall.
• The Natural Bridge- One Of The 7 Natural Wonders
  Of The World! A visit can also include hiking
  The Cedar Creek Trail, visiting the Native
  American Village, and watching The Drama of
  Creation.

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Just in case youre still bored

• Virginia Safari Zoo- This unique animal encounter
  park appeals to all ages and is becoming one of
  the region's top attractions.
• Chateau Morrisette- a local winery where you can
  take a tour of the facilitiesor indulge in a
  wine tasting! Also has a well known restaurant
  on site.

• Mountain Lake Hotel- See where Dirty Dancing was
  filmed! The hotel even hosts occasional Dirty
  Dancing Weekends where you can experience it all
  yourself!

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Things you should know about training

• What you need to know
• Dont loose your meal card! Youre going to want
  that because the first paycheck is a few weeks
  away
• Take notes during training. Theres no way
  youll ever remember it all!
• Get your office organized before your RAs get
  here!! You wont have time when theyre here.
• Ask questions (to returning RDs or ADACs)! We
  can guarantee they wont be as dumb as some of
  the questions weve asked in the past.
• Your building may or may not have hot water
  during training. Heads up!

• The Unbirthday Party- This is a Radford Res-Life
  tradition that takes place one night of the
  retreat. You will be asked to bring a 10 or
  less present for the festivities. Then, a game
  similar to Dirty Santa (aka The White Elephant
  Gift Exchange) is played where RDs take turns
  opening presents that can then be stolen.

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Advice from returning RDs

• Make nice with the RUPD dispatchersyou never
  know when you (and three other RDs) are going to
  get trapped in an elevator
• Although you may not always been in the best mood
  when you call facilities, be nice to the
  dispatchers!! If youre not, it may take a lot
  longer for your problem to be addressed.
• If you dont know what to do, ask. Youll have
  fewer problems later.
• Dont freak out the first time you drop the duty
  phone. Its been done many times before.
• You will be classically conditioned to all Nextel
  ringtones. Do not be surprised when your heart
  rate becomes elevated in Wal-Mart because someone
  else gets called.

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Now that you have all this handy informationYou
know about as much as we do.

• Good luck!!!