"I can't go invade someone's privacy," he said. "But I don't want to be misconstrued as saying all you have to do is cover your microwave and you won't get caught."

Jay W. Coveney, superintendent of Lowell House, said he does not generally lift up coats or towels as part of his room search.

He said he opens closets only if he is already suspicious of the room.

"If I heard a noise in a closet, I'd go in," he said, referring to the possibility of a stashed pet.

"I don't generally open the closet," he added.

Some students go to great lengths to protect their illegal appliances.

"I had a coffee pot," said Anne H. Jump '01. "When the signs went up warning about inspections, I wrapped it up. Now it's disguised as a Christmas present."

Richard J. Hughes '98 said there was a potential benefit to room inspections. "I'd like it if they cleaned up a little bit, while they're in there," he said