Would I get a bad grade on my paper for using popular journals and not peer-reviewed?
Sometimes your professor may require research material from only peer-reviewed journals but material from popular journals, trade publications, and newspapers contain useful information as well. If in doubt about the validity of a source ask your instructor or consult a librarian. Link here for more information on Scholarly Journals v. Popular Magazines.
Can I access the databases from the dorms?
Yes. You can also access the databases from off-campus. See this link for directions.