A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The figures compiled in order to determine how far the cosmopolitan purpose of the House Plan is exemplified in the selection of Sophomores and Juniors for five units next year, tend to show that numerically at least, men of different school training, geographical environment and academic interests will be distributed in fairly equal proportions. One or two noticeable exceptions to this rule require a wood of explanation. The balance of public and private school men in Adams House, for instance, is upset because men now living in Randolph and Westmorly are allowed to retain their rooms.

It is obviously impossible, even if desirable, to attain an exact numerical distribution under all four headings. From the present figures, however, and from the present tutorial staffs it may be seen that there is a danger of enlisting too many men from a particular field of concentration in a single House. It is still more possible that too many men will be chosen from a more general branch-of learning; the physical sciences, the social sciences, the languages, literatures, and arts.

No single plan of organization can solve this problem. The present method of allowing students to name their preferences, and of allowing the House to accept what members it chooses are both desirable. But it is possible to make the tutorial staff of each House representative. This will preclude the necessity of refusing men on the grounds that another House is better equipped to take them. In addition, the inclusion of a fairly large number of tutors on the committee choosing men for each House will tend to counteract the instinctive prejudices that the chief officials may have for students concentrating in their own or allied fields.

At present, there is one House tutorial staff in Economics, another in History and History and Literature. The number of students in these Houses from the above fields reflects the natural preferences of the committee members. A more equitable distribution of tutors will be seen to be necessary, if the intended balance is to be insured.