COMMUTERS AND THE HOUSE PLAN

The increasing importance of the problem of the undergraduate residing at home has recently been recognized in articles in the Alumni Bulletin, but these considerations have had little factual basis. They have consisted of conjectures made principally by men only distantly connected with the real wants of this class of undergraduates. Phillips Brooks House's questionnaire, however, is the first evidence of a sincere attempt to gain statistical information which might aid in the solution of the problem. It will go far to clarify the situation by consulting the commuters whose own wishes are the most important element in the question.

The House Plan has centered extracurricular and social activities in the Houses and has raised the expenses of living in the College. In order to solve the problem, then, it is necessary to determine the reasons why these students are not living in the seven units and to find out how much in the way of participation in extra-curricular activities are missing.

This questionnaire is well adapted to ascertain the real desires of the commuters themselves, although it is doubtful if it can determine accurately their pecuniary situation. In the event, however, that the majority of commuters are found to be satisfied with their present condition, an answer to this latter question will be unnecessary. The real service of the enterprise of Phillips Brooks House will be in finding out whether further action by the University is needed.