Assigning a Student to a Tutor Resident in His House

In the first year of its operation the Central Committee was chiefly concerned with correcting the social disequilibrium. It could not give its main attention to a further problem: assigning students to Houses in which their tutors are resident, and assigning concentrators to Houses in which their field is well represented tutorially.

As an example, in Dunster House, for 1933-34, there will be, probably, three resident tutors in Economics, all tutors of experience: Professor Schumpeter, Associate Professor Mason, and Assistant Professor Harris. Yet there will be resident in Dunster House from the Freshman class of 1936 only two Economics concentrators to take advantage of those opportunities.

Tutor in Same House

It is, of course, best, the committee feels, that a student should live in the same House as his tutor, when possible. It is recommended that this be brought about in as many cases as possible. In seeking a solution, a few details may be considered.

First: Are the resident tutors now in the Houses those having the largest number of tutees? Yes.

Second: Does any House sptcialize prepondrantly in any one field? No. The Central Committee does not wish this to come about. However, it seems inevitable, and desirable, that some variations should arise. Eliot House, for example, under Professor Merriman, may pride itself on History and Literature, while Winthrop House, under Professor Ferry, has formed science clubs, and may at times attract more concentrators in Biochemical Sciences than other units. It is also not undesirable that Dunster House should be strong in Economics and in History and Literature, and should possess the best Fine Arts library; or that Leverett House, perhaps, should boast the best musical library.

Third: Is the situation complained of at Dunster typical? No. The Central Committee's figures for concentrators in the Class of 1936 show that they are evenly distributed in the Houses. There are only two exceptions. In Winthrop House there will be ten concentrators in Sociology, with no resident tutor: but Professor Ferry is trying to secure one. The second exception is the Dunster House Economics situation.

Choice of a House

The Council Committee shares the belief of the Central Committee that the first desire of men in choosing a House will always be that of being with their three, four, eight, ten, twelve or more intimate friends. If a man is with a group of seven which has decided to go to Eliot, he will probably not desert that group because he might receive better tutoring in Biochemistry in Winthrop, or because Dunster has a better Fine Arts library. But, other things being equal, these factors should count. Differences in the location, architecture, and equipment of the House will, of course, always affect choice; but the fact that a similar cross-section will be maintained in each unit gives the Central Committee an opportunity to make the choice of a tutor count more heavily in the preference of students, and in their assignment to the Houses. How can this factor be made to count?

First, the Council endorses the Central Committee's plan that the professor in charge of Economics A, and similar courses, shall give the committee the names of the 20 or 30 best men in Economics. When these men have no marked preference, the committee may then assign them to Houses in which they will find the best resident tutors. Also, if the majority in a group of applicants are Fine Arts concentrators, for example, they may be assigned to, or urged to apply for, the unit with the best Fine Arts facilities.

Importance of Tutors

Secondly, Freshmen are liable to be preoccupied in forming congenial groups. The Council recommends that the authorities direct their attention in every way possible to the question of tutors. A paragraph in the pamphlet descriptive of the Houses, where tutors are listed, might call attention to this matter. The Freshmen might then be moved to inquire among upperclassmen and advisers as to the calibre of the various tutors.

The Council, there fore, feels that the policy of not breaking up groups should by all means remain in effect, but recommends that the Central Committee, while adhering to that policy, should as far as possible distribute men so that the physical and intellectual opportunities of the Houses should be taken advantage of to the fullest