Adams' Societies, Forum Remove Former Apathy

Present size of House: 357.

Vacancies for Freshmen: 132.

Rooms for Freshmen: mostly threeman suites, several two-man suites, and a few quadruples and singles.

Price Range for Freshmen: $105 to $195 per term.

"Unabashed anarchy" used to be the cry of the Gold Coasters. But as the gloomy, Victerian parlors have been remodelled into cheerful wallpapered rooms, so the immates of Adams have given purpose to their rampant individualism.

Scorning last year's apathy, they have formed several enthusiastic groups which do everything from inspecting Maxst doctrine to caressing the palate with vintage brew. There is no pressure to join in House activities, however, and all of the new societies are small in number and serious in their pursuits.

Big posters in Adams' dining-hall (notorious for its excellent cuisine) urging students to "look natural" while eating signalled the first on-scene shooting of the Adams Film Society. Cooperating with Ivy Films, these cameramen hope to make a film about life in the House.

Movie shows in the dining hall every other week are run through the efforts of a very active House Committee. The Committee was also instrumental in starting the Oak Leaf, Adams own news paper. Housemaster David M. Little '18 is extremely happy about this Renaissance of activity. He looks for no particular quality other than general academic competence and a willingness to contribute to the life of the House in its most general aspects and in any variety of ways. "This is a good progressive House", he comments, "definitely forward-looking".

As evidence of its progressive character, Adams lets the student enforce parietal rules. Instead of checking in and out with the superintendent, the Coasters fill out cards and leave them in boxes at three different entries. Furthermore, one can bring woman to supper on Wednesdays and Fridays as well as on weekends.

But the accent in Adams is hardly on social solidarity. The two different sections of the House and the absence of long hallways combine to make for social isolation.

Another aspect of Adams House that

some may dislike is its lack of "big name students." Few from the A-House are listed on varsity squad rosters, and representatives from the College's publications are small in number. No one from Adams was elected to either the Permanent Class Committee or the Class Day Committee this year.

Even though Adams has its own swimming pool and six squash courts on Linden St., its teams are perennially near the bottom of House competition. The Gold Coasters thus resort to recreation rather than zealous competition. The annual undergraduate-tutor softball game in June is a famed sporting event.

As a matter of fact, Adams men find their tutors genial and gregarious all the time. In the dining-hall, you will not only find the best food in the College, but also a fine resident and non-resident staff surrounded by students. Adams has excellent student-tutor relations, thanks to Housemaster Little's selection of men high in their fields and interested in the students. The language tables have also been a success.

Larger organizations in Adams are unique and very active. In the several forums this year, debates on General Edcation, the British elections, and Contemporary Music have attracted top men and large audiences. Adams House Musical Society, known for its fine performance of "Gypsy Baron" last year, is holding a Harvard Composers Contest this spring. About 60 entries are in already, from which 15 will be performed by the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra and combined choral groups in two concerts this spring.

Adams has all the other material conveniences like TV, game rooms, besides an excellent collection of jazz records. The library is weighted towards history and economics.

Excepting C-entry, where the rooms are small, the large suites and spacious bath-tubs (in Randolph and Westmorly) make for a comfortable three years stay.DAVID M. LITTLE '18