Community for the Commuter

When Edward S. Harkness gave the University 15 million dollars to build its seven houses, he created an unanticipated problem. As the rest of the college began to grow roots, the sorry plight of the commuter gradually became more apparent. While housemembers derived a sense of community and at least an iota of social distinction from belonging to a house, the commuter wandered about aimlessly, and enviously. In 1934, it was hoped that Allston Burr had provided a solution when he donated Dudley for the Commuters' use.

But Dudley is grimy, cramped, and ill-equiped, and the three hundred who use it still feel among the disinherited. Desiring all the supposed advantages of the house system, members of Dudly have taken time-consuming jobs in order to be able to afford the extra $1000 of house residence. As a result of the jobs, the marks of many have fallen, often causing them to resume their residence at home--only with the distinction of being non-resident house members.

While non-resident membership in houses has not helped commuters measurably, numerous desertions have succeeded in undermining the morale of Dudley. Because the University has been unable to decide definitely whether it wishes to integrate taking decisive action--not to integrate the commuters within the houses, but to build a new and attractive Commuters' Center.

To distribute commuters among the houses would be ideal. But the houses are already overcrowded, and many commuters are unwilling or unable to pay the extra $1000 dollars to live in the college. The alternative of non-resident membership in houses is almost equally unfeasible. Commuters would still have to expend vast amounts of time in travel, one of the principle objections to the present situation. An extensive influx of non-residents would also make necessary the building of new lockerrooms in each house, as well as increased over-crowding in dining halls.

Both the problem of crowded houses, and the special plight of the commuter could best be alleviated by the building of new Commuters' Center. If commuters were given a library which could hold more than sixteen tightly packed people, a dining hall looking less like Hayes-Bickford, and bunk-room large enough to accomodate the finals rush, commuters might find their center almost enviable. With their tutors in the same building, rather than a block away, their center would also seem more like a house. An additional bit of prestige might also be added by giving the commuters a housemaster, as well as a senior tutor. And most important, with a new, aesthetically pleasing Georgian building, commuters would have something to be proud of in a positive fashion.