Masters Cite Present Need For Lodgings

Several Masters, commenting on yesterday's poll of the Junior class which opened the way for a possible exodus from President Lowell's House system, stressed that the plan--if adopted--should be regarded solely as a regrettable stop-gap measure to provide an opportunity for "forced commuters" to enter a House.

Reuben A. Brower, Master of Adams House, called the move a "necessary experiment." He added, "It is somewhat dangerous but we are willing to try it in the face of a temporary need."

Brower also pointed out that there were many points which the poll did not cover. In particular, he cited the absence of a parent's consent clause in the questionnaire and suggested that there might be considerable discrepancy between a student's "whim" and the moderating influence which a parent might exert in the matter.

John H. Finley, Jr. '14, Master of Eliot House, agreed that the measure could be considered only as a temporary one. He said that the concept of the resident House was "an integral part" of College life, and that the plan, even if adopted, should not extend past the completion of the eighth House, scheduled for the fall of 1959.

In the past, most Masters have indicated considerable reluctance to allow resident students to leave the Houses, so it appears likely that the view of yesterday's letter as a "stop-gap" measure is a prevalent one.

This year in the freshman class, there are 106 "forced commuters" and 35 voluntary commuters; of the 106, one-third have found lodgings in Cambridge. F. Skiddy von Stade '38, Dean of Freshmen, felt that this was "not a very good thing for freshmen" and was one of the faculty members who urged exploration of means to alleviate the situation.

For correcting the existing situation, von Stade said, it would be ideal if about 200 upperclassmen moved out of the Houses.