Proposed PBH Letter Would Refuse Listing To Biased Landlords

The Graduate Seretary of Phillips Brooks House, Paul S. Sarbanes, has prepared a letter designed to eliminate from the PBH housing list landlords who discriminate in their renting policy, the CRIMSON learned recently. The anti-discrimination proposal will be studied by the PBH Faculty Committee within the month.

Sent to All Landlords

All landlords who apply for listing at the PBH housing agency would receive a copy of the letter composed by Sarbanes. No landlord who discriminates on grounds of race, color, or religion will be considered for listing.

"I've contacted the head of the International Student Center, and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and they feel our letter will be an effective way of dealing with the problem," Sarbanes said.

The proposed letter would not be sent to people already on the PBH list because, according to Sarbanes, "our turn-over is so rapid that we'd cover everyone in a few weeks anyway."

May Include Pledge

"We hope to include a pledge in the letter, which would have to be signed by each landlord," Sarbanes continued. "They would have to promise not to discriminate. Of course, we can't guarantee that some people won't break their pledges. But if they do, we could report them to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination."

Sarbanes emphasized that his proposal is still tentative, and subject to the approval of the PBH Faculty Committee. "I will welcome the suggestions of the Committee," he noted. "Our goal is the best possible solution to this problem of housing discrimination."