House Plan May Offer Grad Student Rooming

The Masters decided at a recent meeting that "the pre-war system of providing some rooms in the Houses for graduate students is a good one," according to David E. Owen, Master of Winthrop House. When the Leverett Towers open in September, 1960, the Houses will have "at least 150 new places, perhaps more," Owen said.

Since the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is already represented in the Houses by the resident tutors, the graduate students would come from the Business, Law, and Medical schools. "These students could act as career advisors to undergraduates," explained John J. Conway, Master of Leverett.

However, the plan faces many obstacles. If the College expands its student body, or if the Houses decide to de-convert a large number of suites, there would be no room for graduate students. According to Owen, however, "From all available indications, we will make little deconversion, because undergraduates cannot afford, or do not want, to pay for it."

Not Rent-Producing Uses

In addition, the space may be used to provide private offices for non-resident tutors, or perhaps House seminar rooms, Perkins said. On the other hand, neither of these projects would bring in rent revenue. "When you sit down with the financial planners," Perkins explained, "they say to put some of these high and fine ideas back into rent-producing uses."

If the Masters' plan becomes policy in 1960, only the more affluent graduate students will be able to live in the Houses, said Perkins, because "you have to keep all the cheaper rooms for undergraduates on scholarship."

Though there are problems, the Masters are enthusiastic about the proposal. "It is a pity not to have graduate students living in our Houses," Perkins commented. In the thirties, when there was room for them, graduate students "proved a pretty valuable addition to House life," Owen said.