Kirkland Plans to End Applicants' Interviews

Kirkland House will not hold freshman interviews this year because the small number of applications to the House makes interviewing "uneconomic," Master Charles H. Taylor announced yesterday.

The decision marks the first time that interviews have been cancelled since the House system was established in 1930. Although preference figures are not released, it is understood that Kirkland has attracted the fewest first-choice applications in most of the last few years.

Taylor issued the following statement, which was approved by Kirkland's Senior Common Room and the House Committee: "With Kirkland House stock presently undervalued in the Yard, interviews are uneconomic. We still expect and welcome applications but we don't have to depend on them to get a well-selected freshman group. The system insures us a wide range of choice."

Under the present method of selection, Masters of Houses having the fewest applicants take precedence in selecting students from the pool of those who have not been accepted by the Houses of their choice.

Taylor explained yesterday that his action applied only to this year and did not stem from dissatisfaction with the interview system as a whole. He added that he was "quite sure" that no other Masters were planning to follow his example.

Instead of having interviews, applicants to Kirkland will be encouraged to come to the House office for what Taylor called a "poop sheet" giving information on the House's staff, policies, facilities, and rooms.

Interviews Unnecessary

This year's booklet on Houses--to be distributed to freshmen next week--will make it clear, however, that interviews are not necessary in applying to Houses. Previous editions of the booklet were vague on this point, Taylor said. A shorter version of the five-page description was previously given to applicants after they were interviewed.