Lowell

Getting into Lowell House just might be worth the trouble of dashing off a letter of preference to Dean Monro. Hospitable but not closing, intellectual but not pedantic, relaxing but not dull, and spirited but not rahrah, Lowell is an exceedingly comfortable and pleasant home base, and has enough certified Harvardian electics to make it interesting.

Something of the aura of the tradition-encrusted House never fails to flood in around even the most jaded Lowellian as he walks into the Courtyard--possibly the most beautiful spot in the entire University.

Lowell boasts one of the few complete sets of out-of-tune Russian bells in the Western hemisphere and a dining hall full of date-snowing $10,000 silver chandeliers and pasted-on columns. In addition there are seven squash courts, along with the usual pool and TV rooms, the Harvard Mountaineering Club Library, and top-ranked intramural soccer, squash, and cross-country squads.

Every room has a fireplace, and thanks to President Lowell, who took pen in hand and personally changed a wall here and a door there, no two rooms are alike. Lowell unfortunately is as overcrowded as any of the other houses (the suites are mainly converted doubles or triples.) Still, it's easy for a senior to snag a moderately sumptuous single.

Drama wonks and music fanciers can find happiness devoting their lives to the very active drama and music societies (four productions his year), while those of more esoteric taste may find what they are looking for in the life drawing or the pottery classes, or as members of the bell-ringing or wine-tasting societies.

Located in the navel of the University, Lowell is within easy striking distance of Tommy's, Cahaly's, Elsie's, Hazen's--or even class.

Popular Zeph Stewart will be back as Master this fall after a year at Oxford. He will take the reins from active acting Master Arthur Sutherland.

Lowell House tutors and faculty members incidentally, are among the most approachable in the University, and many good conversations stretch from 5:30 to 7:00-plus. The two House Secretaries are great.

Just before the application system was altered, Lowell House rose from a long period of supposed decline to become one of the most consistently over-applied Houses. The new-found popularity was more the result of a lot of little things than any one factor, but all added up to one conclusion. For some not quite definable reason, Lowell is an inordinately pleasant place to spend three years.