Mather May Have Co-ed Housing, But Will Not Act as "Guinea Pig'

F. Skiddy von Stade Jr. '38, who will be Master of Mather House when it opens next Fall, says he will oppose any use of Mather as a "guinea pig" for coeducation.

Four or five of the Houses are likely to have girls eventually, von Stade said yesterday. However, making one House coeducational on an experimental basis would lead to difficulties, he said.

"A single coeducational House would tend to appeal to only sort of person--the man who just can't get along without girls," von Stade said. He emphasized that the House system was designed to bring all kinds of students together.

Because the Harvard-Radcliffe merger is not final, von Stade said it was too early to comment on whether Mather will ever house girls.

Construction on the House is proceeding on schedule, von Stade said. Six unions have agreed to start contract negotiations in April, von Stade said. He added, however, that strikes might occur on any of the contracts, which would delay the expected September opening of the House. Work is now being concentrated on a wing to be ready for 100 sophomores next Fall, but only quads and quints will be available--singles and doubles will be in Mather Towers, which will open in 1970.

Von Stade believes the dining hall will be finished by the time students move in. The library is in a wing which will not be opened until next winter, however. It is not definite when the computer and closed-curcuit television facilities will open.