Storm Over Radcliffe

The Committee on Houses and Undergraduate Life made things a little easier last week for the 144 freshmen assigned to Radcliffe against their will, by allowing immediate transfers between Harvard Houses and Radcliffe Houses.

But CHUL didn't give the angry freshmen what they really wanted--reconversion of Claverly Hall into an upperclass dormitory--and also voted down's proposal to let members of the Class of 1976 who want to switch Houses have priority in next year's housing lottery.

The new transfer rule requires transfers to "maintain as nearly as possible" the 1.18:1 male-female ratio of the Radcliffe Houses, and prohibits switches between Harvard Houses until December 1.

CHUL met in response to an "emergency" request by the Freshman Council last Friday. The Council made its request after a week of bitter complaints from disappointed freshmen, as the percentage of freshmen who were assigned to Houses they did not list among their five choices reached an all-time high.

The results of the meeting were disappointing to freshmen who had hoped for a chance to move to Harvard, since the number of people who want to move from Harvard to Radcliffe is very small and it will be difficult for people assigned to Radcliffe to find anyone with whom to switch.

Dean Whitlock said last week that CHUL will make a major effort next year to revise the controversial House assignment system. He said that in the meantime the Housing Office will "act in every way possible" to make transfers easier.

The alternative assignment systems most likely to be considered are a lottery at the end of the freshman year, based only on personal preference, and assigning freshmen to Houses before they arrive at Harvard.