29G Residents May Get Preferential Treatment

A proposal to give residents of 29 Garden St. preferential treatment in the housing lottery currently is under discussion, officials and students said yesterday.

The proposal states that "rooming groups with more than 75 percent Garden Street residents would get one of their top four choices" and not be randomized, said Jennifer W. Grove '94, co-chair of the Undergraduate Council's Residential Committee and a member of the Committee on House Life.

The Committee on House Life discussed the plan in its monthly meeting yesterday. The action is in response to complaints by Garden Street residents who feel excluded from the traditional first-year experience.

According to Grove, the proposal would have a minimal effect on the March housing lottery. An estimated 40 rooming groups would be eligible for the preferential treatment.

Roughly 10 percent of the students are ordinarily randomized, she said. Thus, four groups which might have been randomized will receive one of their top four choices.

Dean L. Fred Jewett '57 yesterday refused to comment until the Undergraduate Council takes a formal position on the plan.

Grove said that the council has yet to decide whether to have a first-year referendum or a council vote on the proposal. "I'm personally in favor of a referendum," she said.

Grove added that the residential committee will discuss which route to take at its Tuesday night meeting.

Administrators on Committee on House Life said yesterday that it was important for students to express their views on the proposals.

"It will be heavily guided by student opinion. It's something to be thrashed out by students in the Freshman [Council] Caucus," said Associate Dean for the College Thomas A. Dingman '67.