Leverett Will Try Universal Access

In what seems to be a new trend, Leverett House will become the latest House to adopt universal keycard access--albeit on a two-month trial basis.

In an e-mail message to House residents, House Master Howard Georgi '67 wrote, "while I have serious concerns about it, I think that an experiment is worth trying."

While noting what he called the "special features" of Leverett--backing to Memorial Drive, a heating grate near an entrance that attracts the homeless in cold weather, the difficulty of securing and isolating non-common areas in Leverett Towers and the number of small children of resident tutors--Georgi announced that access to all common areas of the house would be available from 8 a.m. to midnight.

Georgi, who is a new master this year, pledged to re-examine the situation in February and solicited the comments of students.

Leverett joins Cabot, Quincy and Winthrop in offering some form of universal keycard access. Students said that the announcement is in line with the tone that the Georgis--who call themselves "Coach" and "Chief"--have established in the house in their brief tenure.

"Coach and Chief are doing wonderful things for Leverett," said Charles A. Keyes '00, a member of the Leverett House Committee. "They're approachable, friendly, and open to students' concerns and I believe they truly have our best interest in mind."

Leverett House also recently extended dining hall hours until midnight.