Blocking Process About to Begin, With the New Limit of Eight

Eight is enough.

That's what proctors will be telling first-year students in their proctor groups as the House blocking process begins this semester.

For the first time ever, first-years will be limited to a maximum of eight students in their housing lottery blocking groups--half the size of groups from years past.

Proctors will meet with Undergraduate Housing Office representatives for the first time later this week to start off the process, but some proctors say they are already seeing first-years making tough choices as a result of the new policy.

Six-year proctor Joshua A. Tucker '93 says he thinks the process could be most difficult for small entryways, like the 16-student group he supervises in Mower Hall this year.

While under last year's rules, all 16 could have blocked together, he says his students this year do not have the security of knowing they could technically enter the lottery with their entire proctor group.

"If I were going through the process as a student now, I would prefer 16," says Tucker, who says he still thinks there may be long-term positive effects from the decision.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 announced the decision in September with support from House masters who said 16-person blocking groups often insulated students from participating in House life.

Proctors say their challenge this year will be convincing their students that Houses, not blocking groups, will be their primary social environment. They say they are worried that first-years will try to include their entire circle of friends for the next three years in their blocking group.

Noah S. Selsby '95, a proctor in Thayer Hall, says he expects students to come to him wishing they could have more than eight in their groups.

And Dean of Freshmen Elizabeth Studley Nathans says she is expecting that criticism of the change as well.

"Whatever the size, someone will always believe that allowing 'just one more person' would make everything right," she says.