Quincy Refuses To Feed Frosh

Starting next Sunday, hungry freshmen will have to trek a little farther to enjoy the perks of House dining.

Quincy Dining Hall decided last Friday to permit freshmen to eat dinner in their facilities only on Friday and Saturday, unless accompanied by a resident host. Breakfast and lunch will still remain open to all undergraduates.

Freshmen assigned to Quincy this spring will be able to eat in their future dining hall after the lottery.

Quincy House Master Robert P. Kirshner ’70 announced the decision after discussing possible solutions for the crowding problem with students in the House and administrators.

“Our excellent food, pleasant surroundings, and welcoming attitude have, paradoxically, led to a real loss in one of the key elements of House life,” Kirshner said in an e-mail to freshmen. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to your cooperation.”

The second house to implement dining restrictions targeted at freshmen—the first being Adams—Quincy has experienced a marked increase in use, with nearly 5,000 more dinners served to freshmen this year.

Despite renovations that added more dining tables and seats, Quincy residents said overcrowding remains a prevalent issue.

This week, Kirshner said he plans to mount signs and station House volunteers by the checker to help “deflect anger” from uncooperative freshmen.

Many Quincy residents agreed that they think that it is important for freshmen to experience House life, but that it should not be at the expense of the upperclassmen.

“We try to be so open but there’s a certain extent to which we can do that and still have a good quality of life for us and our staff,” Rebecca E. Rubins ’05 said. Rubins added that during peak times, the conveyor belt for busing trays would overflow and come to a standstill because dining staff could not handle the onslaught of flatware.

Quincy dining hall worker Andrew N. Barrows said he thought that the new restriction would take a lot of pressure off the other workers.

“It would make a lot of difference, but I don’t complain,” Barrows said. “What we get is what we get.”

Several freshmen living in Wigglesworth said they frequently visit Quincy instead of Annenberg because of its proximity, better food, and relaxed ambiance.

“Three grades have 10 Houses while one grade has only one place to eat,” John T. Kasnicki ’08 said. “It’s all about the numbers.”

Kasnicki and a group of six Wigglesworth dorm-mates eat dinner together at Quincy almost every night, even coming in for lunch daily during reading period.

Adam E. Sandel ’08 of Wigglesworth said he thought that it would take strict enforcement to keep freshmen away for good.

“It’s just going to turn out like Adams house,” Sandel said. “Freshmen are going to find a way to sneak in.”

Margaret C.D. Barusch ’06, who often meets with freshmen in her on-campus organizations, said that this new restriction will make it harder for her to call meetings with her groups, adding that it was important to have places where freshmen could meet upperclassmen without “trekking to another planet.”

Many alternative suggestions have been considered, including relaxing of dining restrictions on Houses nearby to spread out the crowds.

The prospect of only allowing freshmen in the Union Dorms—Greenough, Hurlbut, and Pennypacker—to eat at Quincy has also been raised.

Kirshner said he plans to meet with Quincy residents in a month to discuss possible changes or amendments to the restrictions.

—Staff writer Ying Wang can be reached at yingwang@fas.harvard.edu.