Currier House

Currier House, named after Radcliffe College alumna Audrey Bruce Currier '56, might be less quaint and historic than the brick buildings of the other two Quad Houses, but its four residence towers still aren't quite as ugly as Mather's. Architectural jokes aside, the House's tree-loving residents are more than happy to boast of their great housing and tight-knit community, and most admit they don't have much to complain about. The one thing holding the House back might be its location in the widely feared Quad, but residents insist that the distance is worth its other countless perks, as "the shuttle beats walking anyway." Perhaps one student's responses to poll questions describes Currierites' attitudes toward their House best: "What are the best things about living here?" we asked. "Everything. It's Currier," came an answer. And the worst? "Nothing. It's Currier."

House Spirit: Currier seems to have a lot of House spirit; student poll responses elicited an excess of capital characters and up to 22 exclamation points, and the House ranked third in this category overall. Students' enthusiasm for living in Currier is one of the most frequently cited benefits of the House, contributing to its positive and welcoming atmosphere. Currier's notorious "bikini brigade" and "speedo squad" always dominate in full force on Housing Day, an example of the House's "really awesome/geeky/cool spirit." Even more notable is students' "Currier-love," not only for their House, but also for each other. "Walking into Currier feels like home," one student wrote. "I can always find a group of friends to sit with in the dining hall." Overall, most Currier residents are convinced that they have it all: "There is no better group of people on campus," one student insisted. "We have everything you could ever want."

Housing Quality: Housing really doesn't get much better than Currier's. Students boast of their "singles for nearly everyone," although a larger-than-anticipated incoming sophomore class did force a few singles to become doubles this year. Students are housed in either Daniels, Gilbert, Bingham, or Tuchman, and most are granted generous square footage and large windows, and are often provided with in-room kitchens and private bathrooms. Currier's luxurious housing lends itself to "fabulous parties" nearly every weekend: "Have you seen the Ten-man?" one commentator asked. The ten-man and solaria suites are coveted rooms usually provided to seniors, provided with spacious singles, bars and kitchens, and almost excessively large common rooms. "My room…has a bathroom, a full kitchen, and a wrap-around balcony," one Currierite gushed. "Good stuff."

Other perks to housing include controllable heating within three of the residential towers, the "natural light," and the fact that all residents enter through one entryway and central hallway, meaning students in this already small House see each other and interact frequently. There is a "lack of an old-Harvard feel," one student confessed, but this is accompanied by a "lack of roaches." It is worth mention, however, that a few students did complain of "too much linoleum in some places," a questionable color scheme, and the maze-like organization of the House, making it difficult to navigate at times.

Dining Hall: Although Currier's dining hall can be "a little retirement homey in design," some students find the carpeting, plants, and skylight "cozy." What receives unanimous praise, however, is both the food and community: Along with what many call "the best food on campus," Currierites love their dining hall staff, who "always bring out stuff if you request it and will even let you know in advance if something they know you like is going to be on the menu." Unlike its neighbors, Pfoho and Cabot, which share a kitchen, Currier has its own, which many insist leads to better-quality food. This "fabulous" d-hall, which is usually pretty quiet, also offers "the best brain break" and a drinks station outside of the servery for around-the-clock access. Currier ranks in second place for their dining hall.

Facilities: The House's best-known facility is the Fishbowl, home to Halloween's infamous "Heaven and Hell" party each year. When not converted into a haven for overeager students in costume, the Fishbowl hosts Stein Clubs and movie nights and serves as an informal gathering spot for students. The House also has a ping pong and pool table, paired with a television and sofas, as well as tables and seating convenient for work. Other facilities include the Treehouse, a room hosting regular drawing lessons through the Office for the Arts, a dance studio, and both a weight room and gym with treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes. A side door to the House also offers the most convenient access and closest distance to the QRAC. For many students, all this results in their "never having to leave the building for anything," though some regret that Currier only has a "House reading room" but no official or traditional House library like others do.

The Rating: In the end, incoming students really have no reason to heed the House's motto, "Timete Arboreum," or "fear the tree" (except, of course, for the new disturbing Housing Day video...) Ultimately, the House has a lot to offer, but distance still stands in its way. Currier received an overall rating of eighth out of 12.

Our rankings so far:

8. Currier

9. Mather

10. Winthrop

11. Cabot

12. Dunster