Eliot

Photographs By Tarik Adnan Moon

Maybe it is the picturesque views of the Charles River, or the close quarters that inspire a deep sense of solidarity, but for whatever reason, Eliot has consistently been one of the most spirited houses. As one of the original seven houses, Eliot has a rich tradition at the College. Throughout much of the twentieth century, Eliot maintained an exclusive reputation and selected only the most elite members of the student body with an application and interview process. Today, Eliot is beloved by all types of Harvard students. An additional claim to fame: Eliot has been the House most featured on the silver screen, appearing in movies such as Legally Blonde, Love Story, and The Social Network.

By The Numbers
By Olivia A. Nicholls, Crimson Staff Writer
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430 students

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1 Art Room

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1 Dance studio

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1 Golden Arm theater

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1 Grille

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1 Kitchen

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1 Woodshop and Design Studio

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$60,000 HoCo Budget

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Housing
By Olivia A. Nicholls, Crimson Staff Writer
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Like many River Houses, Eliot does not offer the most spacious accommodations. Eliot was originally constructed in 1931 to house 294 students with 47 single suites, 90 double suites, 21 triple suites, and 1 quadruple, but the increasing number of students in the house have forced more cramped conditions. Housing is typically n-1 for sophomores, n for juniors, and n+1 for seniors. Say hello to bunkbeds and walk-throughs. Oh, and probably cockroaches, too.

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It’s not all bad though. Many rooms overlook the the Charles– if you can’t get a single, at least you can get a view. Senior housing offers some exciting options with party suites Ground Zero and the Cockpit, which connect through B and C entryways. Bonus points: The Cockpit even comes with an Eliot crested beer pong table. Additionally, the plethora of fire doors in Eliot allows for flexible room organization. And with so many extra House amenities and a spacious dining hall, there’s no need to spend your time cooped up in your bedroom. Athletes, especially, love living in Eliot given its close proximity to sporting facilities, and the back gate that leads to the Weld Boathouse and Anderson Memorial Bridge.

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The Community
By Olivia A. Nicholls, Crimson Staff Writer
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As said, Eliot has one of the strongest and most spirited communities. With the largest HoCo budget of any House (!!), residents enjoy a diverse selection of activities such as the Eliot Boat Club (an intramural crew team), Holiday Cookie Extravaganza, Charity Auction, and Experiment Tea, during which scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and designers are invited to come share their ideas. Unlike most Houses which have two formals, Eliot has three: September Soirée, Winter Formal, and Spring Fête. The Fête is one of the largest and best formals at the College, and includes ice sculptures, typically one of the Eliot Elephant, a live swing band, and dancing.

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With a plethora of special rooms such as an art room, computer room, dance studio with mirrored walls and a pole, theater, Grille, Weight & Exercise Room, and a Woodshop, there are not a whole lot of reasons to leave Eliot. And indeed those in Eliot, tend to stay in Eliot. Current house masters Gail A. O’Keefe and Doug A. Melton are only the sixth House Master pair in Eliot’s 71 years.

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The Critiques
By Olivia A. Nicholls, Crimson Staff Writer
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Housing in Eliot, particularly sophomore and junior housing, leaves much to be desired. However, some Eliot residents would point out that the chandeliered, dark-panelled dining room, and extra House rooms, such as the Tower Room with a grand piano, make up for this residential shortcoming. Location might prove a problem for those who run late. Tucked away in the corner of River West, Eliot is far from the Science Center and other academic buildings.

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