Rodin experiences high rise life

Flying kicks came within inches of her face, but University President Judith Rodin was all smiles as she watched a performance and rehearsal of the dance group Sparks during a tour of Harnwell House last night. Rodin, who also visited Harrison and Hamilton houses -- formerly High Rise South and High Rise North -- is "trying to get a feel for life in the college house system," said Jennifer Baldino, director of external affairs for Rodin. Rodin's visit to Harnwell, or High Rise East, began on the mezzanine level, where she met with Faculty Master David Brownlee, who is also director of the Office of College Houses and Academic Services. She concluded her tour satisfied that the college house system has successfully permeated the high rise residences. "I had a wonderful time," Rodin said. "With the kind of positive energy that's being put into this new system, I don't see how there's any way it can't succeed." The president also met with several students in Harnwell's Arts House, an arts-oriented residential community on the building's 12th and 13th floors. About 60 students, including eight freshmen, currently participate in the program. Several of those freshmen were eager to relate their satisfaction with the Arts House program. Engineering freshman Carolina Gallardo said it was "wonderful" and that "meeting the other freshmen has become so natural." College freshman Denise Pagliarulo said that "a lot of people ask me how it is being a freshman in the high rises, without the social atmosphere of the [Quadrangle], but I tell them I really don't feel like I'm missing out on anything." The students then joined Rodin and Brownlee in the building's new dance studio to watch the rehearsal performance of Sparks, a funk and modern dance group. Next, the group moved to the second floor for a look at the newly-installed computer lab. The labs, which were also installed in Hamilton and Harrison, are part of the in-residence academic support network that is being established under the college house system. Rodin then moved on to the 10th floor's East Asia House, where she was invited to participate in a Drug and Alcohol Resource Team workshop and Chinese food dinner. As part of the workshop, students were given health- and drinking-related scenarios and asked to decide how to handle each situation. Rodin's final stop was the "Penthouse" lounge, formerly the Rooftop Lounge, where new reading lights, along with free coffee, have been set up to permit late-night study sessions. Rodin was suitably impressed, despite the garish carpeting which the administrators present agreed was horrendous. The president plans to visit every college house residence before the end of the academic year. Earlier this month, she spent the night in a Hill House guest suite after attending an international food festival and schmoozing with students there.