Trustees get a taste of residential system

Despite eating food described as "not quite home cooking," members of the University Board of Trustees came away with a very favorable opinion of the college houses after a visit to each of the houses and dining halls last night. Selected students from each of the 12 college houses chatted with some of the Trustees -- members of the University's top decision-making body -- over dinner and dessert in an event designed to give the Trustees a chance to sample life in the revamped residential system. For the students, it was a rare opportunity to pose questions about University developments to those who make the ultimate decisions. Groups of Trustees dined in the four University dining halls, along with about six to 12 students from each house, as well as the house's faculty master and house dean, before adjourning to the respective faculty master's apartment for dessert, coffee and cordials. At Stouffer Dining Commons, a dozen students from Spruce Street College House -- one from each section of the house and the house president -- enthusiastically questioned the three Trustees at dinner. Former Trustees Chairperson Alvin Shoemaker, who had headed First Boston Inc., spoke about future residential renovations and the need to continue to build first-rate structures while munching on mystery meat and french fries. "You can't compete long-term unless you make a statement," Shoemaker said, alluding to such projects as the new Penn bookstore. Despite the success of the discussions, there was a slight hitch in the plans, as the Trustees were nearly a half-hour late in arriving to Stouffer. "They're wasting our time," Engineering freshman Merav Kushner joked as the group ate dinner and waited for their guests. But after their arrival, most students said they found the experience both enjoyable and useful. "It's great to get an impression from somebody who really works on the financial side," said Spruce House President Keith Zeuner, a College freshman. "Sometimes students get a narrow perspective of who runs the school." And for the most part, the Trustees said they were quite impressed with both the students and the new college house system. Michael Tarnopol, vice chairperson of Bear Stearns & Co. and an overseer of the Wharton School, praised the college houses for creating smaller communities. "It's a more congenial, harmonious environment," Tarnopol said, adding that when he was a freshman, the dormitories were not divided into different sections, leaving little encouragement to meet people. As for the food, Richard Brown, a former partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and a graduate of the Law School, said it was "not quite like home cooking." Meanwhile, over at Harrison House, or High Rise South, about 10 students gathered at a more cozy environment -- Faculty Master John Richetti's apartment -- for dessert. The nightcap, which featured an informal and spontaneous concert by Richetti, followed a dinner at the new Harrison Cafe in the building's basement. Trustee John Hover, a guest at Harrison, said the college houses have the potential to make residential life more interactive, even in the largest buildings. "I think it's possible to give the high rises the feel of a house," he said. And as the students chatted with Richetti and their guests, several of them praised their house's staff for making their college house experience enjoyable. "We wanted to? comment to the Trustees how great John [Richetti] and [House dean] Art [Casciato] have been," College sophomore Robin Rolewicz said, adding that she believes Casciato knows the name of every Harrison resident. Most of the Trustees explained that despite their initial optimism, they would not judge the system by this first visit to the new houses. "When you cook the broth, you wonder if the soup is going to be good," said Trustee Leonard Shapiro, one of the guests at Harrison.

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