Committee makes case for better housing

Over two-thirds of undergraduates are in favor of housing space geared almost exclusively to freshmen, according to a recent Undergraduate Assembly survey on the College House system.

The Undergraduate Assembly Steering Committee presented this statistic and others regarding student housing to top administrative officials Monday as part of a series of presentations detailing student perspectives on life at Penn.

The steering committee -- which is made up of leaders from undergraduate organizations -- presented recommendations in the four areas: housing, cultural resource centers, community outreach and academic experience.

Student leaders recommended creating more freshman-oriented housing by increasing the percentage of freshman rooms in the Quadrangle, Hill College House and Kings Court/English House.

"We understand that not everyone comes to Penn wanting the same thing exactly," UA Housing Committee Chairwoman and Engineering sophomore Dipal Patel said. "But there are guiding principles."

The suggested plan would limit the number of freshman rooms in DuBois and Gregory college houses and eliminate freshman rooms in Hamilton -- to be renamed Rodin -- and Harnwell college houses. Forty percent of Harrison would be reserved for freshmen, who would be grouped on sequential floors.

According to Provost Ron Daniels, administrators will discuss and analyze the recommendations presented by the steering committee.

"You will see action in the months ahead," Daniels said.

The housing presentation -- which involved the effort of the UA Housing Committee, Residential Advisory Board, Student Committee on Undergraduate Education and Freshman Class Board -- also suggested eliminating freshman rooms in residential programs in DuBois, Stouffer, Gregory, Harnwell, Harrison and Hamilton college houses.

Presenters said that students could still participate in residential programs by living with other freshmen on a separate floor.

Patel emphasized the importance of living in a freshman community over living with people with similar interests.

The UA survey also found that about 3 percent of undergraduates have frequent contact with house faculty masters and about 6 percent have frequent contact with house deans.

In response to this, the committee recommended an increase in student-staff interaction for all undergraduates as well as the development of formal and public descriptions of each college house staff member's job to aid students seeking help from specific sources.

"Students do not know who to present themselves to and often get lost in the bureaucratic shuffle," said Residential Advisory Board Vice Chairman and College sophomore Ed Berchick, who presented the housing recommendations along with Patel.

Administrators said they welcome concern about student-staff relationships.

"We really deeply appreciate your comments on the relationship between faculty and everyone else in the house," Faculty Director of College Houses Phil Nichols said. "We don't have the facilities or the resources our peers have, but we do have the staff."

The committee also advocated for improvements to the Wheel -- academic resources available in all college houses 24 hours a day.

"I don't think anyone knows what it is," Patel said.

Committee members said the Wheel could be enhanced by standardizing services and hours, advertising available resources and maximizing study spaces, computer labs and group meeting rooms in the college houses.

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