Winthrop Has Little Individual Character

The most unusual thing about Winthrop is that there is very little of the unusual about it.

In days gone by, when you went to see Harvard play Yale in almost anything from wrestling to football you invariably saw Winthrop vs Yale. In certain sports this still helds true, but the House has done much to escape the stereotype of the "home of the muscular mesomorph." The effort has been fairly successful and the Halls of Standish and Gore are now peopled with a good cross-section of the college.

Winthrop has all types, but none to excess. To be sure there is still a rather large sporting element and a rather small percentage of scholars, but on the whole a careful balance is sought.

Housemaster Ronald P. Ferry '12 rigorously follows the overall college percentages in his admission policy. The result is that graduates of public schools neatly balance those from private schools, and concentrators in all the large fields are in pretty much the proper numerical relation.

Little Individual Flavor

This statistical equilibrium is symbolic of the whole tone of the house. It has very little special character of its own, yet it strives to maintain President Lowell's original ideal of a House as "the college in microcosm." It does not try to mold its members into either gentlemen or scholars, but lets its members mold it and themselves.

Apparently a good number of Harvard men like this kind of life for Winthrop has been first and second in freshman preferences for the last two years.

Laize-Faire

As a part of its laissez-faire attitude, Winthrop has very little of the typical "House spirit." For the most part its residents prefer a decentralized atmosphere to the more closely integrated tone of some other Houses. But is is definitely not a cliquish House and, quite to the contrary, has a rather warm geniality about it.

This atmosphere carries over into the House's faculty-student relations. A set of popular resident tutors mingles with some students and a number of top non-resident men like Professor McGeorge Bundy and Dean Francis M. Rogers eat frequently in the House. Dr. and Mrs. Ferry hold informal teas every Thursday to which all house members are invited and each man is invited to eat dinner with the Ferrys at least once during his stay.

Sophomore Tutorial

On the academic side, students find the tutorial staff headed by Senior Tutor Daniel S. Cheever, assistant professor of Government, a generally conscientious and capable one. Turning to the physical side, Winthrop's rooms are generally quite large and many look out on the river. The one notorious disadvantage is that the bothrooms are equipped with baths rather than showers.

The comfortable House library has a well-balanced large stock of books and a good collection of LP records. There are, of course, the usual recreation room (pool and ping-pong), dark room, record listening room and music practice room.

Music Society

Activity-wise, the House's main feature is the Winthrop House Music Society which annually stages a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. Also featured are the six House dinners for all undergraduates, tutorial staff and faculty associates, after which a guest speaker holds forth in the common room.

With exceptions, however, the House's activities are pretty sparse. It has few organizations, fewer discussion groups and no forums.

House Athletics

House athletics also are definitely weak. Almost all the athletes are on variety teams and this leaves very little manpower for the House teams. With the exception of the usually fine crews Winthrop usually places pretty well down in most intra-mural standings.

Winthrop's food is from the central kitchen. No more need be said.

For the freshman who intends to center most of his activities in the House, Winthrop is perhaps not the best choice. But for the man who already has strong outside interests and is looking for a place to eat, sleep, study and live comfortably in a free, easy-going atmosphere Winthrop fills the bill quite well