Council Reports Houses Cut Student-Faculty Tie

The Student Council Committee to Study the Houses has charged the House system with "one recurrent failure...: its inability to provide sufficient opportunities for contact between students and faculty."

In its report, released to the CRIMSON last night by chairman Tom L. Freudenheim '59, the Committee also opposes the proposed inclusion of graduate students and married tutors as House residents. Available space, it continues, should be allotted only to men "who are likely to contribute actively to undergraduate life in the House."

Stressing the importance of informal faculty-student relations, the report goes on to recommend that one undergraduate be selected in each House to "initiate and organize those various events which give students and tutors a greater opportunity to meet." The increased opportunities for contact resulting from this step would, the committee, feels, make the difficult "first meeting" between students and faculty more likely.

"We feel strongly that once the first meeting has been successfully effected, relations will continue without further interference," the report states.

More Coaches Requested

House athletics, "a fundamental part of the whole system," draws criticism for its lack of organization. The Committee recommends additional coaches, to be paid by the University. According to the report, this step would eliminate confusion, lighten the burden of the Athletic Secretary, and "add certain incentive and spirit to the team effort."

Also stressed is the attitude of the Master towards all aspects of the House. "The greatest influence on the House personality is the Master. This is unfortunate if the Masters are poor, wonderful when they are good."

While approving this system, the report goes on to emphasize the importance of careful selection of Masters.

The report and recommendations will be considered by the Council sometime within the next month.