HSA May Install House Linen Depots

A linen-depot system in the Houses is "definitely a possibility" for next year, Bradford K. Perry '64 said yesterday.

Perry, who stepped down last week as president of the Harvard Student Agencies, said that the present method of room delivery is now being reviewed, and may be abandoned in favor of a depot system like that in the Yard.

His statement was confirmed by newly-elected HSA president V. Leo Archer '65, who added that a depot in at least one of the Houses is "likely but not definite." He agreed with Perry that a final decision should be made before the end of the year.

However, Dustin M. Burke '52, HSA general manager, said he did not expect any final decision until mid-summer. He emphasized that "no careful study" of linen-distribution methods has yet been made by HSA, although he also commented that the problem had been "worked on every summer for the past five years."

Both Archer and Burke stated that the Masters and deans would have to approve any change in the present system. Such a change was discussed by the Masters three years ago, when the depot system was introduced in the Yard.

Dean Watson reported then that the Masters were strongly opposed to a depot system in the Houses. They only wanted to be sure they would be notified if any changes were contemplated, he said.

When the HSA first set up Yard depots in 1961, it was without the knowledge of many members of the Administration. Watson himself said at the time that "the first I knew of this was when I read it in the CRIMSON."

Perry cited the "number of complaints" received by the HSA under the present delivery system as the reason for the possible change. "There has been some dissatisfaction on the part of people who don't get their linen," he noted.

Before coming to any decision, he said, HSA managers will sift through the records of complaints to see "what kind of service will satisfy most of them." As a preliminary move, "we're trying to straighten out our records so we can sift through them," he said.