Freshman Housing Forms Await Rosovsky Decision On Dean Fox's Proposal

The distribution of freshman housing forms will be delayed for two weeks pending a decision by Dean Rosovsky on Dean Fox's housing plan, assistant dean Ann Spence said yesterday.

Spence said that the housing forms "aren't going to be out for another two weeks. We're not at a complete standstill, but decisions on the lottery rest on the comprehensive housing plan."

The Fox plan limits the Yard to freshman housing and eliminates four-class housing at the Quad, turning the Quad Houses into three-year Houses like the River Houses.

The Committee on Housing and Undergraduate Life adopted the proposal in January despite demonstrations against the plan by students living at the Quad who also attempted to mobilize a college-wide appeal against the CHUL decision.

Fox's plan was approved by the Faculty Council in early February. Its approval serves as a recommendation to Dean Rosovsky, who must make the final decision on the proposal.

Rosovsky had no comment on the freshman forms yesterday.

Spence said that she has canceled an appearance with the Freshman Council this Tuesday until a decision on the Fox plan comes through. She also said that despite the delay with the housing forms she has started a count of the expected house populations for next year.

Despite Spence's cancellation and the delay with the forms, Freshman Council representative Marc Sobel said yesterday that "it's the least thing that's bothering me. What's bothering me is the risk involved in trying to get the House you want with the new system of listing three preferences."

Sobel added that it was reasonable that there should be a delay and that Spence's cancellation with the council should pose no problems.

Acting dean of freshmen Alberta Arthurs said yesterday that the decision on the Fox proposal "rests in Dean Rosovsky's hands. I'm sure the decision will come soon."

Arthurs also said that the forms, which were to have been handed out March 1, should follow the original calendar and allow freshmen from one to two weeks to turn them into the housing office.

Content?

Stephanie Monaghan, a freshman CHUL representative, said yesterday that "most freshmen are content with the delay because they haven't made up their minds yet about which House they want to join. As long as there isn't a big delay it shouldn't be a problem."

William H. Bossert, master of Lowell House, said yesterday it would be difficult to ask freshmen to decide about housing when a decision about Canaday and Claverly Halls has not yet been made.

The Fox proposal would eliminate sophomore housing at Canaday.

"I wish they would hurry up and decide," Lisa Benjamin '80 said yesterday, adding that she does not think the Yard is overcrowded. "I think students should have an option to live at the Quad and upperclassmen should have a choice about living at Canaday," she added.

Another freshman, Miriam Clark, said yesterday that the delay shouldn't make a difference as long as all freshmen turned in their forms at the same time and no preference was shown to any specific group.

Barbara G. Rosenkrantz '44, master of Currier House, said yesterday that the delay was not extraordinary. She added that it should present no problems in organizing room assignments for the following year.

"The Fox plan gives us a good probability that we'll get stuck at the Quad but it's a better alternative and I'm glad they're waiting to tell us what's happening," David Friscia '80 said yesterday.