Maid Service

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.--Williams College students, whose rooms and beds once were tidied up daily by maids, must now tend to the chores themselves because school officials have dumped the maid service.

"It was apparent to us that students could vacuum their own floors and that money could be spent better elsewhere," college spokesman Ray Boyer said this week about the end of maid service.

In the last two years, maids restricted their work to vacuuming floors as the school began to phase out the service through retirements and transfers. There were three maids last year for 2,000 students.

Sophomore Allison Ashley told the students newspaper. The Williams Records, that she regretted the passing of the maids.

"I hate it," Ashley said. "It made the school unique. Not many people have the time to clean their rooms."

But senior Jeff Mook said it didn't bother him. "Not having them saves money and it is just as easy to clean your room yourself. Besides, they used to come at inopportune times," Mook said.

Wendy Hopkins, director of student housing, said the college apparently was the last one--private or public--with maids, Janitors will still clean dormitory bathrooms and hallways.