Council Hears Report on Transfer Housing Policy

The Undergraduate Council last night heard a report from a committee which is considering radical changes in the rules that govern trasnfer housing policy. They also voted down a proposal to offer non-voting council positions to non-members.

In the report from the Committee on Housing, Jessica E. Levin '87, described the proposals to alter transfer housing policy. The Committee on Housing, chaired by Dean of the College John B. Fox '59, is responsible for deciding housing policies.

Levin said one proposal being considered by the housing committee would bar transfer students from moving into the 42 residential Houses during their first full year at Harvard. She added that committee is also considering guaranteeing transfer students on campus housing in their senior year.

Levin said the purpose of considering such a change is to improve the quality of Dudley House, to which all transfers are assigned until they move into a House by creating a better sense of community among the transfers.

Many transfers are part of Dudley, for most or all of their first year, added Levin, but are in limbo while waiting to be admitted into a House.

Under such a proposal, transfers would be eligible to be admitted into a House in their third semester at Harvard.

The housing committee is also considering creating blocky of rooms at Peabody Ferrace set aside specifically for transfer students said Levin. Levin added that turors would live with the transfer students in those areas.

The issues of transfer students are all linked to the problem of overcrowding, said Levin. The committee has also been going on walking tours of the Houses to determine which ones have the worst problems with overcrowding and have now looked at ten our of twelve House said Levin.

Incentives

The council defeated a proposal by Adam J. Augustynski 'So to adam associate members to the council. The proposasl would have give students interested in working for the council on a non-membership basis the incentive of a title.

It failed to pass by one vote Augustynski said he plans to reintroduce the measure next semester.

Under the proposal associate members would not be able to vote or propse bylaw amendments buy would be subject to the attendance rules of the council

Council members who argued against the amendment said that it was unnecessary to introduce associate membership since non members are already allowed to participate on the council.

They also argued that it was unnecessary to encourage more students to participate at the cost of adding another layer of bureaucracy.

Augustynski countered that it students are offered a title as a "resume stuffer" they will be more likely to want to participate than if there is no incentive to join