Transfer Requests See Sharp Increase

Interhouse transfer requests increased substantially this semester, University officials said yesterday.

Transfer applications were due yesterday, and assistants to the masters at many of the river houses said an extraordinary numbers of students are seeking to change residencies.

The sharp rise in the number of interhouse transfers is due mainly to the new College policy of giving upperclass students said Housing Officer for Harvard College Catherine M. Millett.

The policy change benefits interhouse transfers because it gives those students an opportunity to enter the house lottery along with first-year student, she said.

Adams House reported that 48 students listed the house as their first choice of transfer--an increase from the usual 10 to 12, said Victoria R. Macy, assistant to the master. In addition, 11 residents are attempting to leave the house, Macy said.

At Mather House, 10 students are requesting transfer into the house and an equal number are petitioning to leave, according to Mather's assistant to the master, Anne Aubrey.

And at Quincy House, 10 students applied to transfer into the house while the number of residents transferring out increased from the usual five to six to about 15 to 20, said Suzanne Watts, assistant to the master.

Lowell House Assistant to the Master Sheila Schimmel expressed astonishment at the number of transfer applications Lowell received.

"We'll take as many as we're allowed to," she said.

Figures for Lowell and Kirkland House were not available at press time, but house officials said they received a large number of transfer applications.

Kirkland, which has the least amount of space for interhouse transfers, was the only house mentioned on the transfer form with a space problem.

In previous years, transfer applications were processed in the summer and given the space remaining from thefirst-year lottery.

But earlier this year, the Committee on HouseLife arranged a new system, in which up to to 6percent of the spots reserved for first-yearstudents are allocated to interhouse transfers.The committee also placed a cap of 6 percent onthe number of students who can leave their houses.

This new policy makes it easier for studentstransferring as a rooming group to be placed inthe same suite, according to housing officials.

Several students interviewed yesterday saidthey were taking advantage of the policy changeand transferring out of their houses.

Christian F. D'Andrea '94 of Cabot House saidhe was attempting to transfer this year because"the odds of getting in as a group of three aremuch greater this year than in the past."

Schimmel concurred. She said the previouspolicy made it likely that a rooming group wouldget split up, forcing students to enter asfloaters.

Schimmel also said Lowell will try to acceptmore first-years in the upcoming lottery, sincethe house "needs sophomores."

This year, 175 Lowell residents will graduate,Schimmel said

But earlier this year, the Committee on HouseLife arranged a new system, in which up to to 6percent of the spots reserved for first-yearstudents are allocated to interhouse transfers.The committee also placed a cap of 6 percent onthe number of students who can leave their houses.

This new policy makes it easier for studentstransferring as a rooming group to be placed inthe same suite, according to housing officials.

Several students interviewed yesterday saidthey were taking advantage of the policy changeand transferring out of their houses.

Christian F. D'Andrea '94 of Cabot House saidhe was attempting to transfer this year because"the odds of getting in as a group of three aremuch greater this year than in the past."

Schimmel concurred. She said the previouspolicy made it likely that a rooming group wouldget split up, forcing students to enter asfloaters.

Schimmel also said Lowell will try to acceptmore first-years in the upcoming lottery, sincethe house "needs sophomores."

This year, 175 Lowell residents will graduate,Schimmel said