Co-op Residents To Return Soon

Students displaced from the Dudley Co-op by a fire January 11 should be able to return to the Sacramento Street building by the beginning of spring semester, College Housing Officer Catherine M. Millett said yesterday.

The fire gutted three rooms and sent 19 students to live in Holworthy Hall West and the Jordan Co-op.

The exact move-in date depends upon the progress of the repairs.

"Our plan is to get them back in the weekend after this coming one, if possible, if they can finish the repairs," said Thomas A. Dingman '67, associate dean of the College. The repairs include fixing electrical connections and replacing materials in burned areas.

Dudley House Master Paul H. Hanson said he's looking forward to the move back.

"I'm just tremendously impressed with the maturity and goodwill of the students," Hanson said. "They will have the stability of getting through exams in their present state and then have the freedom to return to the home that they obviously love."

A Dudley House tutor echoed Hanson's praise of the students. "I am terribly impressed by the way they have been resilient and willing to roll with the punches and the way they have held together as a community," said Conevery Bolton, a resident tutor of Dudley House.

The students themselves have found their new surroundings enlightening.

"It's fascinating living in the Yard," said Jane C. Gray '95. "I came as a transfer so I never thought I'd get the freshman experience."

One co-op resident living in Holworthy seized the chance to relive his first year during the Yard's Primal Scream on Monday night.

"I started it. I started it five minutes early," said Nicholas B. Cowell '95.

"It was most impressive," he said. "The streakers were tremendous. We started a riot with snowballs."

When it comes down to it, however, Cowell and other co-op residents are looking forward to returning home.

No `Pantry Raids'

In Holworthy, there is "no bread at midnight [and] no pantry access for pantry raids," Cowell said.

"I can't wait to move back in," said Rebecca E. Braun '94, a Dudley House resident now living in Holworthy. "I miss the cat and the warm bread--you know, my home."

Dingman commended Millett for her diligent work in finding the students housing.

"The housing work was a big piece [of the job] and Kay Millett did that," Dingman said. She was the one who found these places [Holworthy and Jordan Co-op] and she has done a great job."

The students also have accolades for the officials involved. "I think that we are really, really appreciative of the University and Kathy Bray [Superintendent of Freshman Dormitories and Dudley House] and Kay Millett," said Braun.