Housing Market 2020: Eliot

If you’re fortunate enough to hear people chanting “E-L-I-O-T, you just won the lottery!” as they approach your door on the morning of Housing Day, you’ll be a part of the lucky group to be welcomed into this warm and buzzing House. With gorgeous, year-round views of the Charles River and festivities galore, Eliot House has it all. Here’s a toast to your new home, “Floreat domus de Eliot!”

By Margot E. Shang

All About Housing

As an incoming sophomore, you’ll most likely end up in n-1 suites, but suite setups can vary widely depending on which of the fifteen entryways (A-O) you belong to. Like most Houses, seniors and juniors have first pick in the lottery system, but Eliot sets aside certain suites in the House that are fully guaranteed for sophomores. Bathrooms are in-suite, and some even have three sinks, so rest assured that you’ll never have to set foot inside a hallway bathroom again.

By Casey M. Allen

If you’re looking for a place to party, Eliot’s got it all covered: the “Cockpit” in C Entryway has its own bar and pong table, and “Ground Zero” in the basement is another casual space for Eliotites and visitors alike to drop by and have a good time. To all the history lovers out there, these party suites were named after World War II lingo in honor of the air force pilots who took shelter in Eliot House during the war. So that means you can dance the night away feeling patriotic at the same time!

Eliot also comes fully equipped with fun amenities, from a dance studio in the basement and a music tower with Leonard Bernstein’s piano, to a darkroom for photography and even a woodshop where seniors build their own diploma frames! The dining hall is always a great place to chat with friends or grind on late night p-sets, and you’ll also find residents of the House flocking toward the ‘80’s-themed Grille for social gatherings or a quick bite before bedtime. Eliot also has a back gate where residents can swipe in. You can walk into Eliot’s spacious courtyard straight from Memorial Drive, a perfect addition for athletes and future SEAS concentrators coming from across the river.

Community

It’s no surprise that students in Eliot value community more than anything else. In addition to providing its expansive dhall as a common space for faculty dinners, daily meals, or casual meetups, sophomores also get to go on special outings. In the past, these activities have ranged from laid-back trips to Wards Berry Farm for ice cream to heated mini-golf tournaments between tutors and undergrads. With so many things to do and places to explore in the company of fellow Eliotites, you’ll be sure to feel at home.

By Owen A. Berger

At the end of every spring, Eliot hosts its annual Fête celebration, inviting students in the House to bring plus ones, kick back, and enjoy the fun. Lined with ice sculptures and champagne glasses, the dhall and JCR serve delicious food and drinks to the music of an indoor DJ and live band performing in the outdoor courtyard. In this night club/swing band atmosphere where disco meets groovy, Fête brings together the best of both old and new worlds.

Between formals every season, Eliot’s steins also serve as a great way to foster community. Some are holiday-themed, such as Jack-o-Lantern carving on Halloween-Eve, while others are more general, ranging from karaoke, speed-dating, and even painting Eliot tunnels.

By Owen A. Berger

Eliot has also been going strong in Intramural Sports this past year, placing top three in the recent dodgeball tournament. One of Eliot’s sources of pride is the Eliot Boat Club. Thanks to Eliot’s proximity to the Charles, the Boat Club stays committed throughout the year, training no matter the weather. For the same reason, you’ll often see athletes walking in and out of Eliot after practice (especially crew). This all goes to show that Eliotites have the mental and physical spirit to seize a decisive victory!

The Faculty Deans and tutors have also established a really close relationship with students. Although both Faculty Deans, Douglas “Doug” A. Melton and Gail O’Keefe, are expected to leave this year, House Committee co-chair Zach R. Fraley ‘21 expresses how much he’s appreciated having them around, saying that “Eliot’s amazing community will continue to grow thanks to all of their work and love for the House.”

Your Questions, Answered

We met with HoCo chairs Zach R. Fraley ‘21 and Jason S. Lee ‘21 to give us the inside scoop on Eliot.

What is the most common misconception people have about Eliot?

ZF: A lot of students will say Eliot is old and dingy, but the people and food definitely make up for it!

What makes the food at Eliot so good?

JL: Eliot is the HQ of Crimson Catering, which provides bread for the entire university as well as soup to the Berg.

Do you have anything else you want to say to first-year students who get Eliot?

Both: You just won the lottery!!