Comments on: Open Book http://www.ephblog.com/2009/11/06/supportive-and-cohesive-houses/ All Things Eph Sun, 01 Aug 2010 03:56:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: kthomas http://www.ephblog.com/2009/11/06/supportive-and-cohesive-houses/#comment-74298 kthomas Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:14:54 +0000 http://www.ephblog.com/?p=23968#comment-74298 Open book? Prior to so-called "free agency" (translation for David: bureaucratic nonsense equivalent to immigration control and healthcare, instituted solely for the convenience of Monica Martinez and no one else), Houses picked with maps of the rooms and everyone's names on a whiteboard. Houses ran their own systems according to tradition and places like Perry (my affiliation) gave each person twenty-four hours to pick because, darn it, you might want to discuss who you were living near and the options. And darn it, yes, this meant Monica would have something to do and couldn't drive to Northhampton during room draw. History is made my individuals. Often, history is made by idiots, who have no idea what they're doing. Williams housing history, in this case, was made by one individual who cared more for her opinion and convenience than anything else. In comparison to what existed-- which there were some complaints about, but please-- we have speed Russian Roulette. It's time to move back before the point where things were broken, and go from there. Houses! Not some state-socialist neighborhood plan made by know-better-than-thou academics, with a ridiculous facade of "free agency" and a powerless house officers system and modification #7394 of the assignment system Monica made so she could see her girlfriend in Northhampton (imagine that anyone would point that out!), but ... Houses! Open book?

Prior to so-called “free agency” (translation for David: bureaucratic nonsense equivalent to immigration control and healthcare, instituted solely for the convenience of Monica Martinez and no one else), Houses picked with maps of the rooms and everyone’s names on a whiteboard. Houses ran their own systems according to tradition and places like Perry (my affiliation) gave each person twenty-four hours to pick because, darn it, you might want to discuss who you were living near and the options.

And darn it, yes, this meant Monica would have something to do and couldn’t drive to Northhampton during room draw.

History is made my individuals. Often, history is made by idiots, who have no idea what they’re doing. Williams housing history, in this case, was made by one individual who cared more for her opinion and convenience than anything else.

In comparison to what existed– which there were some complaints about, but please– we have speed Russian Roulette. It’s time to move back before the point where things were broken, and go from there.

Houses! Not some state-socialist neighborhood plan made by know-better-than-thou academics, with a ridiculous facade of “free agency” and a powerless house officers system and modification #7394 of the assignment system Monica made so she could see her girlfriend in Northhampton (imagine that anyone would point that out!), but … Houses!

]]> By: Aidan http://www.ephblog.com/2009/11/06/supportive-and-cohesive-houses/#comment-74293 Aidan Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:00:14 +0000 http://www.ephblog.com/?p=23968#comment-74293 I know when I was a student making sure you weren't picking in by loud, inconsiderate, &c individuals (and that's said with the awareness that other people probably didn't want to live near you, either) was very important. I know when I was a student making sure you weren’t picking in by loud, inconsiderate, &c individuals (and that’s said with the awareness that other people probably didn’t want to live near you, either) was very important.

]]> By: David http://www.ephblog.com/2009/11/06/supportive-and-cohesive-houses/#comment-74288 David Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:46:56 +0000 http://www.ephblog.com/?p=23968#comment-74288 Josh: Thanks. That is very interesting. I am having trouble finding any information about the 1998 accreditation process. Pointers/comments from anyone else would be appreciated. I have e-mail Bill Darrow. Josh: Thanks. That is very interesting. I am having trouble finding any information about the 1998 accreditation process. Pointers/comments from anyone else would be appreciated. I have e-mail Bill Darrow.

]]> By: Josh Ain http://www.ephblog.com/2009/11/06/supportive-and-cohesive-houses/#comment-74281 Josh Ain Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:25:04 +0000 http://www.ephblog.com/?p=23968#comment-74281 I believe that the focus on housing was initiated by the college re-accreditation process, which looks like it concluded in 98. One of the largest criticisms that the external accreditation board gave Williams, was that the housing far too segregated by gender, race, and team -- too many theme houses. I don't have a reference for this information, but I believe the information on the accreditation board feedback came from conversations with Tom McEvoy, and the conclusions are my own. I believe that the focus on housing was initiated by the college re-accreditation process, which looks like it concluded in 98. One of the largest criticisms that the external accreditation board gave Williams, was that the housing far too segregated by gender, race, and team — too many theme houses.

I don’t have a reference for this information, but I believe the information on the accreditation board feedback came from conversations with Tom McEvoy, and the conclusions are my own.

]]> By: frank uible http://www.ephblog.com/2009/11/06/supportive-and-cohesive-houses/#comment-74263 frank uible Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:09:42 +0000 http://www.ephblog.com/?p=23968#comment-74263 I won't say it in an attempt to obviate setting off Jeff on one of his harangues favoring curtailment of student social freedoms. I won’t say it in an attempt to obviate setting off Jeff on one of his harangues favoring curtailment of student social freedoms.

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