Quotas for Houses taking in extra men were slashed late last week from 20 to as low as 12 for one House, it was learned last night.

A poll of the seven House secretaries revealed that the "squeeze-play" to meet the College room shortage had been almost completed but at a new compulsory number of 16 for all but Adams, which was required to absorb only 12 extra students.

Associate Dean Robert B. Watson '37 last night explained the cut in House quotas as being the result of an unexpectedly large number of vacancies left by men not returning to College this fall. He said that all students would be out of the Indoor Athletic Building by the end of the week.

Two Still Take 20

Despite the quota drop, two of the Houses went ahead with the original plan of finding space for 20 extra men while two were taking one or two over the new requirement.

Eliot's 20 supernumaries were in last Friday and Lowell has already made arrangements for 20, although only 16 have moved into their new quarters. Kirkland needs one student to meet its self-imposed maximum of 18 and Leverett has accommodated 17.

Both Dunster and Winthrop are meeting the new quota exactly, although the latter is still three men shy, while Adams lacks two of getting in its 12 extra residents.

House Masters Decide

Watson said that the House Masters had been left to their own discretion in meeting or exceeding the quota. Some in the roomier Houses where commitments had already been made, were not making any changes in order to be fair to all of the men involved.

He added that structural difficulties in most of the Houses had-made it difficult to find the necessary extra space immediately.