"I think it is important that masters not be referred to as 'House masters,'" complains Vogt. "That tends to confuse us with dorm parents."

Semantical quibbles notwithstanding, Vogt feels the position of Master remains desirable, and indeed may be improving. "The Houses are where the action is" sums up Vogt's vote of confidence in his present job.

"I hope the master's role can continue to evolve, change and grow, and as the logistics of running a House settle down, the master can assume a more active and formative role," he explains. "It won't just be the nuts and bolts."

Among the rituals which the Vogts observed around the world last year were the ceremonial "beating of the retreat" at Edinburgh, Scotland, and various Kenyan tribal rites. Among those which they hope to view in greater volume in their own House are the unmistakably collegiate rituals of ballroom dancing classes and intramural athletics.

"But the heart of our operation is to bring students into stimulating contact with members of the faculty, to set up all different kinds of programs, aimed at helping students in all different setting," Vogt says. "We're interested in helping people get into law school, medical school, etc."

While Vogt may be committed to Kirkland House, at least a small portion of his heart remains with the Mayan tribes which he has studied for nearly two decades. Vogt expects that his work in the Zinacantan region of Mexico will continue until at least 1985.

And then there's always that tennis paperback to fall back on if things get dull...

Leverett House

Kenneth and Carolyn Andrews

"We genuinely like young people and enjoy watching them grow and develop," Carolyn E. Andrews, associate master of Leverett House, said last week to explain why she and her husband had kept their mastership for the past six years while other masters have been abdicating in increasing number.

"In a sense, we have 400 children," her husband, Kenneth R. Andrews, Davis Professor of Business Administration, said last week. "We are purposefully and deliberately trying to work at getting to know each of them all the time." To meet their students, the Andrews host a weekly Friday afternoon open house and try to eat at least one meal a day in the dining hall.

"Anyone who wants to know us can know us, but we don't force ourselves on anyone," Kenneth Andrews said, adding that the actual number of students they know well varies greatly from year to year.

"It depends on how many students want to get to know us," Carolyn Andrews said. "We know just about everyone in last year's senior class, but in other years, we might not know so many."

Andrews, who is a member of the board of directors of many corporations, including Xerox and Reed and Barton, said he doesn't believe there is any incongruity between his involvement in business and his role as House master.

The two roles are more alike than they are dissimilar, he said.