"It redefined slowly the notion of a House as an administrative unit rather than an educational one," Heimert says. With educational duties lessened, Masters began to step into the role of a caretaker of the House. If there's a pipe burst in C entry, the master is the first one they call," says Dowling.

"The de facto job description is different from what I had anticipated says Heimert. The bulk of a master's energy is consumed in physical facilities rather than what I had expected as an under graduate and as a tutor that of trying to order an institution which has as its goal education in the broadest sense."

But even maintenance has been taken out of the master's control by the Department of Buildings and Grounds. Dowling recalls the difficulties of getting permission for $6000 of minor renovations at Leverett.

The problem of red tape could be solved in the short run by assigning custodial workers to the Hoses, and in the long term by making each House responsible for its own upkeep, Dowling adds.

Most masters agree that the major discrepancy between the House system and the Cambridge-Oxford model is the financial independence of the colleges. Each college has its own endowment at Oxford and Cambridge, and consequently the Masters and the Senior Common Room have a great stake in the House.

While no one is suggesting that the House become so loosely tied to the University, most masters agree that they could use their loyal group of House alumni. "Why not take advantage of the alumni [for financing the upkeep of the Houses]?" Gomes asks, adding, "Part of the reason for the recent renovations is past neglect."