Although Harvard Buildings and Grounds takes care of the maintenance of the co-op buildings and cleans the common rooms and bathrooms, co-op students are responsible for their own board.
Limiting co-op residence to only those students who join voluntarily rather than admitting overflow from Quad Houses has restored a strong sense of community to the co-op, residents agree.
"Last year people were much more on their own. Someone would cook dinner and a lot of people wouldn't show up," says Browning. "Now we have people who are really attracted to communal living. For example, at the beginning meeting of this year we needed someone to clean out the pantry and five people volunteered."
"I loved living in Lowell House," Rapoport says. "But this is what I want for my life now."
In return for spending about eight hours a week on housework residents are guaranteed everything from home-cooked meals to single rooms to a continuous supply of beer provided by the designated 'Beer Czar.'
'I was afraid I was going to graduate knowing 500 people casually but not knowing anybody well. Here you have the chance to develop much stronger friendships that you don't at the Houses.' --Sarah Browning '85