"Many students choose to come to Brown because it's a different kind of campus--because of our low-key approach. That's not to say that we don't envy the Harvard system," he adds.

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While Harvard may be the model for other newly-evolving residential systems, it has not become stagnant. Administrators point to the $50 million House renovation plan that began in 1981 as the University's largest ever financial commitment to the improvement of residential life. Besides renovations for general up-keep, the University has made special additions to some of the houses--such as a weight room in Mather House, and a Q-RAC nautilus.

"We're conscious of trying to equalize the amenities in various houses, so that each one has a sense of something special," says Assistant Dean of the College Martha C. Gelter. Gelter also points to space in the Houses for common rooms, libraries, or special activities--such as dark rooms or pottery studios--as involving substantial financial commitments. Moreover, House masters receive a discretionary fund in the range of $12,000 annually to support activities such as open houses and special dinners.

Besides pure monetary support, the University also devotes a great deal of time analyzing how the system may be improved. For example, two years ago, the College established the student-faculty Committee on Housing which discusses residential life issues.

In an effort to bolster the intellectual life in the houses, the Committee most recently has discussed the possibility of teaching sections in the Houses and promoting a series of special dinners featuring speeches by outside guests.

"The initiative to create something like our system is underway in other universities, but Harvard also wants to shore up its Houses--they're vital to the life of the College," Dingman says.

Princeton's five residential colleges, now in their first year of full operation, are credited with fostering a more egalitarian atmosphere there.

Dartmouth has moved to create 'clusters' with advisors, libraries and common spaces, and has also cracked down on its 27 frats and sororities.