It seems that our administrators could have done a better job coordinating the distribution of transfer students. Equalization of overall house populations would have been a worthy goal.

But, when approached with the problems facing individual houses, Millett's surprising response was "I am not privy to the manner in which housing is distributed." She claims that internal problems must be dealt with among the houses themselves. With such an administrative vacuum, it's no wonder some houses find themselves victims of the "Big Plan."

But Millett cannot be blamed for all the program's problems. She is only a go-between for University Hall administrators and house staffs. She tried to keep the houses informed as much as possible over the summer despite the lack of hard numbers at her disposal. It is not Millett's fault that higher-ups failed to foresee potential short-comings of their proposal.

Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 said last year that, with the arrival of the DeWolfe St. complex, we have "the most flexible housing to serve changing needs." Funny. Flexible usually means more options.

Instead of leasing affiliated housing near the Quad from Harvard Real Estate (HRE), the College now leases the DeWolfe buildings from HRE to house overflow students. A switching of sites has occurred. That's all. No additional flexibility has been added.

A more open system would allow houses to balance numbers of students--placing those from overcrowded houses into others that have yet to reach capacity. If that plan were too complex, couldn't the university simply build another dorm? They could name it Bok House.

But this simply is not going to happen. Harvard, like all recession-hit schools, is struggling to balance its budget. It's kind of ironic, however, the way a corporation with billions of dollars in holdings reports a deficit and a need to "retire" faculty and cut corners.

SINCE THE NEW BUILDING approach won't get very far, the crowded should band together to make themselves heard. Otherwise, disgruntled students cannot expect college administrators to take their concerns to heart. The Undergraduate Council could greatly boost its abysmal popularity rating (and perhaps even perform a useful function) by addressing the current housing crunch.

Officers in the houses know there's a problem. And even Harvard's chief executive acknowledges that the housing short-age must be addressed.

In a recent speech, President Neil L. Rudenstine asserted that the overcrowding problem was an issue requiring greater thought and attention. He also suggested that alternatives to the current system be found.

Dingman, on the other hand, seems to disagree. Instead of recognizing this fall's "unanticipated pattern" as a matter to be remedied, he places blame on the individual houses.

"We offered houses over their cap the alternative of swing space in Apley Court and Peabody Terrace," Dingman intoned. "We gave them a choice and not all accepted."

The housing crunch has to be dealt with. Once crowded students and unaccountable administrators acknowledge that something must be done, we will all be able to kick back, stretch our legs out, and breathe a little easier. Literally.

Dingman fails to get the point. No one really cares who actually screwed up. All a student wants is a room of one's own.

Harvard students are being squashed together like sardines, and no one knows how it happened.