They used to say that Dunster House was where "geek meets chic." Nowadays, the extremes have been toned down: there are still geeks, but they're somehow less geeky. And Dunster's once-infamous crowd of the Euro-chic has magically been transformed into a forceful contingent of the radical chic. Yes, Dunsterites tend to be very liberal and frequently artistically-inclined, but thankfully, they lack the smoky snobbiness that characterizes their Adams House cousins.

Beautiful architecture, a lively cultural scene and an ever-growing set of offbeat house traditions (an annual Carribean-style goat roast and frequent bathrobe brunches among them) lend Dunster a unique character. And, boasting a strong bunch of hardcore recyclers, Dunster is rapidly becoming enviro-house as well.

Distance, someone important once said, is a relative thing. True, Dunster is as far as the Quad is from the Science Center, but a pleasant stroll down residential Athens Street makes the daily walk to the Yard bearable. And given the allure of Dunster dining hall's popular fresh-baked muffins, you may not even mind getting up a few minutes earlier for breakfast.

Eliot

Harvard is Eliot. Eliot is Harvard. And you're not invited.

Unless, that is, you happen to be an alumnus of Philips Exeter, pay tuition with your trust fund, and have a last name like Wigglesworth or Sackler. That's the way it is and that's the way it always has been.

"Eliot is everything Harvard represents carried to its logical extreme," wrote Michael E. Kinsley '72 in a Crimson editorial on February 1, 1970. "Eliot House--where the preppies are preppier, the jocks jockier, John Finlier and Alan Heimier than any other place at Harvard."

Since Kinsley's brief flirtation with its halls, Eliot has remained the last bastion of the blue-blooded Harvard of the past. Heimert and the preppy jocks have reigned supreme.

That is, up until now. In February, Heimert, who has been master for longer than most first-years have been alive, announced he is stepping down at the end of the semester.

The new non-ordered choice system, which Heimert strongly opposed, has already had some effect by permitting plebian non-legacies to enter the house. They do have to wash the dishes, though.

Eliot House is still more Harvard than Harvard. But it may not be that way for long.

Kirkland

By now, all first-years should be familiar with Kirkland's stereotype as the College's "Jock House," a label that may have attracted some and discouraged others.

But whatever stereotypes Kirkland House has been tagged with--and whether you are a football player, a mathematics whiz, or both, for that matter--K-House is for all people.

With sweats as the standard attire in the bright and cozy dining hall, Kirkland House is the perfect place to return to after a long day of classes.