More first-years say they want to live in Kirkland than in any other house, according to a poll conducted by the Crimson.

In the survey of 384 first-years in the Union on Thursday, 92 said Kirkland House was their first choice, as opposed to distant runners up Lowell and Eliot, which received 57 and 46 votes.

The least popular houses were Currier, Cabot and Leverett, accumulating just three, seven and eight first-place votes, respectively. Only a handful of students said they want to be affiliated with Dudley House, an option for students who wish to live off campus.

The students also denoted their four probable housing choices, revealing similar results. Lowell House received more overall votes than Kirkland, but the three most and least popular houses were otherwise the same as with the first-choice tally.

All first-years yesterday picked up their housing materials which outline the new procedures of the housing lottery. From Monday through Thursday, the students can enter their selections on the computers in the Science Center. This is the first year that a computer system will be used.

Julia A. Hunter '96 and Aaron S. Kesselheim '96 both said Kirkland is their top choice.

Hunter said she will select Kirkland because "my sister lived there" and she is familiar with the house. Kesselheim "likes the attitude and the rooms in Kirkland" as well as the house's proximity to the Malkin Athletic Center.

Christopher M. Frank '96 said his blocking group will probably select Eliot, Lowell, and Kirkland because of the "image of the houses." Frank, House Choice The five most popular houses among first-years: House  First Choice  Overall Kirkland  92  255 Eliot  46  229 Dunster  39  145

Poll of 364 participants conducted March 11; 1993. who rows crew, also said he will choose those houses because he wants to live near the river. He said his roommates will choose Quincy as the fourth house to avoid ending up in the Quad.

Samuel I. Martland '96 said his group is looking at Dunster, Leverett, Lowell and Quincy because of the "people we know, fireplaces, bathrooms and location near the river."

Thomas A. Dingman '67, associate dean of the College for the house system and human resources, warned first years not to "rethink their original house choices based on the perceived popularity" as shown in the Crimson poll.

Kirkland House Master Donald H. Pfister, Gray Professor of Systematic Botany, said the results--which indicate that 66 per cent of first-years will include Kirkland as one of the four choices--"are just fine with me."

While Kirkland has been traditionally known as a "jock" house--and is still comprised of about 35 percent athletes. Pfister said there is "not any reason to feel that the stereotype is true now."

Pfister also said there are "not a lot a whole lot of facilities or tangible reasons" attracting students to Kirkland, but "the location and a healthy interactive community" compensate for other shortcomings.

Senior Tutor Garth O. McCavana estimated that there would be about 125 openings in Kirkland, which has room for about 370 students.

Ann L. Meyer '95, who is on the Kirkland house committee, said she is happy that "people's preferences aren't dying," with the randomized system.

Lowell House received 14 more overall votes than Kirkland, which comes as no surprise to House Master William H. Bossert. Bossert, who is Arnold Professor of Science, said that Lowell is "very easy for a roommate group to agree on. Very few people feel bad about Lowell House. We're a nice common denominator."

Bossert said Lowell and Kirkland are the houses with the most serious crowding problems, but "crowding doesn't seem to be as much of an issue" with the first-years.

Gina V. Sanchez '94, one of the co-chairs of Eliot's house committee, said Eliot does not contain the "traditional stuffy atmosphere" and that the stereotype was "something that we all poke fun at."

The Down Side

While the poll slated Kirkland, Lowell and Eliot as the most popular houses, Currier, Cabot and Leverett fared just as badly in the other direction.

Currier's House Master William A. Graham. Professor of the History of Religion and Islamic Studies and Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, said that "the distance and the inadequacy of the shuttle service" were probable reasons for Currier's lack of popularity.

Graham also blamed "an aging physical plant which we are working on" for the lackluster results. He said the other Quad houses were recently renovated.

Lisa M. Robinson '94, one of Cabot's house committee co-chairs, said, "Anyone willing to give [Cabot] a chance will have a wonderful time here."

"Cabot is a nice place to live, most people just don't think so," she said, adding that the distance is "worth it to get away from the noise of the Square."

Leverett House's Senior Tutor, Gordon C. Harvey, said the results of the poll "were a little surprising. We haven't done well on these polls in the past, [but] everyone in the house is quite happy."CrimsonCluadia LioredaStudents dine at Kirkland House, which received the most first place votes from first-years in a Crimson poll.