In addition, four or five Thursdays each semester the House committee sponsors "Stein Clubs," informal gatherings with a keg for those of age and soda for younger house residents, Grayson says.

Kirkland residents seem willing to forgive any lack of facilities the house may have, because they enjoy the house's atmosphere.

"We don't have great facilities no dance studio, no pottery studio--but what we do have is a happy and interactive group of students and fellows." House Master Donald H. Pfister says.

Residents also say that Kirkland's location, near the yard and the athletes fields, is a plus. The location brings in a lot of inter house diners, which may explain long lines at dinner and large numbers of athletes who eat there.

Most residents seem willing to brave the dinner lines because the dining hall is such a central part of house life.

Many praise the friendliness of the dining hall staff, who make an effort to get to know the students.

"Roberta, the dining hall checker, is our friend," Grayson says. "She has season tickets for hockey, right behind the bench, so she can always talk to her boys."

The social atmosphere of the dining hall, residents say, embodies the qualities that make Kirkland a pleasant place to live.

The special part is the friendliness and openness that seems to define Kirkland," Pfister says. "People are outgoing.