Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 indicated yesterday that he will randomize the housing lottery for the class of 1999.

Although Jewett would not say what his decision will be, he strongly hinted that he was tending toward making the change.

"Historically, I've leaned more toward randomization policies than to choice policies," Jewett said.

His statement came at the end of yesterday's joint committee meeting of the Committee on House Life and the Committee on College Life.

Jewett said he will make a final decision within a few weeks.

The majority of house masters have indicated to Jewett that they support complete randomization. Some students at yesterday's meeting, however, said they prefer the current system.

Jewett said that he would have to think carefully about points raised during the meeting's hour-long discussion on the pros and cons of different housing systems before making his decision.

"I thought people were very thoughtful about what they said," Jewett said. "It would be an easy decision if everything pointed in one direction. I'll do what I think is best."

He will make the decision soon, he said, because he wants to let the incoming class of first-year students know what their housing lottery fate will be.

Jewett added that whatever decision he makes could be quickly overturned when the incoming Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 takes over July 1.

"None of these things are irrevocable," Jewett said.

Lewis reiterated last night in an interview his stance in favor of randomization. Lewis also co-authored the Report on the Structure of Harvard College, which urges complete randomization.

Different Definitions

The discussion at yesterday's meeting focused on four different options: preserving the status quo of non-ordered choice with four houses; raising the number of houses first-years can request from four to six; completely randomizing first-years into houses at the end of their first year; or placing first-years into houses before they come to Harvard (as Yale University has done for years).

There was no clear majority in favor of any one option.