One difference Phillips notes is the quality of mealtime conversations.

She described dinner in the Houses or Union as a "show," in which students watch "who comes in with who."

Dudley residents say they appreciate the privacy and freedom from judgment non-House life offers.

Dudley resident Daniel E. Smith '95-'96 characterized the residents of Dudley as "a raving bunch of liberals."

Raab noted that "sexuality is not an issue." She said that there is a significantly higher proportion of gay, lesbian and bisexual students in Dudley than in the House system.

First-year students can move into Dudley after their Fall semester, but most of the Co-op residents are juniors and seniors. More than half of the residents will be graduating this semester.

One advantage of life in the Co-op is the lower cost. Each resident of Dudley has a single--but rooming is about half the cost of living in the Houses, and board is about one-third of what the Harvard meal plan costs, according to Smith.

The Jordan Co-op

The other on-campus housing alternative is the Jordan Co-op in Jordan W. This building is located across the street from Cabot House, which provides its official House affiliation.

Residents say the atmosphere of Jordan is quite different from that of Dudley.

Currently housing only 12 students and one tutor, this Co-op is significantly smaller than Dudley.

Because it is so small, "you become really close with [this] group of people," Han says.

Jordan resident Monica A. Coleman '95 says that as a rising sophomore she was attracted by both the Co-op's familial atmosphere and by a "guaranteed single."

"I was floating. I didn't want a random roommate," she says. By choosing Jordan, she did not have to enter the House lottery system at all.

Coleman says she was also attracted by Jordan's proximity to the Quad Houses.