Many first-years say they will not mind the distance to the Yard.

"I'm looking at it as a perfect excuse to bring my bike. I didn't this year because of the proximity," said Christal, who is also on the crew team.

So is being quadded really death incarnate? First-years appear to have rather varying opinions of the Quad but truth be told, few upperclass students dislike Quad life once they're there.

"The neighborhood around the Quad is really nice," says Wilbert D. Young '98, a resident of Cabot. "There's a huge area in the middle of the Quad that we can play Frisbee or sunbathe on."

Students living in the Quad rave about the rooms.

"The rooms are huge," says Chile E. Hidalgo '99, who also lives in Cabot. "We have our own singles, our own kitchen, a balcony, a bathroom. It's pretty sweet."

For many students who live there, the Quad is like it's own community.

"I feel like I know most of the people in my house. If I don't know someone, I'll meet them," Hidalgo says.

Andrea M. Lewis '97 shares Hidalgo's opinion. "The Quad is like one big house, instead of three separate ones," she says. "It's like you are attending a smaller university within the University."

Many enjoy the Quad for its quietness and exclusion from the rest of the campus.

"It's a little less hectic than Harvard Square. It's an easier place to live," says Nathan A. Herman '98, who lives in Currier.

Lillian D. Ku '97 says she agrees.

"I like being able to have some place to go to at the end of the day and not be in the same place as work. It's nice being able to differentiate work from play," she says.

Happy shining quadlings weren't always thrilled with their housing assignments. Many say they had the same concerns as current quadded first-years.

"In the beginning, the distance always seems like a problem," Young says.