Clustering Effect

While Pennypacker in the only dorm which hastaken on a character similar to that of one of thenonrandomized Houses, the other Union dorms aremarked by a clustering effect.

Although Hurlbut and Greenough seem to reflecta "cross-section" of the first-year class,rooms-or even hallways-contain many students withsimilar academic or athletic interests, or racialor geographical backgrounds.

"There's diversity within the dorm itself, butin those two floors, the rooming groups aredefinitely done by some adjoiningcharacteristics," says Melissa B. Coffee '01, aprefect for the first and second floors ofGreenough.

Greenough resident Eunice J. Kindred '02, whois half black and half Filipino, says she neverexpected to be living with two other black women.But she says she is happy with the arrangement.

"I was surprised because I didn't think I Wouldbe rooming with people of the same race," shesays. "But I would definitely go for it again."

Kindred says she believes she and her roommateswere paired more for their shared interests inmusic and sports although she speculates that racehad some effect on the decision.

"They also had our pictures on the [housing]application...so I guess that might have been afactor," she says.

Nathans strongly denies that students areplaced together on the basis of race, saying suchgroupings are "absolutely incompatible" with theFDO's approach to residential living.

Students have also found themselves in suitesor hallways where particular academic interestsare over-represented.

Joseph M. Adelman '02, who is considering aconcentration in history or classics, is the lonehumanities concentrator in a crowd of science andmath lovers on the first floor of Hurlbut.

The eight other men living in singles off ofhis common room and the six women living acrossthe hall are all planning to concentrate inscience or math.

But Adelman says the living arrangement giveshim the opportunity to make friends with people hemight not otherwise have met.

"Socially, the situation works pretty well," hesays. " In a sense it's given me a larger group offriends."

Swimmer Donald E. Blanchard '02 lives inHurlbut with four other varsity athletes.