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Kirk’s Quirks
Kirkland House, commonly known as simply “Kirk,” is where tradition, chaos, and an oddly strong sense of community come together. Ever participated in Secret Santa? Consider Kirkland’s Secret Santa Week — the Super Bowl version. If you thought it was about exchanging small gifts, think again: Kirk residents can choose to participate in the exchange at several levels of commitment. Some of the higher levels include lavish gifts such as full-scale performances, elaborate pranks, and in one case, an actual internship?!
“I truly appreciate the sense of fun and silliness that the House just so deeply embraces and embeds within our House culture,” House Committee (HoCo) chair Joy R. Ho ’26 says. With so many different traditions, it’s evident that Kirkland’s biggest strength is its sense of community.
Are weekly events more your vibe? You can enjoy the House’s Boat Club, formerly started by members of the rowing team (but now run by Resident Tutors Clara Baselga-Garriga ’19 and Austin Gregg), a friendly space that offers freshly-baked cookies every Monday night, testing out brand new flavors each week. Or perhaps you’ll sit in on Beer Seminar, where of age Kirklanders brew alcohol for House events. Fighting the Sunday scaries? You can also drop by Sunday Tea Seminars to partake in some sweets freshly made by students. No more having to make the trek to Insomnia to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings — Kirkland has you covered in-House, and for free!
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Love Mondays (said no one ever)? Enjoy staying up until midnight? Every Sunday at midnight, embrace the upcoming week by chanting in Kirkland dhall. But the chanting isn’t for just the vibes. As students chant, the theme of the week is chosen out of the special animal cracker jar. Remember high school spirit week? Well, for Kirk, spirit week never ends. Each week represents a new theme that Kirklanders abide by. Past themes have included milk week (just chug!), pool week (bring your floaties), and trip week (not the noun, the verb…). As a non-Kirklander, I can appreciate the various traditions my Kirkland friends have dragged invited me to (even without having been inducted into the Kirk-ult). So, as a first-year destined for Kirk (or an upperclassman planning to drop by), I know you will, too.
There are also plenty of opportunities to meet fellow Kirklanders. One way to revel in the Kirk craziness solidarity is to play intramural sports. Kirkland IMs have been strong for quite a streak now. As the current Straus Cup champions, they are hoping to secure yet another trophy to show off in their Junior Common Room.
“When you sit in the dining hall, the way it’s set up, you can just talk to anyone. Not exactly like Annenberg, but you’re as close as you’re gonna get,” HoCo co-chair Jacqui R. Schlesinger ’26 added. So whether you’re here for the cookies, the chaos, or just the community — once you get Kirked, there’s no turning back.
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Kirk’s Cozy Housing
As a sophomore in Kirkland, you also don’t have to worry about overflow housing. This means that you’ll actually get to live in your House (goodbye, Class of 2025!). Sophomores are usually housed in doubles or triples, and whether you’re in a hallway double or a suite of two singles and a common room, one thing is guaranteed: ensuite bathrooms! Now, instead of being forced to leave your dorm to use the restroom, you’ll be able to brave the true test of your blocking group…following a cleaning schedule.
While shared bedrooms are typical for Kirk sophomores, by your junior and senior years, you can look forward to having your own single. Furthermore, Kirk’s bed frames are on the newer side, so the beds are sure to be comfortable (use this information as you will). However, as someone who hates stairs, I must note that Kirkland lacks elevators around the House. While this will definitely make for a hassle on move-in day, who doesn’t appreciate a little extra cardio to keep them feeling young? If you run into the unique problem of making too many friends with the random Kirklanders who help you move in your couch, mini fridge, or 50-inch TV, you could choose to live with them in Kirkland’s ten-man suite known as “The Beef” or even the nine-man suite known as “The Eef” (each named to reflect the entryway they’re in) and help keep Kirk’s social scene going strong.
Kirk’s Cool Places
Additionally, you’ll have access to special places within Kirkland such as the historic Hick’s House, the House’s library. As the second oldest house in Cambridge, Kirkland residents know that this building must have seen some things, which makes it an appropriate choice for their haunted house during Halloween. There’s nothing scarier than walking into Hick’s House on Sunday as you realize how much work you have left to do…but maybe that’s just me.
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If you need an alternate refuge to finally tackle those psets, then the Kirkland Junior Common Room (JCR) has you covered. With its cozy, wood-paneled, dark-academia aesthetic, the JCR is able to make even the most soul-crushing pset feel slightly more bearable. With grand windows, comfy seating, and an atmosphere that screams, “I am definitely a productive Harvard student!!!” (even if you’re just doom scrolling), the JCR is a go-to spot. And if you run into someone willing to procrastinate with you, just take a quick walk downstairs to the famous Kirkland basement.
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The basement offers a variety of places to procrastinate socialize. From the comfortable couch set in front of a smart TV (the best place to play Mario Kart, as far as I’m concerned), to the pool table, and even a foosball table, there are plenty of ways to not do that reading that you swore you’d do. But if you want another space to study, the basement has a few study areas such as a quiet study room and a computer lab for any student to use.
Another perk of Kirk is the connectivity between various parts of the building through the basement, which means you’ll never have to step outside! While this might not seem that important at first glance, let’s be frank, it is definitely nice during the harsher winter months. These paths throughout the House will ensure that you are always bound to meet new Kirklanders, even at times when you might not expect it. Whether you are doing your laundry, working out in the gym (which has brand new equipment, by the way!), or socializing studying in the various common spaces, you are bound to run into someone you may recognize.
Chatting Up Kirk
Still haven’t had enough about Kirkland’s culture? Keep reading!
What side of TikTok would Kirkland be on?
JRH: “Okay, if we were to be on a side of Tiktok, Kirkland would be the side where, like, someone’s giving a story, but there’s like a Subway Surfers at the top of the video. That’s what side of Tiktok we would be on… there’s a lot going on but you’re really happy to be there.”
JRS: “And everyone loves that side of Tiktok.”
If Kirkland were a HUDS meal, which would it be?
JRH : “We are the nachos because, like nachos, you can choose and customize the toppings that you want. So you can choose how engaged you want to be in Kirkland, but either way, it is a melting pot of different flavors. We are a melting pot of different personalities. But at the end of the day, nachos just taste great. And so is Kirkland.”
JRS: “I love it.”
Kirkland is where a simple midnight tradition spirals into a full-House obsession, where your tutors’ pets might just have more social clout than you, and where a ten-man suite named “The Beef” is a normal thing. It’s a House that thrives on inside jokes and somehow convinces you that waking up early or staying up late for IMs is worth it. If you end up here, just roll with it — the odds are that you’ll never want to leave!
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