Students tackle high rise housing

Last Thursday, the eight people who direct the fate of over 800 undergraduates met for the first time this year.

Their decisions could involve something as simple as planning the next study-break party or Disney movie marathon, or it could mean influencing housing policy across the board.

This is the Harnwell Senate, and these are the people who brought you the points system for room selection, much-needed summer renovations and the possibility of converting Harnwell three-bedroom quads to four-bedroom ones.

The senators, representatives from each school and class year, don't write the housing policy themselves but serve as student liaisons to the Harnwell College House Office and House Dean Suhnne Ahn.

"We're Dr. Ahn's front line," said Senate chair Bo Zeng, a Wharton and Engineering senior.

Harnwell House Coordinator Danielle Fike lists "construction input and planning, facilities, safety concerns and community-building" as responsibilities of the Senate, as well as "ensuring effective communication and teamwork with the House staff."

The Rodin House Council and the Harrison House Council occupy similar programming and policy roles in their own communities.

Rodin House Dean Ken Grcich, who advises the Rodin House Council, relies on the direction provided by the student perspective.

"It's not my job to just sit back and create rules and policies and procedures for the students," he said. "I take it to the House Council."

For example, a year ago, when Grcich presented the problem of smoking inside Rodin, the House Council instituted a $100 fine for anyone caught smoking on the premises.

The number one request the Harnwell Senate receives is to fix the elevators, Zeng said, but that goal is far out of reach for the representatives.

Though million-dollar elevator renovations are out of the question, the Senate still carries weight.

"Most people can't reach Dr. Ahn, so we can connect people to her," Zeng added.

"I like being able to make a tangible change," said Harnwell representative and College junior Kristin Brinkley. "It's another way for me to stick my hand in the pot . and enhance the overall experience of the residents."

The Harnwell Senate, which began four years ago, is the only high-rise student body elected by popular vote among residents. This year, after a contest offering $100 to the floors with the most voters and the highest percentage of voters, about 200 residents cast their ballots.

Which means about 600 did not. For the potentially pivotal roles the senators play in their house community, their efforts seem to go unnoticed.

"There was a vote?" asked Harnwell resident and Wharton senior Andrew Janet.

It's a similar story in Rodin and Harrison, where residents often only know of the House Councils as sponsors of free-food events, if they know of them at all.

"I wish they had a greater presence on campus because it could add to campus life," said College sophomore and Rodin resident Corey Singer.

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