Interhouse Committee
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December 08, 2003

No Present: Lloyd
Guest: Mannion

Mannion: Swing Houses, etc.
Avery for 10 meals: getting militant
They say that they don't want to do much because they are in other Houses
Want to be part of the IHC-but not likely!;)
Lots of alcohol in Student Center basement-so when there is a party, make sure you check there
Ad Hoc Committee
Three orders of business
How to convince that we and Institute will take good care of the Houses?
Show alum, etc. that everyone will work together to take care of Houses
Spent last meeting and a half discussing the Faculty in Residence matter
Didn't get anywhere-so moving on for now
Mannion-probably will put in the SAC by the courtyard
Mannion-coffeehouse will be moved for that space can go to moving the kitchens into the South Houses again

Swing Houses
Someone thought that frosh in South Houses and the Upperclassmen in North ' NO!
Where should we have swing houses?
Evidently Grad student numbers are on the rise so maybe we can use something that will later go to them?
Maybe use Catalina as a swing house-only need 1/3 of it-have 4 people in 2-room houses
Grad students won't be happy
Sounds like they might renovate the South Houses and leave North Houses as is
Problem with this: esp. rotations (slum vs palace)
Statement from us expressing what would be a good solution?
Mannion: can show us the solution with regards to Catalina that come up with
Need something for the Committee
Don't want to do something with frosh only housing…explain why this is a BAD idea
Need to express that North Houses need to be build just as quickly
Solicit opinions directly-give Jeremy some of the plans for the Swing Houses
Pasadena won't let a few big houses be occupied by lots of students-single family houses
Two weeks of work done in the weeks we are off-so get something to us after break
Maybe our ad hoc committee could meet more than once this week
RA committee search starts next term
How about alum of past? Would those work
Those that work in area and be passionate-but those people may have a hard; or might not be able to think about this as a real job
Maybe put them in the pool and see what happens, we can ask the questions
Muddio: when to do this? Once they break ground and before they bring in the machines
Have a big mud fight-take out all the ROCKS!
Jeff will be Tom's coordinator; Houses figure out how to compete…
Grease pig competition???
Ad Hoc Committee: How to convince donors that we have a plan to make sure houses not hurt after renovated…
Need to have a damage fund-a family of people that will take care of a damage that comes up or should the bill go to the person's parents?
Up to House's discretion to see how to use damage fund-can always use UID to charge
Good to use in times when you really don't know what happened
Commitment from administration that gets them to say that they will take care of Houses
Administration will actually be able to do something
Don't want a policy-just want recommendations
Each house has a fund to cover the damages in instances were no name can be provided-all this is covered in the good faith of the Honor Code
Damage fund: bill will always paid-things will be fixed
Administration should deal with instances of maintenance, damage fund deal with surprising damage
Need to be assured that majority of students respect the houses
Whether you can paint rooms and hallways? Add furniture-lofts?
Right now housing will pay for the first painting and then housing will charge for the second time
Student modification of rooms-stay in a while and then taken out leave "mark"-holes, hooks, etc-do something about "aged improvements"
Charging students $10 a term for improvements/damages not a bad idea
Institute a policy that people undo the changes they make when they leave or be charged?
Washing the walls is needed!
But would that wash off the paint?
Administration spend more to maintain houses
Carpet-some houses full and some houses some parts done, some not
Hallway carpet needs to be redone and that is frequently
Tile floors? Horrible-really unwelcoming
Better lighting would be VERY helpful
Housing has the right idea with the fact that if we clean up in two weeks we get the $200
We need something more to say than "throw money at the problem"
Students need to be more responsible and clean up after their mess
Houses or individual houses being fined?
A group of students causing all the damage and then whole house charged, that not fair?
We need to set up a mechanism-but even if people are charged and not the whole house, it can cause uneasiness in leaders or people playing power game
If things are cleaned, then people will keep things clean-this would work…need to ensure the trustees, etc of that
Administration hold students personally responsible?
Or have the House decide…hold the House responsible…
Hold Houses and students intentionally responsible
Being a Caltech UG-there is a mystic about doing things that no one else can
We value this, and administration needs to understand this
We will be responsible for our actions, but not change our traditions


Maintained by Elise Kleeman
Last modified 03-05-03