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Volume CXXXIII, Number 2 |
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Howell House discovers untapped social resource
PRIYA SRIDHAR
STAFF WRITER
The Inter-House Council (IHC) decided Wednesday that Howell House can now register kegs in an attempt to make their parties more popular.
The IHC can register six of the ten kegs allowed on campus every weekend night for house parties. Howell, the substance-free college house on campus, has felt some competition when they have held parties in past years. Since most houses reserve two or three kegs when they hold a party, there are generally two or three house parties every weekend night.
However, when Howell has parties and doesn't reserve kegs, generally two other houses will reserve three kegs each and have parties the same night as Howell's. As a result, Howell party attendance is lower because they are competing with two other house parties, instead of just one. The new policy will allow Howell to register kegs in an attempt to have fewer house parties on the nights that Howell has a party.
On Wednesday, Howell reserved four of the six kegs available for house parties. Since they will not actually purchase the kegs, these four will still be available for private parties on campus. The new policy will only lower the number of kegs in college houses on those weekend nights that Howell has parties.
Some social house members, such as Quimby Program Chair Eric Davich '06, think the new policy is completely pointless. "The function of a chem-free house is so people who don't drink can have a place to party that is an ideal environment for their lifestyle," Davich said. "I don't think that the policy will draw more people to Howell parties, but it will, however, anger people who want to have a single-keg party."
Davich also feels that most people who drink make it a priority when making their plans on weekend nights so it won't matter if Howell has "three hypothetical kegs of excitement".
Howell wants to diversify its house activities and hopes that they will be able to have more parties than in the past when Howell was known for having more dinners and lectures. They feel that as members of the IHC, they should be given a fair chance at having parties. The system of reserving kegs basically gave houses that used kegs an unfair advantage.
"The IHC as a whole was very receptive to Howell's idea, and we are looking forward to Friday night to see how it will work out," said Mark Lucci '04, president of the IHC.
Howell thinks that by doing this they will change the weekend scene in a number of ways. "Social house parties could potentially get a little more vibrant in association with this, because healthy competition helps everyone," said Jay Mahon '06, president of Howell.
Members of the other socials houses that attended the meeting a couple
nights ago don't seem to have a huge problem with the new policy. Dave
Noland '05, president of Baxter, said, "In general, I think the new
keg policy will not have a negative impact on the other social houses.
It seems that Howell will be respectful of the other houses' wishes, and
will not take kegs away if other houses wanted them. Hopefully, this system
will create new opportunities."
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