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As Adams is currently under construction, most sophomores will live in the Inn (yay A/C!). So literally, Adams students (or Adamsians) are cooler. Add some warm-toned string lights, and it’s less like a dorm and more like a spa. Closer to the Yard than Pennypacker, you won’t have to worry about having to wake up too early for your 9 a.m.! The renovations are currently set to be done during the summer of 2025, and according to Adams Housing Committee Co-Chair Tate G. Underwood ’25, the goal of the renovations is that 80 percent of rooms will be singles.

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As of right now, the most common room layout for a sophomore in the Inn is a double with an en-suite bathroom. The rooms are anywhere from 250 to 300 square feet. That’s practically a small studio, so you’re really living lavishly. The Inn used to be a hotel, and while the only courtesy you receive is your roommate trying not to wake you up with their alarms for their 9 a.m., it still makes Adams more glamorous than the other houses by a long shot.

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Adams Community

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Adams is full of fun events! Weekly Thursday Carpes are a great way to meet up with people in the house and get free food! Adams biggest annual event is Fall Drag Night, which pulls crowds from across campus to watch the performance and take part in the event. People in Adams don’t need to hunt down the parties. They are the party. Started in the 80s in response to homophobia, Drag Night has been a tradition for decades, highlighting just one of the many ways the Adams community strives to be inclusive and welcoming. They do p-sets and write papers by day and switch out the sweatpants for glitter and stilettos to go all out in drag by night.

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One of the best parts about being in Adams House is the spectacular community! Despite having students spread out amongst multiple buildings, Adams has been able to foster its community into something that is very special to them. As a resident of Adams, you’re guaranteed to never be short of people to bump into at the d-hall and have interesting conversations or attend fun, unique Adams events with!

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Adams has plenty of other perks! Before the housing process was randomized, Adams was known for being very artistic which means there are plenty of practice rooms for you to work on your individual projects. Their courtyard is enclosed by Randolph and the faculty dean residence, meaning you can have some peace and quiet without tourists watching you or cars racing by when you’re trying to do your homework on a picnic blanket or enjoy a house event. While being renovated, Adams has kept a strong sense of character, as exhibited by spaces like the Claverley Pool Room. What was previously a swimming pool is now a great social space with couches and tables that can be booked for social events!

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Adams is a super positive community that makes the most of any situation! According to Alexandria T.Q. Ho ’24, when there was a small invasion of fruit flies, instead of using it as another opportunity to complain about HUDS (we’ve all been there), Adams chose to add another silly mascot to their list (watch out acorns!). Dubbed the “Fly Club,” there were parties complete with a DJ and fly swatters, which make it clear that Adams will make lemonade out of lemons. The same spirit is brought to intramurals. As discussed by HoCo Co-Chairs Tate G. Underwood ‘25 and Lily E. Liu ’25, Adams may not be leading the intramurals, but they’re definitely leading in the “having a good time” category.

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HOCO Interview Rapid-fire

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Before the end of our interview, we made sure to ask a few more *pressing* questions, answered by the amazing Adams HoCo chairs.

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If you had to describe your house in three words, what would they be?

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TGU: Unique, creative, and community-oriented

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LEL: Like a home.

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What’s your favorite Adams memory?

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TGU: Mine is Drag Night. I love Drag Night. People do stunts up on the stage. We have people like backflipping in heels, jumping off the stage. It's crazy. We hire local drag queens as well. They’re doing it too. It’s insane. And everyone comes in drag as well. It’s like a whole bonding moment. Drag Night is definitely my favorite but it’s crazy, in the best way.

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LEL: I'm gonna say Housing Day. I feel like there’s like so many little Adams traditions that we have for Housing Day. For people who get into Adams, we have an orientation kind of meeting where we can introduce people to all the little ins and outs of being an Adamsian.

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What fruit would Adams be?

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TGU: Corn.

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LEL: Grapes. They're artistically depicted a lot. They are also kind of fancy, but you can also just have fun with grapes, like you have them with friends.

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With its fluid mascots, Adams just gets us and our identity crises. Why be just an acorn or fly when you can be both? Historic, inclusive, and creative, Adams is truly one of the most special houses on campus and a place anyone would be lucky to be a part of.

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The House

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Quincy House is one of the larger houses, with around 500 residents. You can’t miss Stone Hall (the old-looking part), New Quincy (the concrete part), and the Qube (Quincy’s library, lofted above the central courtyard). Quincy’s buildings have tall ceilings and amenities scattered throughout. Some of the coolest spaces include a pottery studio, a large house gym, and a small theater, as well as independent study spaces, so you’ll never run out of changes of scenery!

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Most Quincy residents live in the House’s two main dorms, Stone Hall and New Quincy, with a few residents living across the street in DeWolfe. Quincy features a few different room setups, and, overall, the rooms are fairly spacious. Stone Hall has mainly hallway doubles and suites, and New Quincy has duplex suites of four to five people with a common room on a separate floor from the bedrooms. Some suites include ensuite bathrooms, while others have communal bathrooms. Another perk is that Quincy has elevator access to all floors, so no matter where you end up, you will be spared from the stairs.

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One of the coolest rooms in Quincy is the balcony suite, a large common room that has an attached outside space. It is normally claimed by a group of seniors, with the eight suitemates following an unspoken rule to throw a party that all residents of the house are invited to, a must-visit for Quincy residents.

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Quincy also has some other notable amenities, such as a House Grille, where students can purchase food like chicken strips and other snacks on Thursday through Sunday nights. The most notable item that only Quincy Grille offers is their Thin Mint Shake; when we asked their HoCo chairs, “If you had to describe your house as a drink, what drink would it be?” Jack Towers ‘25 responded, “I'm tempted to say the milkshake from the grille.”

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Fellow HoCo chair Honor C. S. Pimentel ‘25 agreed.

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“I like the Thin Mint shakes,” Pimentel said. “It’s paying back our community by investing in the Girl Scouts of Cambridge.”

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Perhaps most importantly, Quincy is the only House to offer hot breakfast every morning, making it a hot spot for Quincy residents and the less fortunate to gather. And there are rarely interhouse restrictions in the d-hall, making it welcome to all.

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Pimentel said: “I think if you were concerned about not seeing any of your friends because they're in different Houses, that will not be a problem here. You will see everybody come through this House."

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Quincy Traditions

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Quincy House has some very cool traditions. To start, every event is spelled with a Q for the House name, to add a touch of ~whimsy~. Quincy has a biweekly fiesta, where people enjoy delicious food and gather for a different theme each time. Quincy also has a House-wide game of assassins every year, where they try to eliminate each other by sneakily spraying each other with water guns. Quincy also regularly hosts a “Qarnival,” with cotton candy and other carnival games and food.

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To top it all off, Quincy organizes a field day in the fall, where they celebrate their newest House members with a traditional field day with outside games. The faculty deans honor the founder of the house, Josiah Quincy, by carrying his cane, dressing up in robes, and having their son drive out in a go-kart. The ceremony ends in an exorcism, where, as Pimentel described, “all the Quincy house residents are invited to come yell things that they want banished from the House — you know, like people who don’t return their dishes properly, or the sixth floor rats or the second washing machine from the left in the basement that never works.”

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Aside from those traditions, the faculty deans also often open their home to students, allowing them to enjoy a nice outside balcony space and indulge in lots of free food. A tradition that the current Quincy Hoco is trying to start is "Quinski," a large ski and snowboarding-themed party in the Quincy d-hall as “ it kind of gives ski lodge, snow globe vibes,” according to Pimentel.

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Qulture!

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Quincy boasts a rich history and is filled with lots of artwork and memorabilia commemorating that history. The house has Scottish origins reflected in several House events. For instance, bagpipes are played at almost every major House event, and the House flag is an old Scottish family crest. In addition, there are many portraits of Scottish individuals scattered throughout the House.

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Overall, Quincy is known as the “People’s House” and incoming residents should look forward to “a big party all day long” that “does not stop 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.” once Quincy knocks on their door this Housing Day.

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Reflecting on her Housing Day experience, Pimentel said: “I got to meet a lot of people and come into an environment where everyone’s pumped. It truly did feel like I was being welcomed into a community house. It promotes belonging.”

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House Community

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From its community to its bright yellow (Mr. Lowell’s favorite color) dining hall, Lowell House is a vibrant home for its ~500 residents. “There's such a community feeling within Lowell with the tutors and the people here and the HoCo here and everyone else that it has totally eclipsed my entire Harvard experience in a way that’s really awesome,” said Housing Committee (HoCo) co-chair Sofia M. Giannuzzi ’25.

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Giannuzzi’s sentiment is reflected in the various events that are held to connect the Lowell community. Each Thursday, the Lowell Resident Deans invite students to Lowell Tea in their residence. Giannuzzi enjoys this weekly event because of the uniquely large effort that the Resident Deans make to see students weekly, “making a space where students actually want to come in, talk to tutors, talk to their Deans, talk to each other.”

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“I think the tutors are great, too,” said HoCo co-chair Linh Vu ’25. “A lot of them have been here long enough that they really know the House system well, and they know how to support students, and they go above and beyond to secure funding for events, like helping us host certain initiatives, like Lunar New Year, or assisting us in ways beyond just academic.”

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Lowell’s mascot is up for debate. Some Lowellians prefer the Blue Man (not associated with the Boston group), but at one point it was Bacchus, the Greek god. Lowellians can pick whichever one they think is more fun!

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Lowell Events

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Lowell HoCo organizes Winterball, Lowell’s Winter Formal, and Bacchanalia, what Vu considers the biggest spring formal on campus. “Every theme is supposed to be extravagant, but we also make it accessible for everyone by keeping the price low so that anyone on campus can come and enjoy this,” said Vu. In addition to coffee houses once a semester, they also plan Steins on Thursday nights, with food, drinks, and funny themes, as well as trivia nights. “The trivia gets kind of hectic. It’s like nothing scarier than playing trivia with a bunch of Harvard students and professors,” said Giannuzzi. HoCo also hosted a Super Bowl party this past semester and is currently planning a trip to Six Flags, as well as some “totally paid-for rage room outings,” according to Giannuzi. What Harvard student doesn’t occasionally need to blow off some steam?

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Lowell Speeches are another unique element of the Lowell House social calendar. Students can give five-minute speeches on any topic and are paired with a Lowell Senior Common (SCR) room member. “It’s a great way for people to know about each other. And then for students to feel more connected to their SCR mentor,” said Lin.

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“The speeches happen right towards the end of dinner. So people who are eating get to listen and hear some stories from some other Lowellians which is awesome,” said Giannuzzi.

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Housing and Dorms

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Last renovated in 2019, Lowell has an assortment of suites available, even for sophomores.

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“What’s cool about a lot of little suites is that they’re two floors. So you have a stairwell in the middle of them,” said Giannuzzi. Lowell also has a 10-man and a nine-man suite. Overflow housing is in Ridgeley, above Insomnia Cookies. “Every time you walk in, you can just smell cookies,” said Giannuzzi. Complete with kitchens and bathrooms, “Ridgeley rooms are huge,” she said. In terms of getting a single, “I think sophomores who want hallway singles can get hallway singles,” said Giannuzzi. “If you’re going for a suite, then things get a little bit trickier.” If you get housed in Lowell, you might end up in the former suite of notable alumni, such as Natalie Portman and Matt Damon.

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Lowell has a lot to offer with their famous duplexes. Their general setup is a downstairs common room with a bathroom and bedrooms upstairs. Rumor has it that the room will be extra nice if you apply for one near the Dean's residence… we’re talking expensive hand air dryers.

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House Amenities

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In addition to Lowell’s rooming situation, the House’s location is ideal. “It’s so centrally located. So well placed,” said Giannuzzi. Lowell sits right next to the Malkin Athletic Complex and is just a short walk to the Yard and the River, making it desirable. Playa Bowls and Insomnia Cookies are also right at Lowellians’ fingertips.

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The general style of the House is Victorian-esque, and you can find evidence of this in the beautiful House library or Junior Common Room (JCR) decorated with historical wallpaper. Think of the library as a small-scale Widener, right at home. You can find library cards and cataloging along the walls and a cozy fireplace that’s lit during special events.

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Lowell’s Bell Tower is another notable feature of Lowell. Every Sunday at 1 p.m., students can go up the tower to ring the Russian bells. “It’s really beautiful, you can see all of campus, a lot of Cambridge,” said Giannuzzi. Well, that is if they don’t wake you up at 7 a.m.

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There’s more underneath Lowell’s two grassy courtyards and beautiful brick buildings. “We have a movie theater, this great underground lounge bar space. We have art rooms, maker spaces, just like music rooms, any and everything you could want,” said Giannuzzi. “And it's all very clean, nice, you know, mice and cockroach free, which is a big advantage of Lowell.” Plus, let’s not forget the squash/basketball court in the Underground and a two-floor gym all within the House.

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Perhaps it is the clean squash courts that have helped Lowell Intramurals on their way to an almost eight-game winning streak in squash. “We’re seeing a new vigor in Lowell students this year,” said Giannuzzi.

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“Lately, the Lowell community has been really excited about broomball,” she added. (Broomball is an intramural sport that is similar to ice hockey without ice skates, played with brooms and balls.)

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From its fantastic underground amenities to weekly tea time, Lowellians enjoy a host of special benefits. Based on our very unofficial data and impressions, Lowell can be described in the following words: poised, yellow, historical, and British(?). Hope for Lowell on Housing Day if these vibes speak to you, or just if you enjoy loud bells or drinking tea with your pinky up.

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Housing Day is tomorrow (!!!) and if you’ve read Flyby’s Housing Market, you’d know that each House comes with unique quirks. Laundry rooms are no exception. Lucky for you, Flyby has rounded up anecdotes on each laundry room so freshmen can get a sneak peak into what they’ll be getting into. Note: this is VERY OBJECTIVE (a.k.a. we asked the first person we saw in each house.)

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S-Tier

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Kirkland

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In between the rats and the… somewhat decrepit infrastructure… Kirkland can use a win, and this is it. Connor R. Gibson ’25 is “personally a fan, I think it gets the job done. I’m not really somebody who needs a whole lot of show. I think Kirkland has a great laundry room and I’m proud of it and I love it dearly.” Sophomores, get excited. We hope you too, share Connor’s enthusiasm.

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Eliot

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“It’s never failed me. Never failed me,” declared Eliotite Karly Y. Hou, ’24. What a glowing remark.

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“Whenever I do my laundry, there’s always been laundry available,” Hou said. “And sometimes when I show up late to pick it up, another person has taken it out for me and put it in a bag.”

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Solid reviews for Eliot.

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Currier

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Currier’s washing machines and dryers received an enthusiastic review from resident Chibuikem C. Uche ’24.

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“Honestly, I really like [the laundry rooms] a lot. We have four [rooms] of washing machines, four of drying machines, and they’re never really occupied at one time because they’re kind of spaced out.” Additionally, “the repair time is typically really quickly. I think we do it the best. Overall I give it a 10/10.”

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Quaded? If you got Currier you’re in luck. No wait time? Quick repairs? The other Houses are jealous.

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A-Tier

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Quincy

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Good news for new Quincy residents – Emil R. Massad ’25 reports that “the Stone Hall laundry room is cramped but functional in a nice way.” Not an effusive review, but functionality is always a win, even if you’re a bit squished.

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Lowell

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Secret laundry room? We’ll leave it to you to find it. Diana Chen ‘25 prefers this laundry room over the main one because it is “always really crowded and the dryers and machines are in high demand. So I feel like I have to rush back to the laundry when it’s done. But for the secret laundry room I feel a little more safe with leaving it in there an extra minute or so.”

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B-Tier

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Winthrop

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Even though Winthrop has many laundry rooms to choose from (one in Fairfax, one in Standish, and one in Winthrop proper)... it appears to lack actual machines. Paul Yang ‘25 reflected that “the only downfall is that we don’t have enough laundry machines, especially on busy days, it’s always taken and packed and a lot of people don’t take out their clothes which makes it difficult for others who need to do laundry to do it.” Sophomores, you might need to use your elbows to get your laundry done, but we believe in you.

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Cabot

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Cabot doesn’t receive the best reviews, with no central laundry room (just smaller ones sprinkled throughout), reported broken machines, and people leaving clothes behind. Our best tip from Cabot resident Ahmad H. Kanafani ‘26: “It’s not great, but you can manage to find something. It depends when you do your laundry. You have to be smart about it.”

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C-Tier

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Adams

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It sounds like Adams isn’t speedy with their repairs… and Adams residents aren’t speedy either when grabbing their clothes out. On the fourth floor laundry room in the Inn, we hear that only one out of three washers work, one is currently flooded, and another hasn’t worked in months. However, the dryers are “vibing” according to Anika L. Christensen ‘26. That’s something!

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Dunster

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According to an email sent to the entire Dunster mailing list, Fahim Ahmed ‘25 says to avoid washer #5 at all costs. It “will make your life hell and it is currently filled with water [heart emoji] beware.” Beyond that, no Dunster laundry room complaints!

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D-Tier

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Mather

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Mather sophomores typically live in the low rise, and we’re sorry to report that you might need to be wary of random hands touching your laundry… sorry :( Resident Melane M. Volz ‘25 said of the Mather laundry rooms, “There’s a lot of rows. Sometimes it manages to be filled all the way and I’m very surprised by that, but yeah! And sometimes it’s just hella clothes everywhere. There’s one in the low rise that’s absolutely horrendous, like, there’s always clothes everywhere, like if you don’t grab your laundry out in time, most likely someone will come in and take it out for you.”

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F-Tier

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Pfoho

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Phofo residents… get ready to FIGHT. Nick E. Harpe ’26 remarks “sometimes I’ll check Laundryview and it’ll be open and then within three minutes, I’ll go down and someone’s already put their stuff. It’s a competitive marketplace.”

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And if that wasn’t enough, Helen E. Blake ’26 laments — “our laundry room is three washers and three dryers for a hall of like, 90 people. Maybe that’s an exaggeration. Either way, it’s not enough.”

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Leverett

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Sorry Leverett, but stinky laundry machines? It’s a no from us. This secured you a spot at the very bottom of our laundry tier. When asked about the laundry rooms in the Leverett Towers, Tara E. Guetzloe ‘26 thinks “the water and some of the laundry machines stink which is not ideal but it doesn't really impact my clothes.” Well, we’re at least glad to hear that! Tara also hasn’t lost too many socks, so that’s a plus. No sock stealers here.

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All in all, we conclude that Harvard laundry rooms could use an upgrade. ASAP. We also encourage EVERYONE to get their clothes out of the machine as soon as the cycle is done. PLEASE set a timer. It’s not that hard. We hope the Housing Gods are in your favor and you get a house on our S-list.

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Basic Information About Mather

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“More singles,” Dean says is the Mather House slogan. Mather House is composed entirely of singles, so you can kiss your perfectly rational fear of bunk beds goodbye. If you’re lucky enough to be placed in Mather, your next three years will be spent in copious amounts of personal space and natural light, with gorgeous views potentially from the 18th floor of the tower, where you can gaze out over all of Cambridge. Though sophomores typically live in the low-rise, some will likely be placed in overflow housing in DeWolfe, which is an apartment building with air conditioning, huge common rooms, and kitchens where you can live out your Gordon Ramsey lifestyle. Not a bad draw.

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Sophomores who do end up living in the low-rise will be placed in ~duplexes~. Each two-story suite typically comes with four to five singles, a common room, and a bathroom. Whether you’re blocking alone or with seven of your closest friends, Mather’s housing situation truly accommodates everyone.

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In addition to the guaranteed singles, the amenities in Mather are extremely conducive to exploring new hobbies and interests. With yoga classes, an aerobic room, a ceramics studio, an art room, an exercise room with new equipment, a wood-turning studio, and a tranquility room, Mather House is the perfect place to try new things.

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Mather is the only house with two mascots, the lion and the gorilla, which stay true to the House’s nickname of the “Concrete Jungle.” The crest itself has “deep symbolic meaning that you’ll only understand if you live here,” says HoCo Co-Chair Thor Reimann ’25. So much mystery that you’ll only be privy to as a Mather resident…

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The Mather faculty and tutors have an amazing reputation among students. The House deans are comparable to Bill Nye, said Dean. They get people excited about learning, take students on fun excursions, and are extremely welcoming. The faculty also strives to center around student voices, ensuring that all residents have a voice and ears willing to listen.

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The Mather Environment

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Mather Lather. Live Music. Who Would You Rather In Mather (Valentine’s Day speed dating, obviously). Formals. Happy Hours. The list goes on.

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“There’s always something going on,” said Dean. Mather is an extremely social house, with its residents constantly having the option to partake in parties and events.

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Mather House is the place to be on the weekends. While most students have likely visited the JCR (Junior Common Room) at one point or another, living in Mather makes going to ~social events~ that much easier, since you’ll be living in a social hub. Mather residents prioritize having fun (when they have a break from p-sets, if ever) whether it’s through JCR ~get togethers~, live music, happy hour, or the many events planned by the HoCo, the faculty, or the students themselves.

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“I love the social life at Mather, because no matter what day it is, you know there’s something happening,” says Dean. “Mather House has made my Harvard experience awesome”

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My Mind-Blowing Mather Tour

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Mather House is located in River East, at the edge of campus. “Being a little bit further away definitely has its perks and its drawbacks,” said Mather resident (and Flyby editor!) Ellen S. Deng ’24, “but I feel like those are all ameliorated by the presence of the Mather shuttle bus.” The shuttle bus runs from the front doors of Mather every ten minutes in the morning, so if you’re worried about a walk, don’t be.

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Many students judge Mather based on its concrete exterior, but once in Mather, you’ll find singles beauty in the brutalism. “There’s a loving curve,” says Tina Chen ’24.

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In order to fully immerse myself in Mather life, I took a tour of the House.

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To add to Mather’s robust social culture, when entering Mather, the first place you’ll find yourself is in Mather’s courtyard. This is another perk to the house, as you are always bumping into friends through forced proximity and having to walk through the courtyard.

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After crossing through the courtyard, we entered the Three Columns Gallery, where Mather’s emphasis on amplifying student voices is tangible. You can find student pottery on display and a map marked with student hometowns. There are also pictures of the house pets!

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A short walk led to the library. Here, Deng notes that the beautiful blend of “dark wood, glass, concrete, and a lot of greenery,” is obvious and makes the library a favorite space among Mather residents.

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“[The dining hall] is the nexus of Mather life,” says Deng, and Reimann notes that “the d-hall has so much natural light.” With floor to ceiling windows and a public library vibe, the d-hall is a great space to dive into homework, refuel, and to watch all of the happenings outside, from basketball games in the outdoor courts to sunsets over the Charles. The d-hall also features a sporadic but great coffee bar and an incredible team of HUDS members.

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Next stop, the Senior Common Room, which is one of several quiet study spaces in Mather that all boast rejuvenating natural light, beautiful designs, and perks like pianos.

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Then, we toured the amenities, like a fully equipped gym, a ceramics studio, an art room fully stocked with paint and other supplies, a relaxing tranquility room, and a wood-turning studio, all of which are great spaces to spend any free time.

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The famous Mather tunnels were next. Student expressions covered the walls of the tunnels. Each Mather resident gets the opportunity to leave their mark on Mather through painting a tile in the tunnels. Start brainstorming your tile now!

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Mather House may seem daunting at first, but don’t judge a book by its cover. With Mather as your home, your next three years will be filled with great people, new hobbies, and plenty of space to yourself!

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Quirks and Perks

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Dunster is the epitome of Harvard style, with its red-brick exterior, dark wood paneling, and a picturesque lawn. It’s no wonder that it’s one of the most photographed spots on campus, after the John Harvard statue, of course. “Dunster House has that classic Ivy League look that instantly comes to mind when someone mentions Harvard,” said Housing Committee Co-Chair Paz Meyers ’25. But Dunster is more than just a pretty face. It also has a vibrant and tight-knit community, with tons of house spirit. HoCo Co-Chair Connor Huey added, “It’s definitely a great community that feels close.”

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Dunsterites know how to have fun, and they have plenty of events to prove it. One of the most famous ones is the Goat Roast, which used to involve an actual goat (don’t worry, it’s been replaced by a petting zoo, a barbecue, and a bouncy house). The Goat Roast also has a different theme every year, chosen by the HoCo chairs. Another Dunster tradition is the Red Tie Dinner, where house members make predictions for the next year and reflect on how well they did with their previous ones. Dunster also has a unique musical event, the Messiah Sing, which has been going on for the past 48 years. Dunsterites gather in the dining hall to sing along to Handel’s Messiah, accompanied by a live orchestra, sharing an evening of music and celebration. And of course, Dunster has its own formals at the end of each semester, where everyone dresses up and dances the night away.

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As a sophomore, you’ll get to go on a special cruise during orientation, where you can bond with your new housemates and enjoy the views of Boston. You’ll also get to experience Dunster’s strong stein culture, which features a different theme each time, such as carving pumpkins, transforming the d-hall into a winter wonderland, and making crafts like moose ornaments. Dunster also has other traditions, like monthly open houses at the Faculty Dean residence for yummy snacks, courtyard s’mores, fireside study breaks to relax and socialize with friends, and moose-ical concerts in the library where you can listen to the talented musicians of the Dunster community. There are also lots of fun outings, like apple picking and snow tubing, which are great ways to escape the campus bubble and have some fun with your housemates. The House Deans, professors Cheryl Chen and Sean D. Kelly, who are faculty members of the Philosophy Department, love to host faculty dinners and get involved with house life. “They’re very supportive, and they really work with us to foster community within the house,” said Meyers.

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Dunster is also a powerhouse when it comes to IMs, and it’s typically in the top three Houses competing for the Straus Cup. While there is an element of competition that fuels participation, IMs are also a really great opportunity to build community and meet new housemates.

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Saving the best for last, Dunster also has a late-night dining option, so the d-hall is open until 8:30 p.m. on weekdays. This is perfect for athletes who have evening practices, or Dunsterites who want to eat later than the usual 7:30 p.m. cutoff for the other upperclassmen dhalls.

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All About Housing

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As a sophomore in Dunster, you’ll most likely live in DeWolfe, which is an apartment-style dorm that’s only a five-minute walk from the main house. DeWolfe is probably the best sophomore housing on campus, with spacious suites that have two doubles, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a huge common room. And did we mention they have air conditioning? In Dunster itself, you’ll find a variety of housing options, from hallway doubles to quads, and even a legendary seven-man duplex on the top floor (which is usually reserved for seniors and a spot known for hosting social gatherings). As you get older, you’ll also have the chance to get singles and larger suites.

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Dunster also has some awesome amenities, like a gym, a squash court, and a Grille that serves up delicious snacks like mozzarella sticks and cheeseburgers (your BoardPlus account might end up empty, but your stomach certainly won’t). You’ll also have access to music practice rooms, an art studio, and a meditation space.

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Dunster has plenty of study spaces, too, like the Smart Classroom that can also be used as a meeting space. There’s also Dunster’s house library, which has gorgeous dark wood paneling, overlooks the river, and has a huge collection of books. The library has two offshoot rooms, one of which leads to a reading room that’s great for group study, or as Dunsterite and Blog Editor Laasya Chiduruppa ’26 calls it, “the light academia room.” The other room is the ~secret~ room, which stores books that are occasionally taken out by the Resident Deans for students to admire. The d-hall and basement are also popular spots to study and socialize, or watch a movie on the TV.

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Your Questions, Answered

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What’s something unique about Dunster?

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CH: “Our mascot is the moose. We’re very proud of that. Our newsletter is called the Mooseletter, and our mailing list is called Moose [Droppings]. We have a great culture, and we’re pretty competitive in IMs.”

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PM: “House spirit is great. Best thing about Dunster is the fact that our dining hall is open until 8:30 p.m. every night except Sunday. Everyone eats dinner at Dunster!”

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Where are the best views from Dunster?

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LC: “When you look up at [the] illuminated clock tower right below is the Dunster library. It’s objectively the most beautiful library on campus. And you can look directly into it. One of the best scenes on campus, hands down.”

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*Note: Dunster is also right across from Weeks Bridge, so it’s a great spot (and pretty convenient!) to go catch the sunset from there.

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How far is Dunster from the yard?

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PM: “15 minutes?”

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CH: “More like 10 minutes… 3 minutes if you have a bike”

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If there’s one thing you’ll learn about Dunster, in the words of Meyers, “You’ll love wherever you go, but you’ll love Dunster more.”

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You may recognize Lev by its green and gold crest, embellished with particularly ~muscular~ rabbits. If you join Lev, you’ll become a bunny — or, hare, technically. Leverett means “young hare”, so the mascot is quite fitting.

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Leverett House primarily consists of McKinlock Hall and the F and G towers across the street. These buildings once housed people like Amanda Gorman, Yo-Yo Ma, Pete Buttigieg, and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

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Tour with a Bunny

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This housing season, I had the privilege of touring Lev with Arezoo Ghazagh ’26, a Flyby editor and proud Lev-lover. Our first stop was McKinlock Hall, which encompasses dorms, common rooms, and the dining hall, among other amenities. She first guided me through the Light Court, a seating area preceding the dining hall that’s, well, filled with light. Past those beautiful skylights (which are much appreciated, as Harvard students don’t tend to get much sunlight) is the d-hall entrance, where you may encounter the famous BonLee (more on her later!).

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Now, Lev is known for having the most students (they notably achieve this without overflow housing), so anticipate the d-hall to be “hustlin’ and bustlin,’”, as Ghazagh told me. The room may never be empty, but that doesn’t mean you’ll feel overwhelmed or lost, either. Lev’s size contributes directly to its sense of community. Ghazagh noted, “If you’re in the dining hall, you can look around and can be like, I know that person lives in Leverett or not. You recognize faces, you get familiar.”

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Further, the d-hall is considered the central element of Leverett. It also happens to be ~optimally~ located, so much so that people from other houses prefer eating there. Rest assured, you won’t have to worry about long walks to the d-hall from your dorm; the farthest you’ll come from is the other side of the crosswalk.

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One last dining hall perk: Lev has all of your niche food needs. Perhaps it’s a benefit of trying to provide for the large number of students. Nutella. Gluten-free waffle mix. Vanilla coffee. Boom Boom Sauce every day. Impressed yet?

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I next traveled to the aptly named Rabbit Hole, a common room — kitchen included — where steins (upperclassmen study breaks) are frequently held. Leverett is unique in that it hosts weekly steins, whereas other houses may operate on less regular schedules. Again, Lev cares about community, and its steins cultivate just that.

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Close by are the music practice rooms, band room, and art rooms, which Ghazagh described as another source of niche, “obscure” materials like “really intense glue that you probably shouldn’t touch unless you need to.”

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After honing your artistic expression, you can lounge in Lev’s library theater, which is a large space often reserved for ceremonies, shows, and social gatherings. Only people within Lev can rent out the space, so any organizations you’re a part of will thank you later. The aesthetic of this room is captivating, from its dramatic staircases to the quintessential common room piano (you’ll have no trouble accessing pianos in Lev — they’re everywhere).

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The common rooms continue with the Junior Common Room, which has an actual working fireplace. The faculty deans will host fireside events here, and they’ll often provide fresh berries and cream (a needed change from Berg’s cantaloupe-heavy mix). There’s a Senior Common Room as well, but it’s a bit more ~exclusive~. While you explore these spaces in McKinlock, keep an eye out for bunny-themed art and house traditions like the Lev quilt on the walls.

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After exiting McKinlock, I took a moment to appreciate the view of the river, but I should have prepared myself for the even greater awe I was about to experience: the library. If you, too, have grown fond of the book nooks in Lamont, this is the place to be. Imagine the Lamont basement — but with windows and light. In other words, as Ghazagh observed, “It’s giving Lamont if she was maybe not as old and dusty.” It’s gorgeous.

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Now, I would be remiss not to acknowledge the controversy surrounding the towers. Sure, F and G towers aren’t the most attractive buildings on campus, but they provide all the amenities you could need, and the interior more than makes up for the exterior (huge dorms, anyone?). The towers each have their own common rooms, F-Hutch and G-Hutch. You’ll have quick access to a gym, laundry rooms (hint: tunnels connect the towers’ laundry rooms), and bike and canoe racks.

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The first few floors of the towers feature suite-style rooms, and there are singles up to the top floor. The tower rooms are reportedly larger, but if you’re looking for more room type variation, McKinlock can provide doubles and even duplexes. McKinlock gives you the “old” Harvard feel, while the towers are comparatively modern; whatever your interior design preference is, you should be satisfied. So if you’re admiring other houses from afar and feeling bitter, remember Ghazagh’s words on Dunster a neighboring house: “I’m glad I get to see it and not live inside it.”

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At the end of our tour, Ghazagh highlighted extra locational benefits of Leverett. Lev is only an eight minute walk from central campus and is positioned right next to the shuttle stop (SEC travelers, this is especially convenient for you). Finally, Leverett is just a short walk from Dumpling House, which Ghazagh highly, fervently recommends.

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The HoCo Perspective - Excerpts

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Following the tour, I sat down with Leverett HoCo Chairs Carly Y. Chen ’26 and Hayden S. Graham ’26 to get a glimpse into Lev’s culture. In summary, when I requested that they select three words to represent Lev, the consensus was “Lively, Lovely, Legendary.”

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Lev is Lively

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Chen and Graham have unique perspectives into Lev, as they are hard at work behind the scenes. They adamantly spoke about Lev’s vibrant community and atmosphere. In Graham’s words, “I think Lev is just jolly.”

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Not only are the humans of Lev lively, but the courtyards are full of life, too. Graham commented, “It’s iconic how we have actual rabbits in our court. It’s not just an odd bunny here and there. Every day you walk through the courtyard you’ll see probably 20 rabbits in there.” What better way to build house spirit than to be surrounded by your own mascot?

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Speaking of the Lev mascot, Chen explained, “I think a testament to house spirit is how willing people are to dress up as a mascot. So many people want to do it because they love our house.”

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Additionally, Lev has lively participation in IMs. Notably, Graham started BroomBall (akin to hockey but with a broom and normal shoes) this semester, which he stated, “has been really fun. Leverett hasn’t done too great, unfortunately. But turnout has been amazing.”

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Lev also has a spread of lively events, including a tradition of apple-picking, themed feasts, and the impressive Donut Drop. As Chen illustrated for me, “The last night of Reading Period [the faculty] do a massive drop of donuts in the d-hall. The d-hall tables will be covered in donuts.”

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Lev is Lovely

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A recurring theme during my discussion with the HoCo chairs was the presence of genuine people and a beautiful community in Leverett.

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Graham shared about the community, “I feel like the nice thing is, you can just go into the dining hall, no dinner plan, and just see a bunch of people. And it usually ends up just being collections of people who aren’t friend groups or anything. They’re just all talking, and we have really nice round tables in our dining hall, which is nice.”

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I then learned about some pillars of the Lev community; if you get Lev, take note, because these individuals will soon become close to your heart.

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First, there are the faculty deans, Eileen and Dan, who Graham described as “Incredible people. They have these super high stress jobs, but they are the most down to earth nicest people. And I swear they put in 110% for the house.” Chen added., “They also care about the individual student perspective.” The faculty deans can be found wearing bunny ears and swiping students into the dhall on community nights, timing a morning run based on pieces of litter picked up rather than miles, or hand-making chocolates and birthday notes for each Lev student.

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When I asked which fictional characters the faculty deans were most comparable to, the HoCo chairs responded with the parents from Bluey, Doc McStuffins, and maybe the parents of Sofia the First. No final conclusion was made, but key characteristics would be “someone that can do it all, and is chill about it,” as Chen expressed, while staying “humble,” as Graham added.

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Other recognizable figures include Robert, the IM tutor who Graham described as a “really cool guy, super passionate about IMs. He’s at almost every IM game, really rallying the Leverett community to come.”

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It’d be hard to miss Mike, the security guard who’s been at Lev for years. Graham shared, “He’s just such a friendly guy. People will go to him for advice, just have conversations, long conversations, with him at 2 a.m. — a big fixture of the Leverett community.”

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Finally, the famous BonLee protects the Lev d-hall and thus protects Lev’s community. She’s strict about who enters the d-hall, which helps establish the “community environment,” Chen mentioned. If you spark up a conversation with BonLee about her history with Lev, you’ll hear extraordinary stories and get to enjoy her humor, too.

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Lev is Legendary

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To round out the HoCo excerpts, Chen and Graham mentioned additional aspects of Lev that make it stand out from the rest. From having arguably the best merch to being a frequent office hours destination, Lev is legendary.

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Chen mentioned, “Lev is one of the only accessible houses in the whole campus. So everything is elevator accessible.” On the topic of elevators, the tower elevators only stop on even floors, which is certainly unique. Chen also went on to praise McKinlock, as its available spaces allow for “when I want to be alone away from people and study, but I don’t want to be in my room with depression.”

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If a bustling social scene is for you, it’s worth remembering that the towers are renowned for their ~lively get togethers~. Keep the Iliad suite in McKinlock in mind, too.

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When discussing Lev’s color scheme, Chen noted that the green (which is rare among the other house colors) is “so sexy.”

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In addition to learning more about Lev’s perks, I pulled out the REAL questions: According to Graham, if Lev house were a fruit, it would be a vegetable. A carrot, specifically. You see the connection, right? Now, if Lev House were a Harry Potter house, Graham suggests, “Hufflepuff. We’re just like a house of people who are bubbly and cheery in that way.”

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If you’re still feeling any doubts upon joining Lev, remember that it may be a “sleeper hit,” as Chen reassured me.

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To leave you with one final note, a common phrase used in Lev is “Lev Love.” I second Graham’s advice for the incoming sophomores to “expect some Lev Love their way.” If you are sorted into Lev this Housing Day, wear your bunny ears with pride!

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{shortcode-8935a13a75627683c2374df2587cb3003aefba10} The clock is ticking! In a couple of days, freshmen nestled in every corner of the Yard will wake up to pounding feet, aggressive knocks, and housing chants. If you are like me, these couple of days are an opportunity to learn as much as you can about the Houses that you will be tied to for the rest of your life (a.k.a. the next three years). As you will soon see for yourselves, no House story is complete without the lowlights — here are a couple scandals to open your eyes to both sides of housing life.

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The Time Cabot Actually Turned into an Aquarium

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The last thing you want when you live on the furthest corner of campus is to get flooded out of your home. Fourteen years ago, that is exactly what happened to 10 students in D Entryway. After hearing a loud bang, a group of roommates watched in horror as gallons of muddy brown water poured into the suite, even setting off the fire alarm. The pipe burst will live in infamy for years to come.

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Lowell Goes Lights Out!

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In the span of 20 minutes just after the clock struck 12 in the year 2000, every single dorm in the comically large River House snapped out. It took maintenance hours to come to the root of the issue, leaving Lowell bathed in emergency lights. While faculty and staff desperately searched for answers, students took the electrical failure as an opportunity to sleep in!

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The Quincy Fire of 1965

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This one might just take the cake. Back in 1965, four suites were burned to a crisp when a fire broke out in what used to be the “new” section of the House. The fire resulted in 200 students evacuating onto DeWolfe Street and $35,000 in damages. Luckily, no one was seriously harmed that morning.

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Winthrop’s Salmonella Outbreak

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Digging through the Harvard outbreaks taught me one thing — infectious disease and college students are a tale as old as time, at least as old as 1978. Three years after my parents were born, more than 20 students contracted Salmonella, with the outbreak centered around Winthrop: “I went from table to table on Monday asking people if they had salmonella poisoning. I counted 22 people in 15 minutes,” says the Crimson article from the time. Talk about the HUDS scares!

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Dunster Goat Roast Gotta Go

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I still remember watching in amused horror last spring during my first Dunster Prom as the newly crowned Dunster Court plunged their bent plastic knife into the back of a luscious feathery (stuffed) goat to the beat of some throwback pop hit. Turns out the tradition has a pretty gruesome past — since the 1980s, Dunster has celebrated his house spirit by skinning and roasting the annual goat with a spritz of lime. The tradition ended in 2019…something about a health inspector?

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Adams 0, Fruit flies 1

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Back in the olden days (cough cough, 2021) the Adams d-hall was closed, but this time it wasn’t for renovations. The d-hall was closed for two weeks after students reported finding fruit-flies in their HUDS trays. The main casualty of the extermination battle was the Adams House community. If it were me, I would ride the quad shuttle to Currier d-hall before you caught me in there.

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There you have it, a couple of catastrophes that have marred housing history for decades to come. That’s not to say that you wouldn’t have an incredible time in any of these places (I promise, the fruit flies are gone, since the d-hall is!). As Housing Day comes up, just remember that what is meant to be, will be.

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Bad(ass) and Bougie

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Eliotites are the classy (some might say bougie) younger siblings who are more successful than you and the life of the party. From events to amenities, they like to do things with a bit of pizzazz, but on the inside (in Eliot’s case) they are a (really) old soul whose age shows…a lot. They also have a beautiful Latin house catchphrase — floreat domus de Eliot (“long flourish Eliot House”) — that is very fun to say and gives a little ego boost of being able to identify as bilingual (that counts, right?).

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Eliotites love fancy festivities, and the star of their show is Fête, arguably the best spring formal of all of the houses. The Housing Committee (HoCo) pulls out all the stops: think a swing band in the courtyard (bougie), a beautiful ice sculpture (bougie), luscious chocolate-dipped strawberries galore (bougie), and a DJ in the d-hall (hahahaha get it?). And as if that wasn’t enough, they even offer 1920s-style swing dance lessons to prepare the uncoordinated for the big bash. However, Fête’s legendary exclusivity isn’t just about having a good time — it’s a chance for Eliot residents to rake in the dough. Some Eliotites have turned selling plus-one tickets into a serious side hustle, charging up to a rumored $250 to the hottest party in the Square.

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Eliot also offers smaller, more frequent opportunities for members of the community to get together through their steins and enhanced dinners. Steins are epic Thursday night gatherings that draw in a crowd of eager students twice a month. Picture this: pizza, snacks, drinks flowing, and a whole bunch of fun activities — recent themes include karaoke-stein and Valen-steins. But these shindigs are becoming so legendary that they’re practically a magnet for students from other houses looking to crash the scene (if you can’t beat Eliot, join them?). Eliot just exudes that unbeatable vibe. If that’s not enough to satisfy your appetite, every month Eliot serves up an enhanced dinner in their beautiful wood-paneled (Insta story-worthy) d-hall that is nothing short of a gourmet delight. Ranging from carving stations to lobster ravioli, students sorted into Eliot get to experience elaborate meals constantly — a major green flag.

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Because of their elevated sense of class, the Eliot amenities aren’t your average Harvard house offerings, they are better. Want to dabble in a little rowing? Using Eliot’s own erg room (a fenced-in room full of rowing machines that might be as old as Harvard) will surely connect you to your high school crew days. Netflix and chill? Nah — Eliotites prefer watching classic cinematic creations in their recliner-filled Golden Arm movie theater (Legally Blonde, anyone?). Tired of studying in your dorm? Eliotites can be found cozying up on their satin couches in their private, double-decker library (that might even be fancier than Widener) — featuring a grand piano to entertain guests and many valuable works of literature — or their record room (a little classy/artsy aesthetic), which just sounds so sophisticated when I say it. Needless to say, these are just the beginning of the options available to residents of Eliot.

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Side Quest Heaven

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Eliot possesses a captivating duality that underscores the utilization of both its internal amenities, intertwined with an established tunnel system for an endless array of side quests, and the exploration of resources beyond its brick walls. As Felix Y. Chen ’25, an Eliot HoCo co-chair, astutely observed, “Eliot has a lot of those nooks and crannies that you don’t quite know about coming in and then you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s cool!’” This unique blend of hidden treasures and external opportunities positions Eliot as a formidable contender in this year’s Housing Market. Its allure lies in the promise of perpetual discovery – it gets the people going!

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For the foodies, Eliot offers the newly-reopened Inferno, a grille that boasts a great menu for those action-packed weekend nights (and early mornings), and is rumored to have burgers, dino nuggets (emphasis on dino. nuggets.), and milkshakes that could revive anyone from the dead. The vending machine selection was also satisfactory — I’d give it a 7.8/10 (a solid score that implies a finer palette than the average vending machine). Chen’s Co-Chair, Helen A. Scarborough ‘25, also mentioned that Eliot is “dangerously close” to Noch’s, Black Sheep, and Dunkin’. I also want to emphasize (in classic Flyby style) that Eliot is the CLOSEST house to a Trader Joe’s (0.6 miles from the Allston location… sorry, Dunster), which is probably the most important reason to get excited about living there.

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For the gym rats/athletic peeps, there is plenty to offer. There is a beautiful (in its own way), dungeon-like gym that gives ‘70s movie training montage vibes (if you want that) and has a good array of weights and cardio options, a dance studio that you can use at a moment’s notice to destress (to serenity songs?), or if you don’t have a lot of time, I’ve heard that Eliotites just run around the tunnels for some quick cardio. You can also make use of the ONLY housed-in courtyard at any house to play volleyball, yard games, or even (if you’re over 21, of course) a game of beer pong with fellow Eliotites. Also, Eliot boasts *backdoor access* to the river (letting you out right at Memorial and JFK) makeing you a hop, skip, and a jump away from the MAC, the Athletic Complex if you have practice, or the River if you want to enjoy a sunset walk or run.

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For the artsy minds, there’s the Leonard Bernstein Room (in the tower) to play your instruments to your heart’s content, a nice Arts and Crafts Room (to channel your inner 5-year-old), and a dark room (apparently for photos? If you’re into that…). Another quirk of Eliotite creative life has got to be the woodshop, which is where students can go build things out of… well, wood… yeah. All graduating seniors get to build their own diploma frames, which is a wholesome thing that adds to the end of a transformative liberal arts education.

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Lastly, in light of my recent article on the art of bush jumping, I would like to point out that Eliot House has the #2 best bush to jump into on campus, which gives it a massive advantage over all river houses — very classy indeed.

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Needless to say, Eliot provides plenty of room for extracurricular success.

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Community over Competition

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A crucial thing to highlight for the Class of 2027 is that Eliot House will begin renovations in January 2025, so living conditions for today’s freshmen might look a little different from the current state of things — most students will be relocated to the Inn after the first semester, it seems (which does have air conditioning and a nice set-up).

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The typical set-up of Eliot is suites, which might be a reason for their greater sense of community (and no sharing a hallway bathroom with nasty peeps). They usually follow the n or n-1 housing set-up, which means that people can usually plan on having a double (or rare single) until their senior year.

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“They have good character too,” Scarborough said. “They all have fireplaces (they’re not working), but, you know, it’s nice to have, like, a mantle. The common rooms are beautiful — some of them will have built-in bookshelves and just random little elements that just make them more exciting and interesting.”

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Scarborough also highlighted the prime locations of Eliot rooms. She pointed out that in “pretty much every room you’re gonna have a nice view. We have a really nice yard to look into, but also looking out at the river.”

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Q&A

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I took some time to ask some fun little questions to the chairs about their house. Could they handle the pressure? You decide.

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What cartoon character would Eliot House be?

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FYC: I like Pink Panther.

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Which superheroes would you use to describe the adults around Eliot?

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HAS: Sue [House Administrator] is literally Wonder Woman

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HAS: Andi [Resident Dean of Eliot House] gives me, like, Elastigirl. She is so good at so many things, but also, she’s just so caring and thoughtful.

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FYC: I could see [Paul, Eliot House Building Manager, being] Mr. Incredible. Having to deal with all the house’s quirks.

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If you could change one thing about Eliot, what would it be?

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FYC: I think the fire alarm is a little sensitive.

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HAS: We aren’t the most accessible house, which is really tough. Like whether you have accommodation needs or if you get injured halfway through the year, it can be a little tough.

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Keep your eye out for the great house of Eliot knocking on your door on March 7th. Domus!

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It’s common for people at Harvard to laude the inclusiveness of their house and the environment it fosters, but Kirkland may be the place where this rings most true.“You are not only living in the house, but the house is your home,” said Giselle Chiprez ’25, one of Kirkland’s Housing Committee Co-Chairs.

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House Community

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For Chiprez, “a community is only as good as [the events] you’re participating in,” and luckily, Kirkland will never lack in that department. Every week, there’s always something to do, whether it’s run by the House Committee (fondly referred to as HoCo), the Faculty Deans, Resident Tutors, or even the committee in charge of the Choosening (we’ll get back to that later). On Monday there’s Boat Club, where students gather in the Senior Common Room to eat cookies made by one of the resident tutors. Thursday is community night, where the Faculty Deans provide specialty snacks around themes like dumplings(!) or potatoes(!!!!). Every other week, community night is topped off with a themed stein hosted by HoCo, where you can find delicious food and even better conversations. On Fridays, you may even have the chance to attend a party held by the infamous ten-man of Kirk, called the “Beef” (and which is effectively obligated to throw ragers for the house). The next day, Saturday, you can join the Brew Club, also run by a tutor, to brew beer, mead, and kombucha for consumption during steins and house events.

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The crown jewel of the week, however, is Sunday. Biweekly, the Faculty Deans will open their home to the students for Faculty Open Houses, as a way to bond and also offer free food like sushi or Thai food. More famously, Sunday nights are also the night of the Choosening, where a spirited group of Kirkland students, dubbed the “Choosening Elders,” come together at midnight, pull a slip out of an animal cracker jar, and choose a theme of the week. All weeks are documented on @itsweekweek on Instagram, but some of my personal favorites include Box Week and Stick Week.

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In addition to the week to week events, Kirkland holds a plethora of annual traditions for its student body. In the fall, you can look forward to Build-a-Boar, where HoCo rents out a stuffed animal stuffing machine to make your very own Kirk boar. In the winter, everyone looks forward to Secret Santa, a yearly tradition where Kirkland students are matched as Santa and Santee. Presents range from helicopter rides and chocolate-drizzled strip shows to door decorations and heartfelt letters. Santa matches are revealed at the Holiday Dinner, a fancy feast put on to celebrate the end of semester and prelude the Winter Formal. A Kirkland’s boar mascot head is paraded around the d-hall, senior roasts are told, and good cheer is gathered. The night is topped off with an afterparty in the Beef.

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But what about the house?

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However, a house is not only about its community. It’s also a house! The majority of Kirkland students live in the main building, a fairly standard connected building with a square inner courtyard. The remaining students live in the Annex, a detached building directly next to Kirkland, or the Prescotts, Kirkland’s overflow housing.

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While Kirkland does hold a reputation for being somewhat worn-down and for housing an unusually high number of mice and cockroaches, some Kirkland students swear that things have gotten better. “We’ve improved, we have pest control,” said Subul Ahmad ’25, a Flyby editor and Kirkland resident. “They always conduct checks.” And, despite the lack of renovations, physical living situations should garner high hopes for sophomores. Housing is assigned through lottery, and sophomores can usually expect a n or n-1 room, with their very own en suite bathroom. You also run the chance of living in a former room of Kirkland’s many famous alumni, including Mark Zuckerberg and Truman Jones ’23, recent Super Bowl champion of the Chiefs.

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Kirklanders may also enjoy many of the amenities that Kirkland offers. On a tour of the house, you’ll be able to discover an open art studio, a theater room, meditation space, game rooms, and many more gorgeous common spaces, like the outside balcony by the Junior Common Room where students gather to eat, study, or enjoy good weather. There’s also Hicks House, which is Kirkland’s House library and the second oldest building on campus. It was previously the residence of John Hick, a patriot in the revolution and member of the Boston Tea Party. Now, with many cozy study rooms, it is the perfect place to chill or ~lock in~.

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One must also not miss the convenient location of Kirkland. It’s perfectly situated between the MAC and athletic centers (one rumored reason for Kirk’s strong athletic performance in IMs), it’s close to the Square (the Kirk to Noch’s pipeline is real and thriving), and even near one of the bus stops to the SEC (yay engineers!). Basically, it’s a great place to live if you’re a major late night snacker or habitually late to either class or practice (as most Harvard students are).

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An Interview with the HoCo Chairs

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There are many more little things to love about Kirkland, and here’s some comments from their very own HoCo Chairs, Giselle Chiprez ’25 and Nena King ’25.

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What is some advice for incoming sophomores?

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Nena: “I’d say, honestly, prepare yourself to meet everyone in the house. And to see familiar faces a lot more often than you do right now as a first year, which, obviously, but you’re gonna get to know a lot more people better than you do now.”

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Giselle: “Make an effort to go out to the events that the house is hosting, because that will be the way that you get to familiarize yourself with a lot of people. And also, whatever house you get placed in, the house is only as good as you make it out to be. So if you’re not participating in anything, it’s not going to feel as fun. But there’s so many opportunities to do that. So as long as you’re keeping an eye out for stuff and participating in things when you have the chance to, Kirkland will be home.”

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How are the IMs at Kirkland?

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Giselle: “We’ve won Straus Cup the last two times.”

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Nena: “Yeah, we’re going for the third!”

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What makes Kirkland unique?

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Giselle: “I think my biggest thing is just I’ve heard a lot that people will justify their house being the best house by saying they have a good community. And it’s usually a cop out answer to like, we have nothing else other than the community. But I think what makes Kirkland so amazing is the community. We just have such great house spirit and people participating in so many things. And just the fact that you know everybody all the time, there is no way to not say that Kirkland doesn’t have the best community at Harvard.”

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Nena: “Yeah, people from the houses will agree with that. And also the fact that at our own dinners, literally every single day, there are people here that aren’t in Kirkland. There are tables of people who are not in Kirkland. Which, we welcome them to the community, but we know that they’re here for a reason. And apparently our food is better, which, I agree.”

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Quirks & Perks

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“I can’t see myself living anywhere else,” said Flyby Blog editor and Winthrop House resident Annette Kim ‘25. Considering all of Winthrop’s amenities and opportunities for community building, it’s not hard to understand why.

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Winthrop House boasts amenities that turn Winthrop House into Winthrop Home. Seemingly everywhere you turn, there’s a foosball table where Winthrop residents can show off their competitive spirit. Thropians can also be found working out in the house gym, socializing in the Lion’s Den, finding their zen in the meditation room, or creating new projects in the art room.

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However, what makes Winthrop special is not limited to its hotel vibes and top-notch amenities. This year, Winthrop House is hosting scholar-in-residence Jonathan L. Kemper ’75. In this role, Kemper gives tours of John F. Kennedy’s suite, and can often be found socializing and networking with students in the d-hall.

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The d-hall is a hub for student activity at Winthrop House. At any time of day, students there can be found grabbing a meal, doing school work, or catching up with friends. One major perk of Winthrop House is that weekly “CS nights” — office hours for all CS courses — are held in the d-hall. So, if you’ve missed dinner on a Wednesday night, never fear; you can always grab a pizza slice from CS night.

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The d-hall is just one area that brings Winthropians together. After all, community is central to Winthrop House. Winthrop’s faculty deans know their residents by name and are helpful resources for everything under the sun. Additionally, Winthrop hosts paw-ffice hours every Friday, where students can relax with puppies after a long week of classes.

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If a puppy doesn’t do the trick to resolve stress, mozzarella sticks might. The student-operated Winthrop Grille is open every week from Thursday through Sunday and is the perfect place for an Oreo milkshake funded by BoardPlus. Winthrop truly has it all!

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All About Housing

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When it comes to sophomore housing, fear not! Winthrop is notably lacking in the miniscule hallway doubles that everyone fears will define their sophomore year. Any doubles tend to be found in mid-sized or larger suites, with a common room for added space. Even within suites, the doubles are decently sized, but for those who are bad with sharing space, don’t worry, there’s a place for you too! In fact, Housing Committee (HoCo) Co-Chair Adrian E. Guzman ‘25 commented that “sophomores tend to get singles if they want them.”

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Not only is Winthrop full of spacious suites, but it is one of the most recently renovated houses, which means the dorms are pristine and the vermin stay away! Sophomores also have the added benefit of having almost guaranteed housing within the House itself, rather than being sent off to overflow housing until their junior year. While Fairfax is a decent space for Winthrop’s overflow housing above JP Licks on Mass Ave., it is relatively small, so very few people end up outside of the three main buildings of Winthrop.

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If you are lucky enough to end up in lovely Winthrop, be prepared to spend warm spring days in one of the house’s three courtyards (I know, three!), and be sure to give the tire swing a try on Housing Day!

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Your Questions Answered

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Here’s what Winthrop’s HoCo chairs have to say about the house!

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What would you like freshmen to know about Winthrop?

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AEG: I would want them to know that their involvement is super highly, deeply appreciate. Once that letter is given, everything the light touches is yours.

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What do you think is the most special part about the house?

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Paurakh Rijal ‘25 (PR): I think everybody in this House cares about this House very deeply. And that also means our tutors and our faculty Deans, [they] really care about the people in the house. You’re able to forge better and more meaningful relationships with people in this house.

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AEG: Yeah, our tutor put his body on the line for the football win. (Editor’s note: …what?)

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What are some of your favorite house or community events?

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PR: Our steins are really fun. I think it’s just a great time for students to get together and socialize. And then I would say, spring formal is really cool, too. That’s like our thing, we like to rent out a yacht, but this year, we’re hoping to try something different.

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If your House was a potato, how would it be prepared?

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PR: We’re trying to establish that our house is classy—swagger and nonchalance. If [the house] is a potato, it would be like waffle fries, but the way it was presented on the plate — like fancy garnish and maybe a little bit of seasoning on top. And it would come with a side of boom boom sauce.

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AEG: I could also see some people in the House just eating a potato (editor’s note: as in… straight out of the ground?)

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There’s a lot to love about Winthrop — from trivia nights, to paw-ffice hours, to the rumored Winthrop trampoline that nobody can seem to locate (seriously, let us know if you find it). So here’s to hoping the Housing gods smile down upon you this Housing Day and you find yourself joining the ranks of Winthrop!

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Correction: March 6, 2024

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A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Winthrop Grille is open Tuesday through Sunday. In fact, the grille is open Thursday through Sunday.

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A previous version of this article misspelled Jonathan L. Kempner’s middle initial.

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Pfantastic Pros

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Pforzheimer House is truly one of the best places to be on campus and it will quickly become pfohome in no time. No matter what talents a resident has, Pfoho is sure to be an escape away from the hustle and bustle of Harvard life. From the numerous practice rooms to satisfy a musician to the “Pfojo” dance studio for all dancers and the Pfoho art room, Pfoho residents have more than enough to show off their talents. Oh and, of course, who could forget about the Pfarcade? With its grand air hockey table to its endless pinball machines and gaming consoles, the Pfarcade is a place full of joy and the pferfect chance to interact with new people. And did I mention that all of these games are free (read: definitely not contributing to Harvard’s endowment). Finally, Pfoho’s basketball court and gym ensure that you don’t have to travel far to maintain your gains during the stressful midterm season (although you might find that their gym equipment is a little outdated).

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While the infamous Quad Grille has been closed in recent months, the Pfoho community is still strong. Residents can enjoy an upperclassmen communal gathering of sorts called the “Hygge,” a Sunday kickback hosted by faculty deans that seeks to rejuvenate residents for the upcoming week ahead. Within these weekly socials are Steins, which are more organized. The faculty deans and homecoming committee recently coordinated a “Valenstein”, inspired by Valentine’s Day.

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Another spot for socializing is the Igloo, a space residents can book in advance to host parties. Parties are also thrown in the Pfoho Belltower Suite where it is rumored that Mark Zuckerberg met his wife. Beyond this, not much is known about what goes on in the Belltower, but if you’re a resident here, you can consider giving Flyby the inside scoop ;). The tunnels connecting all of these amenities together further add to the community Pfoho residents hold dear.

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Pfamous Vibes: Inside and Outside

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Pfoho has a bustling outdoor pfibe no matter what time of day. Many residents love spending time outdoors playing volleyball, and other recreational sports or relaxing on the lawn chairs in the afternoon. Pfoho’s residents love their staff, with one of the managers, Mario, being particularly well known. Everyone seems to know everyone in the Quad, and the residents of Pfoho play an integral part in this family. With the incredible housing in Pfoho, it’s a miracle that residents don’t always stay indoors. Even sophomores are content with their living situation. HoCo Co-Chair Derek Hu ‘25 believes that the uniqueness of Pfoho is in the idea that they treat each class equally. Even though seniors get priority housing, the amenities in Pfoho are so great that everyone essentially gets what they desire. This might be due to Pfoho’s recent construction by the Radcliffe Institute. Pfoho has four main halls: Comstock, Wolbach, Moors, and Holmes, as well as a fifth hall: Jordan. It’s relatively common for residents — even sophomores to get a single and have an in-suite bathroom and Pfoho’s common rooms are spacious compared to other houses. Even with a house size of approximately 400 students, privacy and community lie within the heart of Pfoho living, and Pfoho truly distinguishes itself from the other houses.

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Pfun Answers to Pfun Questions

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Hu answered some of these pfun questions about Pfoho:

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Are there any suites that are known for being a party suite or a suite where everybody kicks back and kind of hangs out?

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DH: Yeah, for sure. So the Pfoho Bell tower… we’re known for, it’s where Mark Zuckerberg met his wife. And I think there’s a lot of people [who] like to throw parties there. And I think it’s a nice, really cool special area where people meet one another and just hang out and have fun.

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And what do you think is the biggest misconception people have about Pfoho?

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DH: I think that just because it’s far. Freshmen might think that it’s very inaccessible and very hard to get here. But in my personal experience and from other people, I think it’s very accessible. Especially as a computer science student, I’m always in the SEC. If you’re trying to go there, you’re gonna have to take a shuttle at some point. We have very frequent bus schedules.

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What do you think freshmen should be looking forward to when they come when they get Pfoho on housing day?

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DH: We have a very cool dining hall staff. I think those guys are super nice. I love talking to them. They’re also sort of like your second parents. I think the faculty deans here, Erica and Zoe, they’re doing a fantastic job. I think they’re really trying to listen to everyone here, trying to make sure their needs are heard.

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Cozy and Cool Cabot

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According to Cabot resident and Flyby Editor J.J. Moore ’26, “We all say that [Cabot] gives retirement home. But as my roommate says best, ‘it’s the best place to walk in your pajamas.’ It feels really comfortable. It feels like home. And I feel like I wouldn't meet a lot of the people that I know now if I wasn’t living here.”

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Cabot House is one of three houses located in the Radcliffe Quadrangle (or “the Quad”). It has about 400 residents, with a cool fish mascot named Cory the Codfish. The House’s motto is “Semper Cor,” which means “always heart.”

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And Cabot residents certainly take this motto to their hearts. “I love the community. We all have insanely strong pride, and I think we have some of the best-looking dorms,” said Moore. “We have a lot of fish pride.”

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Notably, even Dean Khurana calls Cabot home, residing right across from the Aquarium, a party space in Cabot facing Walker Street.

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Located to the right of the Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH), large dorm buildings surround a huge lawn. “Everything you see [on the Lawn] is basically Cabot, so any building that touches the Quad Lawn is Cabot. I don’t think a lot of people know that. I didn’t know that until I got into Cabot,” added Moore.

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Now that you know a little bit more about Cabot, let’s take a dive into some specifics!

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Diving Into Housing

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If you want a single, then you’re in luck! Sophomores are not confined to one part of the house and most likely will get a single. (A slightly longer walk for a single doesn’t sound too bad, am I right?).

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If you’re worried about not being able to reach your friends on the other side of Cabot without braving the icy winds, don’t worry! “We’ve got this underground tunnel, so even if you're in one dorm and your friends are in another dorm, you can easily get to them without having to step outside,” said Cabot HoCo Co-Chair Gabe J. LeBlanc ’25. The only parts of Cabot that are not connected are the two “islands”: Bertram Hall and Eliot Hall.

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Navigating the Depths

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Yeah, you read that right. Cabot has underground tunnels!

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Walking through the tunnels is like opening a portal to another world. From small dining halls and common spaces to murals of fish painted on the walls, there’s far more to explore in Cabot than is visible on the lawn above.

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Cabot residents can unleash their inner creativity in the tunnels. “We have a lot of murals within our tunnels. Whenever some graduating classes want to doodle something, they can. The most recent one is a fish on your way to our gym. It’s made through handprints [of] our 2023 grads. So I think we’re going to try to do something a bit more [similar]. I bet each class can sort of have something behind,” said HoCo Co-Chair Christopher Hidalgo ’25.

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Feasting on the Finest

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Okay, cool murals and drawings in a cool underground tunnel. What about the food, though?

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If you think Cabot doesn’t have a lot of great food options because it isn’t near the Square, or if you think it’s going to be a repeat of Annenberg, well, we’re happy to tell you that you’re dead wrong.

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“Nobody’s ever gonna agree with me, but I think the food here is better than anywhere. I think I have really great relationships with the people that work here. I think the food is great,” Moore said. “We have actual spices, which is even better.”

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Cabot also has a completely student-run cafe called Cabot Café. And of course, fish is on the menu (why wouldn’t it be?). It is open Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., and is a popular and chill place to study and talk to friends. There’s a game room with table tennis and a pool table right outside if you need to merge the talking into a game!

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Cabot Café is also the site for many popular events, including open mic nights where you can take the stand and talk about anything your semper cor heart desires.

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Reeling in the Good Times

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Cabot also has a vibrant party scene with places such as The Aquarium and Cabot Café being the most popular spots where parties are hosted. There’s also a library suite (yes, people live in a library) where you can find residents partying even more than they are reading.

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The access to Quad-wide parties and events that happen is another perk of Cabot’s party scene. The Quad Formal is the go-to event for all Cabot (and Quad) residents. Semper Corpse is also a popular event during Halloween, and musicals are planned and held every spring semester.

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The Cabot and Quad communities are strongly connected and super tight-knit. “There’s no competition amongst the Quad Houses. There’s a strong sense of solidarity, and so when we come together for giant Quad events with Currier and Pfoho, there’s a sense that we have a really, really strong community here. Cabot’s house spirit extends far beyond Cabot,” explained LeBlanc.

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There’s a special Cabot community within the Quad too! There are many events in Cabot where you can just socialize, meet new people, and participate in various interactive activities without music blowing your eardrums out.

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“I’ll generally say that our house staff is really, really supportive of making the house what students want it to be. And so when students have ideas for large scale and small scale events, there’s a lot of opportunity to make it happen,” LeBlanc said.

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Some events are Tea N’ Tea (tea-spilling sessions), Dutch Auction (where you can auction off items from the house, like the naming rights for the gym), Festivus (an annual, non-denominational event in December where everyone eats international holiday dishes and participates in competitions like who can do the most push-ups).

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There are also spaces where you can hang out with friends, like H101 (a kitchen where you can cook and make anything you want!), Third Space (an art studio where you can also take free pottery classes) and the d-hall!

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Cozy and Comfort Studying

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Apart from party and event spaces, Cabot holds multiple great places to study and chat with friends.

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According to Moore, if you want a Cabot Library vibe (i.e. you want to be distracted by great conversations), then head on over to Cabot Dining Hall. If you want a Lamont Library vibe (i.e. you want to study without distractions), then head to the Eliot Hall Library. The study rooms in the underground tunnels are also another great place whether you want to study alone or with friends. Many study spaces have a mini projector or TV that you can mirror your screen on or use to practice for a presentation or even have movie nights!

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If you thought the constant studying was aging you, well, welcome to Cabot — your retirement home. :)

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Your Questions, Answered

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Still hesitant about Cabot and the Quad? Well, fret not! We asked the Cabot House Committee Co-Chairs, Gabe J. LeBlanc ‘25 and Christopher Hidalgo ‘25, about their favorite parts of living in Cabot!

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What would you say to the freshman worried about the longer walk?

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CH: I love the walk. I also think it gives me time to see more of Cambridge. [There’s] lots of mobility options and there’s also the buses.

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GJL: My personal philosophy on the walk to the Quad is it’s one of the best things that's happened to me because I get 10 minutes to myself, to listen to music, to get exercise, to think about life without having to worry about everything else going on. But yes, in the case of the snow, I’m a big proponent of the shuttle buses, and people have scooters.

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If your house was a fruit, which one would it be and why?

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GJL: A kiwi because when you peel off the layers and dive inside, you’ll find so much wonderful goodness.

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Which superhero best describes the faculty deans at Cabot?

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CH: Deadpool. They’re kind of funny like that, but they also do get the job done. Whatever is needed of them, the task will follow through.

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What should freshmen who get Cabot look forward to?

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CH: Cabot’s a fun place to explore, so if you don’t know what to do, just go to a basement, whether that’s in the islands or a different room that’s connected. We have lots of cool, cozy spaces where you can just go and study. Cabot is cool and cozy. People say, oh, it reminds me here of a retirement home because of the carpet. Which is true, but I think that’s fun. Like I wear slippers and I’ve just come down [to the dining hall] in my PJs.

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GJL: I’d say that Cabot really cares about you. I think I’ve had so many wonderful interactions with all the people that make Cabot what it is from our dining hall staff, to our custodial staff, to our administrative staff. Everyone really comes together to make Cabot feel like a home. Also, the walk is not that bad.

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And that wraps up the Housing Market for Cabot House! We hope you get excited about Housing Day (especially for Cabot!). Don’t let getting Quadded get to you. A little extra walk is worth it to have this cozy home with a wonderful, supportive community.

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Quirks and Perks

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The rumors are true: Currier revolves around good food. The debate over the best Harvard House may never truly be resolved, but the closest we’ll get is the general consensus that Currier spotlights HUDS at its full potential. Besides the atmosphere and layout of the d-hall, both extremely conducive to fostering and deepening community, Currier is home to the one and only: Food Drops. Every Sunday evening, Currier’s HoCo orders a ton of food. Sometimes the orders are without rhyme or reason, like huge orders from McDonald’s or Dominoes. But sometimes, it’s to a theme, like Nigerian food or Super Bowl themed food. Think, the ultimate brain break to chase away the Sunday Scaries and be at peak dietary fulfillment!

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On top of its amazing food, Currier is the proud host of many go-to events such as the yearly Halloween party “Heaven and Hell” and Currioke, which as the name suggests, is Currier’s karaoke night where residents can put the songs that they’ve only practiced in the shower to good use in the back of the Fishbowl. The fun doesn’t stop here, though, since Currier also throws a variety of “steins” or events during the year such as the Easter Stein that Currier’s HoCo Chairs Sam R. Vitale ’25 and Necati O. Unsal ’26 called “crazy competitive,” as well as a party for Currier’s beloved security guard Bill who works the 4 PM to 12 AM shift and sees everyone come back home <3.

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We can already assume that Currier is the birthplace of power, being pretty much the most feminist House of them all. People including Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Yo-Yo Ma, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and even Boston’s own Michelle Wu, among others, also once walked the same hallways and worked in the same spacious 165 square-foot rooms that only Currier offers.

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This seems to extend to the present too. “Look around you! Future famous alumni!” exclaimed Unsal, pointing to the many people seated around the d-hall, ranging from floaters to first-years, to actual Currier residents. And while Currier has these big names to broadcast and possesses this sense of power, it is evident that the true strength comes from the tightly knit community, found in the Quad, but more realistically, rooted in Currier, who also happens to be a leader of the so-called Quad-renaissance (iykyk).

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Though not as well known as their steins or food drops, Currier has recently adopted the house tradition of rubber ducks being placed throughout the house. What started with tiny ducks being randomly scattered throughout the house soon evolved into something bigger - quite literally. “I remember walking into the d-hall my sophomore year, and there was a huge duck just in the fountain,” explains Vitale. The origins of this tradition remain unknown, yet it seems they have plans to expand this year, plans that seem to be sealed tightly under wraps as Vitale and Unsal soon fell to a hush and began giggling. Perhaps current and incoming Currier residents should expect to see some ducks in their future, and no, not the CS50 ones.

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In reference to this Curri-ky tradition, Vitale posits, “Is it giving old money Harvard? Probably not. It’s giving home,” which as a Currierite, will come to mean more to you than anything else. And, as Unsal points out, cultivating a sense of home and belonging is “really what we want to create with the new generation.”

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All About Housing

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Like the other two Quad houses, Currier is all about community, but not just because it’s a 17-minute walk (according to Google Maps) from your classes in the Science Center. Currier’s unique layout naturally lends itself to a “wholesome community,” as Currier resident and Crimson Flyby editor Katie E. Hennessey ’24 said.

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With only one main entrance that is conveniently located directly across the street from the shuttle station and leads straight down to the dining hall and Fishbowl (a common room with a large projector screen that recently held a massive showing of the LVIII Super Bowl!), you are bound to run into your fellow Currierites 24/7. Even the layout of the dining hall with only one entrance and exit – and a glorious fountain in the middle with plants that create the dining space of any feng shui Pinterester’s dreams – make it a vibrant and welcoming place to spot friendly faces and strike up those unexpected “you just made my day” conversations.

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However, on the slight chance that you don’t see a familiar face grabbing Oatly ice cream at 2 am or stationing themselves next to the d-hall’s fountain as background noise for their PSET grind, you can stop to admire your friends’ beautiful faces on wall monitors that rotate through a cycle of self-submitted photos. According to Hennessey, “[Currier] always asks us to submit pictures of ourselves or things you’ve done” for all residents to see what everyone has been up to, or even get a boost of serotonin from looking at a picture of someone’s cute dog before your 8:30 a.m. trek to the Yard for section.

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Moving on from the Lower Main, there are elevators that lead to dorms in each of Currier’s four towers – Bingham, Daniels, Gilbert, and Tuchman – which also happen to be named after notable Radcliffe College alumnae (another day, another slay for women!). The dorms in these towers can be either two singles connected by a bathroom or a typical suite layout that can include a kitchen and even a balcony if you are fortunate enough to be placed into one of the fifth-floor penthouse suites. These special suites even have private access to their very own solarium, which Hennessey says she is lucky enough to have as a resident of one of the penthouses since it is “nice to also have a space that’s separate from your room where you can just come and hang out.”

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However, if you do not get placed into one of the penthouses or the infamous “Ten Man” suite that houses ten people and contains a huge common room that is used for Currier parties, do not fret. Currier boasts a plethora of other rooms in which to hang out and spend time perfecting new hobbies. Whether that looks like whipping up a Gordon Ramsay-level meal in one of the 52 kitchens, learning Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” on the guitar in the music rooms, taking time to yourself in the meditation and prayer room, letting out your midterms stress by chucking paint onto a canvas in the art room, getting a quick workout in the in-house gym and dance studio (and saying hi to your AADT friends who often use the space for practices), or beating your friends in a not so friendly game of pool in the lounge area near the d-hall, you will never, ever be bored.

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Your Questions, Answered

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Slowly becoming a Quad convert because of Currier? We get it. Still a little bit Currie(r)ous about what makes Currier the place to be? We also get it. But don’t worry, these questions truly capture its magic:

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What’s your favorite Currier memory?

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NOU: So many of them revolve around the d-hall. The fact that I can sit in one place and people that I’m friends with whether it’s directly through my blocking group or tangentially just having seen them in the hallway, we’ll all just sit at the same table.

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SRV: Last year’s housing day, because as you guys may know, Currier had a very successful Housing Day video. Just walking to the Yard on Housing Day, we were stopping traffic in the road and it was so fun. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

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NOU: Energy was crazy – electric, you could say.

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If you had to compare your Faculty Dean to a certain superhero, which one would you choose and why?

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NOU: I mean does she need to be compared to another one?

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SRV: [She is] the embodiment of the word girlboss.

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NOU: Girlboss energy. I don’t think other houses can say they have that. I think you can ask other superheroes instead how they embody her spirit.

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Since much of Currier’s reputation revolves around its dining and food scene, it begs the question, what kitchen utensil would Currier be and why?

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NOU: Tongs.

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SRV: I was going to say spatula.

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NOU: Tongs are for group scenarios, right? Like when you are in a group setting, or when you’re grilling? Spatula. Spork does embody the accessibility that we represent as a house.

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SRV: Also ladle. A sense of community.

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What is the “Quad Renaissance” we’re hearing rumors of?

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NOU: People mentioned the Quad Renaissance last year. I think Currier is like the Florence or nexus of this movement.

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If you’re lucky enough to be placed into Currier, make sure to learn its unofficial anthems: “Currier vs. the World” Housing Day Video 2023 and “Can’t Catch Me Now” by our teen angst queen Olivia Rodrigo. Come Housing Day, you will all be belting “QUAAAAAAAAAAD THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT” or “I’m in the trees, I’m in the breeze, my footsteps on the ground.”

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{shortcode-e75d306c2165f9b19cbe726dc6e14cffdd45c2be} Are you a first-year who's about to be sorted, or an upperclassman filled with house pride? Either way, Flyby is here to give you all the information you need to be completely informed about Harvard's ~housing market~.

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Find all the houses HERE!

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Check out a behind-the-scenes exclusive of the production of Currier's Housing Day video:

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3/4: As is tradition, the first day of Housing Day week is QUAD DAY! Get retro, get singles, get feminist. #Womenshistorymonth. And for extra insight in what everyone not in the quad is missing, check out this love letter from a writer who transferred from the Quad to the River.

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3/5: Next up is River West! Featuring beautiful courtyards alongside the Charles, elegant House events, and impressive alumni, River West is truly the best, #notbiased. And what better way to prep for Housing Day than learning about the most notable House scandals at Harvard? Stay educated.

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3/6: Day three of Housing Market brings us River East! As the river curves, we find a beautiful dome, majestic towers, and more bunnies than we previously thought possible in an urban area. What more could you want? And for the truly most important scoop in Crimson history, take a look at our very objective and scientific house laundry room tier list.

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3/7: 3/7: Happy housing day, and more importantly, happy River Central day! Featuring breakfast, bells, and brand-new dorm rooms, these three houses can’t be beat. Plus, they’re close to the yard! And for some real perspective on every house, check out our house gym ranking and house library ranking!

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{shortcode-6b23de96f10009bc01603b6c78518950bb9a9b02} Dear Quad,

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I miss you. I didn’t think I would, but I do. I miss you and the million little things that make you everything that you are.

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I miss you in slumber. I miss the silence hanging heavy in the air, so absolute I could hear the crickets chirping and the stars twinkling. I miss waking late in the morning to my alarm instead of at 7 a.m., on a weekend, to the sound of a garbage truck.

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I miss coming home to you. I miss the walks back with friends or by myself, music or my parent’s voices curling into my ears. I miss the feeling of escaping the Harvard bubble, of coming home to a place that was not an extension of school. I miss feeling like a person, not a student.

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I miss the feeling of belonging to a community larger than a single House. I miss the connection with other Quadlings, the immediate solidarity and its solidification on a (not that) long walk home. I miss the happily contrarian feeling that settled in my stomach as I defended you to your detractors. I miss walking into buildings with women’s names over their entryways, of feeling a connection to a definite moment in history rather than the hefty weight of more problematic years.

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I miss studying in Currier d-hall in my pajamas, a blanket around my shoulders. I miss falling asleep on the table, waking up to speedwrite my essay just as HUDS starts cooking breakfast. Now, I visit in pants just a hair too uncomfortable to sleep in (the River’s made me self-conscious about wearing pajamas in public) and work with one eye on the clock, too concerned with shuttle schedules now that I don’t live a minute away.

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I miss you more when it’s raining. I miss the scent of the Quad Lawn, its grass greener than any of the patches of turf found by the river, the reminder that life follows the rain. In the River, rain brings with it the stench of sewage brought a little closer to the surface and cars that race through puddles, showering me with liquids of questionable composition. They were the same storms, but you had a way of making them better, somehow.

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My dreams of you are nightmares, but the nightmares themselves are peaceful. I dream of happiness and friends and normalcy, and when I wake it is with a smile on my face. A smile on my face but a hole in my heart, left when the dream dissolves with only the destabilizing sensation that, when I left, I missed out on something great. I worry, sometimes, that I’ve missed out on you and that my life is worse for it.

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I visit sometimes — all the time, actually — more in a week than I did during the entirety of my freshman year. (You used to barely exist to me, but now that I know you, I can’t stay away.) I visit to see my friends (because some of my favorite people still live in the Quad), to spend at least a few nights a week somewhere other than my room, but perhaps a few of my visits are about seeing you. We were something, and as much as I cried on Housing Day last year, I don’t know if I can ever see us as nothing. I miss you in a million little ways, and as much as I complained about the distance or the mascots or any number of silly things, I love you for everything that makes you you.

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This year, another set of freshmen will learn that they’ll spend the next three years of their lives with you. Some will probably cry. Some will probably fume. But they’ll come around. You tend to grow on people. (I love you for that, too.)

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Much Quadlove,

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SMY

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