Masters May Relinquish Control of Rental Fund

Responsibility for the rent adjustment fund under the new uniform rent system may be transferred to the Financial Aid Office, Charles H. Taylor, Master of Kirkland House, said after a meeting of the Masters yesterday.

Many of the Masters, who were responsible for administering the fund under the series of graduated rents, are reported to favor the handling of the matter by the Financial Aid Office, as a part of the general scholarship procedures.

Alwin M. Pappenheimer, Master of Dunster House, has led the enthusiastic response of the Masters to the rent decision. He said that he has always been distressed by the number of "outrageously priced rooms in Dunster, which are not even the most valuable."

Several Masters dismissed the suggestion that rooms might be assigned on the basis of distinguished service to the House, as suggested last week. Taylor, in a statement to all members of Kirkland House, called the method "unfair and invidious;" he said he will arrive at his method of assignment after consulation with the House Committee and House staff.

Priority by Class

Priority by class will be the basic criterion for room assignment in all the Houses next year. Master John M. Bullitt of Quincy House suggested, however, that a year in Claverly-and other considerations might enhance a student's chances for a room in the new building of his House. He intends, however, to save a few rooms in the new building for entering sophomores to make it "well-balanced."

Sophomores and juniors with desirable rooms this year will probably be able to keep them next year, according to David E. Owen, Master of Winthrop House. Taylor, on the other hand, said he is not sure this will be the case in Kirkland.

Owen pointed out that the system will be more difficult to administer here than at Yale, since there is more variety in accommodations at Harvard.

The Winthrop Master stressed the unanimity of his colleagues, who requested the system three years ago. "I'm glad we'll no longer have to assign the best rooms to affluent sophomores, when seniors with theses to write can't afford them."