'Cliffe Plan May Up Quota For Independent Housing

Fifty per cent of Radcliffe's senior class could move into non-college housing by assuming a greater burden of college costs, Mary I. Bunting, president of Radcliffe, announced yesterday.

Reporting to the Radcliffe house residents on a financial study designed "to find a way to let students live in non-college housing," Mrs. Bunting said that Cliffies living "off-campus" would not present a financial problem to the college if they helped to pay administration and maintenance fees.

Drain On Income

Under the current system, "room and board" payments also include costs for such expenses as senior residence salaries and police protection. Since neither room nor board are paid by students living in non-college housing, a major drawback to independent housing was that it is a drain on the college's income.

By breaking down the so-called "room" cost, now set at $620, to two categories--room at $320 and "college services" at $300--a more equal distribution of financial burden could be made, Mrs. Bunting reported. All students would pay the college service payment, regardless of living arrangements.

College Service Costs

Students living in non-college housing would pay just "college services" and tuition and not board and room costs.

Mrs. Bunting emphasized that the study is a purely financial one which still has to be cleared by the College Council, made up of trustees and administrators. "Educational reasons" for housing arrangement decisions will still be greatly influenced by a current Faculty study on Harvard off-campus housing, she said.

She expects a final decision on non-college housing for next year will be made by second semester.

"I am very interested in reaction," Mrs. Bunting said, "and not just 'yes' or 'no' responses. There must be lots of angles I haven't thought of yet."

Mrs. Bunting asked the residents at yesterday's meeting to talk to the girls in their dorms about the proposal and will herself bring it to the Radcliffe Government Association on Thursday.