Leverett Boasts Few Phi Beta Kappas, But Glories in Enthusiastic House Participation

Present size of House: 335.

Vacancies for Freshmen: about 100.

Rooms for Freshmen: Doubles, triples, several large suites.

Price Range for Freshmen: $110 to $300 per term (high-priced rooms converted, hence slightly cheaper than list).

If Houses were voted "Comeback" awards, Leverett would win in a walk.

Two years ago the unloved "Down-and-out House," the bi-cameral Hutch was recently cited by an "Alumni Bulletin" writer as "the House which most nearly approaches the original house ideal."

Smallest of all the Houses--335 residents--Leverett has a group feeling, an esprit de corpe, a general pride in the House unmatched anywhere in the system--the Hutch boasts a higher percentage of athletic participants than any other House.

This spirit has paid handsomely. The Bunnies roared to the House football championship, and are fighting for the lead in the race for the Straus Trophy.

Typical of the Rabbit Renaissance is Paul Staley, the former Dartmouth captain who coached the Leverett football team to the pennant.

Housemaster Leigh Hoadley--the most enthusiastic Leverett supporter--credits the ebullient Staley with much of the renewed interest in athletics. A second year law student, Staley will direct the Green again this fall.

Other athletic attractions are the Leverett tennis court--unique among the Houses--and the built-in squash courts.

In other ways, Leverett is quite ordinary. The relationship between staff and students is good, but not exceptional; the intensity of "breakfast-table education" is probably below average.

To compensate for this, the House Forum Committee has planned a series of talks by faculty affiliates. These intra-House gatherings are designed to strengthen the teacher-student bond. The house population is very well balanced between high school and private school graduates.

Leverett's real achievement though lies in its ability to promote successful self-Initiated activities. The Hutch is the one House with a band--complete with Bunny mascot--to play at football games. There is also a thriving Glee Club, an informal dance band, and an operetta-producing Music Society, too.

D'Oyle Carte

Another pleasant musical custom centers around the bi-annual American tour of the D'Oyle Carte Opera Company. When the troupe reaches Boston, the entire group comes to Leverett House for a dinner, with an impromptu Gilbert and Sullivan concert afterwards.

Organized entertainment has long been a Leverett specialty. The dances perennially draw more couples than any other House's and the Hutches's entry beer parties are legendary.

Affairs such as these latter, plus the conveniently small size of the House, enable, residents to know each other well. Leverett has 119 suites, only eight of them singles, which also cut down individual isolations.

Men desiring large suits should definitely consider Leverett, which has several such--accommodating as many as five occupants each.