Students Speaking out about House Community

This past Monday a group of students at Smith held a demonstration on campus and presented a list of issues to the administration concerning the perceived downward slide of housing and house community at Smith. Below is the introductory paragraph to the letter they presented with a link to the full document. If anyone is interested in connecting with these students or has questions for them, please contact Amanda Belden '07, Tamar Malloy '07, or Katie Chase '07.

This is an issue that I have been paying attention to over the last few years since I was sitting on the AASC Board of Directors at the time the changes began. Sadly, it seems that many of the fears concerning house community and tradition that were expressed during those early meetings are happening. There is a lively discussions taking place on the issue at the Alum. Daily Jolt and I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue.

*****

May 7, 2007

Dear Smith Community,

Smith is housing.

We are Gold Key, we are Committee Members, we are House Presidents, Heads of New Students, SGA members, we are singers, writers, we are student workers, and we are organizers. As student leaders, as Smith seniors, and soon to be alumnae, and above all as members of our house communities, we are writing out of our love for Smith.

In the past four years, we have witnessed a transformation. We applied to many colleges that offered strong academics, a diverse community with a commitment to equality, grant funding for internships, alumnae networks and libraries. What set Smith apart was housing. We knew it would give us a community with a natural support network and a sense of home that other top colleges could not offer. Yet even while many of Smith’s other, less unique, programs are poised to receive increased funding and attention, our sense of home has fallen apart.

Rest Of The Letter