KDR rallies to fill house beds

Author: Thomas C. Drescher

Community Council went into executive session Monday to discuss its annual social and academic interest house recommendations for a second straight week. Kappa Delta Rho (KDR) occupancy issues for the upcoming fall semester occasioned a delay in the process - but a strong membership and alumni base are working to resolve these issues and ensure the house's future within Middlebury College's social house system.

Filling beds has been a fluctuating concern for some social house leaders and administrators in recent years. In most cases, minor concessions can be made as a short-term remedy to bolster a house struggling to meet its occupancy requirements. For example, each social house is allowed to quarter a small number of non-members, according to Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Karen Guttentag, who also specified that KDR is permitted to house two non-members. Guttentag added that she did not see KDR's particular housing issue as a reflection of current "system-wide concerns."

KDR Vice-President Lauren Battaglia '06 cited the College's gradual introduction of additional senior living spaces as a major factor in propagating KDR's occupancy problems. "Our house is trying to compete with new senior housing on campus," she explained. "That's difficult when your house is 100 years old. This summer our house will be undergoing renovations - such as new paint and refinishing of the hardwood floors - to try to keep up with the changes going on up-campus."

Battaglia also admitted that KDR's recruitment numbers have been down in recent semesters, but emphasized the organization's commitment to generating interest in KDR and boosting pledge numbers. "This spring we will be throwing more parties, having more barbeques and trying to find more ways to bring students down to KDR to show them that the house and its members are worth the walk," she said.

"This spring marks the 100th anniversary of KDR and there will be many alumni coming to visit who are very enthusiastic about the house," Battaglia added. "I am hoping these alumni may 'rub off' on some students interested in rushing. KDR is rich in tradition, and with a big recruiting class this fall, the tradition will certainly continue."

Guttentag reaffirmed this sentiment. "KDR has an incredibly strong base of highly committed alumni, and this group is preparing to return to campus next month for their centennial celebration of KDR at Middlebury," she said. "I believe that the alumni are also planning to support the current membership in reconnecting with KDR's founding principles, and that the current members are excited about this process."

KDR member Mike Vilarello '05 asserted that house leaders and alumni "really stepped up to the plate." "KDR is clearly back on track to be the model social house that it once was," he said.

The finalized Community Council recommendations are submitted to President Ronald D. Liebowitz, who makes all final decisions concerning the continuation of social and academic interest houses.

Guttentag explained that recommendations are kept confidential "until the president has had a chance to review [them] and respond" in order to "preserve the integrity of the process."

Concerning other social houses, she pointed out, "The Mill, Xenia and Tavern all attracted strong and enthusiastic spring pledge classes, and ADP, which chooses to offer rush and pledge only in the fall, has continued to draw the largest membership in the system."