The Oberlin Review
<< Front page News March 17, 2006

New Program Housing Formed
Special Interest Housing Introduced
 
Chez Gourmet: 148 S. Professor St. is slated to be the future residence for lucky six future deinzens of gourmet program housing: Culinary House.
 

Students filling out next fall’s housing and dining applications this week have three new options: Botany Co-op, Culinary Program House and Recovery House. All three will be stationed in village housing and were created to supply the increased demand to meet specific areas of student interest.

Botany Co-op

“The Botany group’s mission is to provide an opportunity for students interested in plant life to organize together,” said Molly Tyson, associate dean and director of Residential Education.

There is not a lot yet known about this new option but we do know that the co-op’s four prospective members have plans. Part of their mission is to do much of their work in venues beyond their actual residence.

“They are intending to have monthly sessions open to the rest of the campus to help with planting different items,” said Tyson, “and to work on decreasing stress through gardening and living with plants.”

Culinary House

Culinary House falls under the category of theme housing, the category of which Science Fiction/Fantasy Floor in Noah is most notably a part. Cullinary House falls under the jurisdiction of ResEd but it will operate much like a co-op.

Nathan Leamy, a College senior who will be graduating next December, stressed this point, saying that the house — which he proposed — will require its members to work about five hours a week. The main difference will be that residents will focus on creating gourmet meals for each other.

“I’ve eaten in OSCA my entire time at Oberlin and I’ve liked it a lot,” said Leamy, “but I think the quality of the food sometimes lacks. I hope the Culinary Program House will serve as a catalyst for dialogue and education about dining on Oberlin’s campus.”

At Culinary House, there will be seven sit-down meals a week, including six dinners and a brunch. Attendance will be required for four or five of those.

Members of the house will be appointed to create other gourmet food to be consumed between cooked meals. Also, as in other alternative dining options — the co-ops — students in Culinary House will be able to eat one meal a week in Stevenson or Lord Saunders.

Prospective Culinary House occupant sophomore Daniel Lesser said he is thrilled with the idea of regularly eating gourmet meals.

“It’s exciting to be in an environment with a lot of good cooks and also in such a small community,” said Lesser.

Lesser acknowledges that one concern in such a small co-op-like situation is that issues of respect and equal work-sharing could become even more of an issue.

“I hope that there is a good community dynamic and that people will respect each other,” said Lesser.

Culinary House, located at 148 South Professor St., will accommodate six students.

Students in the Culinary House will pay approximately the same amount as students on the 19 meal plan at CDS for board. Room will equal the regular price of Village Housing.

Aside from an overhead cost paid directly to campus dining, the students’ money will go towards buying bulk food from CDS’s suppliers. It will also purchase gourmet specialty items that those suppliers may not have.

Applications for the other five members of Culinary House, besides Leamy, will be reviewed by Leamy and seniors from the Italian cooking ExCo.

Leamy spoke in regard to eligibility for Culinary House:

“You wouldn’t apply to be in French house if you didn’t speak any French, but you don’t have to be fluent to live there. I’m not looking for trained chefs, but if someone doesn’t know how to make toast they should probably go elsewhere.”

“Theme living is something that comes and goes — a lot of theme living is often transitory,” said Leamy. “I want this to be permanent and last beyond my time here. I don’t want this to just be a group of friends; I want this to be people brought together for a common interest so it can stand as a meeting place for all college and community members for fine dining.”

Recovery House

“What we have provided [with Recovery House] is a space free from substances for students who are in recovery and may need a more supportive environment to deal with issues of alcohol and substance abuse,” said Assistant Director of Housing Administration Ehrai Adams.

But Recovery House presents a departure from special interest houses that might seem related to the House, such as the Quiet Floor and Substance Free Housing.

“Substance Free Housing is an environment, not a support community,” said Adams.

This extra support is intended to come from a number of places.

“We have commitments from the Counseling Center, Student Health and a faculty sponsor to provide institutional support for a recovery space,” said Adams.

“Specific programs will be determined by the residents depending upon their needs and wants,” said Assistant Dean/Director of Health & Life Skills Education Lori Flood.

“Our hope is that the students themselves will identify what they need to feel supported,” said Flood. “[Additionally] my hope is that this will provide a space for students who are in recovery or interested in sober living to feel supported institutionally as well as personally.”

Since Recovery House is a pilot program, ResEd plans for it to house four to eight people.

“We see it as evolving and expect to have our first students work with the mission contract and programming for the house,” said Adams.

An application, which will be confidentially reviewed by the support staff, is required for students to join Recovery House.

“We know [Recovery House] is a need; we don’t know how many students will reach out to it,” said Adams.
 
 

   

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