To the Editor:
"Housing co-ops are dirty."These are just a few of the typical co-op stereotypes I hear regularly at Oberlin from students, faculty, staff and Oberlin residents. It appears that for one reason or another, specific visions, certain reputations and perpetual myths about housing co-ops refuse to yield to the reality that exists today in Harkness, Keep and Tank.
"Co-opers do a lot of drugs in an irresponsible manner."
"Co-ops are the frats of Oberlin. All they do is party."
"Co-ops are inherently racist and sexist environments."
"Co-opers can't manage their own communities. They lack leadership."
"Housing Co-ops should be torn down!"
Even more interesting is that many of these statements are made by people who have never even set foot in a co-op; and those that have, haven't done so recently. The point is, co-ops change.
A housing co-operative is a unique opportunity for people to live in a close-knit, engaging, intentional community. Yes, reputations do exist, usually built up on a handful of incidents that have happened in the past. But as membership and leadership changes year to year, traditions change, myths fade and old problems are resolved.
After the problems of the last several years, the housing co-ops this year have worked really hard to rejuvenate their communities. The result are successful communities, whose current members are so dedicated to their houses that they don't want to move out at the end of the year.
Consider that there were 17 applicants for the unpaid 8-15 hour/week positions of HLEC this year. Consider that at Keep we have had almost 70 programming events organized by many house members on many topics from speakers to dorm raps to coffeehouses to community projects. Consider that we inspect the cleanliness of our house every 12 hours. This says a lot to me.
Nevertheless, the housing co-ops did not do a lot toward bettering their image; mainly because we were working on fixing our own communities first. Yes, there are still problems - as many as any dorm would face - but at least we're trying and making positive headway.
People tend to be quick to judge. It is a shame that because of a few past incidents or a rumor gone out of hand, people can't see past them. In a co-op, every individual is responsible for maintaining the fabric of their community - from keeping the house clean and maintained, to being actively involved in house events, to helping the community to resolve its problems.
Living in a housing co-op can be a wonderful experience or it can be a trying one. It really depends on how the community pulls together.
Yes, maybe we could do more education in our communities about co-op issues, and work on increasing diversity. Maybe we should have been more visible on campus in ways other than just all-campus parties, burned toasters and the occasional incident. Co-ops are not ideal communities; rather, it is an attempt to form one by really focusing on what it means to live in a community. We're trying, give us a chance.
While everyone may not be interested in living in a co-op, co-ops are designed to accommodate anyone, no matter what your reason for living in a co-op may be. Consider living in Harkness, Keep, Tank or the 16-person potentially all-women's co-op next year. You can still get on the waitlist.
Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 124, Number 21; April 19, 1996
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