Frequently asked questions

From WikiSutra

Contents 1 General questions 1.1 If I live in the Co-op, do I, like, have to cook for everyone? 1.2 So then, what do I have to do? 1.3 Where is the Co-op? Aren't you really far away? 1.4 Wait, so you're the Center for High Energy Meta-Physics? 1.5 So what does it stand for? Why the funny name? 1.6 Is the Co-op on-campus or off-campus housing? 1.7 What are the rooms like? 1.8 Do you have ethernet? 1.9 Can I eat meat there? 1.10 What's the Free Pile? 1.11 Can I have pets if I live there? 1.12 What are the other perks of living in the Co-op? 1.13 Why don't I live there? 1.14 Can I live in the co-op over the summer? 1.15 How do I adjust the heat in my room? 2 Alumna/ae/i questions 2.1 So, are you gonna make an alum database already? 2.2 What's happening with the newsletter? 2.3 I missed the 50th reunion in spring '08! I still want to be involved, though. What should I do? 3 Kitchen questions 3.1 People tell me that the sanitizer is not a dishwasher, but I don't believe them, because it seems so unmistakably dishwasherlike. 3.2 How can I make my pasta water boil faster? 3.3 Who makes the kitchen so messy? 3.4 How can we prevent the messy people from destroying our kitchen with their filth? 3.5 Why shouldn't I hate people who make a mess in the kitchen that I have to clean up? 3.6 Why can't I put metal cans or containers in the fridge? 3.7 Where do all the spoons (forks, cups, bowls) go?

General questions

If I live in the Co-op, do I, like, have to cook for everyone?

No, not if you don't want to.

So then, what do I have to do?

The co-op works on a points system where each cooper signs up to do a certain number of points every two weeks. For example, instead of cooking, you could get points by cleaning dishes, doing the pots, or sweeping the halls.

Where is the Co-op? Aren't you really far away?

We're halfway between Harvard Square and Porter Square on Mass. Ave., a bit closer to campus than the Quad. Hey, we're even closer to the Science Center than either Mather or Dunster. Our two houses are at 3 Sacramento Street and 1705 Mass Ave., right around the corner from each other.

Wait, so you're the Center for High Energy Meta-Physics?

Yup.

So what does it stand for? Why the funny name?

Think about the initials.

Is the Co-op on-campus or off-campus housing?

Technically we are on-campus housing, but practically we are off-campus housing. Basically, we have the best of both worlds.

What are the rooms like?

Some people say that Cabot House has the best senior rooms, but I'd have to disagree. We live in Victorian Houses, and Victorian Houses are really nice. I mean Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge both slept here when it used to be a B&B, and they couldn't have been sleeping in cramped quarters could they? One of the rooms here is called the "football field" because it's sooo big. Many rooms have fireplaces. Most of the rooms are singles, but we also have four doubles. Don't be put off by the thought of doubles, though, because these are really nice--only one is a one room double (and it is enormous), and all the others are two or three room doubles.

Do you have ethernet?

Yes, we are part of the Harvard ethernet system as well as the phone system. Both houses have wireless.

Can I eat meat there?

Yes, you can have and cook meat (I just cooked a big porter house steak ...mmmmmmm...). However, communal meals are always vegetarian and usually with plenty of vegan and/or gluten-free options.

What's the Free Pile?

Ahhh, the free pile. Where to begin? The free pile is where you put all that stuff that you don't want any more, but other people might. It is where I get all my clothing. It is where I got my speakers, my CD player, CD's to play in my CD player, and my marbles, which evidently someone decided to give away, though I don't know why. It's located right next to the washroom on the 1st floor, on the ledge attached to the steps.

I think I left a moped in the free pile 20 years ago.

Can I have pets if I live there?

Yes, we allow pets in 1705 Mass. Ave, one of our two houses, by vote at a co-op meeting. The other house, 3 Sac, is pet-free (well, "furry pet"-free, we did use to have a bath tub full of fish, who were tragically lost in an accident involving Simple Green), so people with allergies don't have to worry.

What are the other perks of living in the Co-op?

We are about $3000/year cheaper than living in the houses. We have free parking (which is nothing to scoff at in Cambridge), free laundry, all the perks of being part of Dudley house, good home-cooked meals, many bourgie organic foods, and fresh baked bread every day. We are environmentally conscious and compost our waste. And we consist of cool diverse people in a relaxed non-institutional atmosphere.

Why don't I live there?

I don't know. Why don't you?

Can I live in the co-op over the summer?

Currently (as of 4/18/09), "summer co-op" is not in operation.

How do I adjust the heat in my room?

• Are your storm windows closed? This is the major reason that some

folks are freezing. If your storm windows are stuck, just let me know--usually I can fix it.

• If your room is too hot, don't throw open your windows. It's a

waste of heat. Instead, adjust your heat source:

• If your heat comes through a vent in the floor, you probably have a

dial on the left side of the grill. Turn it to open or close the vent. See image:

Alumna/ae/i questions

So, are you gonna make an alum database already?

Okay, okay, we're working on it. Right now it's not on-line, but hopefully soon it will. There is a Yahoo! group for alumni (and current residents) who'd like to keep in touch with each other. It's at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dudleycoop/

What's happening with the newsletter?

Weeelll... not really anthing. If you'd like to help resurrect it please email us at dudcoop@hcs.harvard.edu.

I missed the 50th reunion in spring '08! I still want to be involved, though. What should I do?

Contact Tyler Neill '08, tyler.g.neill@gmail.com, as he is coordinating an HAA "Shared Interest Group" and other wonderful things to keep you in touch with us and us in touch with our history.

Compiled and written by Hana Takusagawa 3/02, modified by Han Yu 2/05; updated by Eva Rosenberg 4/09.

Kitchen questions

(borrowed and modified from the Enchanted Broccoli Forest web page at Stanford)

People tell me that the sanitizer is not a dishwasher, but I don't believe them, because it seems so unmistakably dishwasherlike.

Things are not always as they seem. The Sanitizer (or Avenger - RIP the Hobart, co-op spring '08) kills people's germs by briefly blasting the dishes with very very hot water. This does not mean it washes your dishes. In fact, if you leave food on your dishes and sanitize them, the food petrifies and is virtually impossible to remove. On the bright side, you don't have to sanitize pots and pans, Tupperware, graters, or measuring cups unless you ate off them. In short: WASH EVERYTHING you use; only sanitize things you ate with.

How can I make my pasta water boil faster?

You can start with hot water, although recently we heard that it leaches heavy metals into the water. If you don't start with hot water, you should put the water on by 3 or so, and make sure to cover it. Really, it takes that long. If it gets to be about 5:20 and your water still isn't boiling, pour it into one of those deep rectangular baking pans and put it over 2 burners of the stove. You probably won't be able to fit all the water in there, so just use whatever fits. Cover it. It should boil within about 15 minutes. And of course, don't watch the pot or it will never boil!

Who makes the kitchen so messy?

Demons. (Also people who don't make absolutely sure they put all their stuff away.)

How can we prevent the messy people from destroying our kitchen with their filth?

If you see someone leaving stuff around the kitchen, you can say, "Are you done with this?" and start putting it away. This should make them scurry to help, and if they don't, at least it's a little cleaner. It's good to get in the habit of putting away one or two things for other people while you're cleaning up your own stuff, even when they would probably clean it eventually. It is friendly and it also helps people realize that someone does notice the stuff they leave out. Don't hate people who need this extra reminder, or you will soon be very bitter and angry. We are also making a special attempt to be extra-clean on Tuesday mornings, when the good folks who deep-clean our kitchen weekly come by!

Why shouldn't I hate people who make a mess in the kitchen that I have to clean up?

Most people mean to put their stuff away, but don't for various reasons. Besides the obvious (forgetfulness, laziness, drunken stupor), there are gray areas in cleaning responsibility, which can lead to messy areas in the kitchen. A few examples: If someone gets out the cream cheese and someone else uses it afterwards, who puts it away? (The last person who uses it, otherwise the first person will be waiting in the kitchen all morning). If someone bakes brownies for the house and then goes away before they are all gone, who has to wash the pan? The last brownie eater or the baker? (Ideally the brownie finisher would, but if that doesn't happen, it's the baker's responsibility.) And how many dishes does a Hobart rack really hold before you have to get out a new one? (Just get a new one out already. It's not that hard.)

Why can't I put metal cans or containers in the fridge?

Because the Health Inspector (Val) said so. The question of whether or not we will really all get botulism and die a gruesome death is interesting and has been hotly debated, but don't let a dissenting opinion influence your behavior. Whether or not our lives are at stake, we are sure to be fined if we don't store things properly.

Where do all the spoons (forks, cups, bowls) go?

To people's rooms. Much silverware is also sacrificed to the garbage disposal, which is why you should always stick your hand down the garbage disposal and see if there is silverware in there before you run it.