Rotes Haus Fest

Despite being more expensive than off-campus housing, Penn Housing doesn't offer all that much more in the way of services. When I lived there, I appreciated the extra security that my rent paid for, but the fellowships, endless, terrible movie-nights, and "Meet Your House Dean" dinners, make me all the more happy that I won't be living on-campus next year.

The Germans have a much better system. Although subsidized by the government, the facilities aren't the greatest. But the rent here for a normal student is rock-bottom. And how do the students fill their need for socializing without a "House Dean" to tell them how? Well, they do it themselves.

I just got back from working the Red House Festival, where we sold alcohol and made money. Now for the rest of the year, the inhabitants of Red House can have floor dinners and small outings. And we get to decide for ourselves what to do--no house dean to tell us otherwise.

While alcohol liscensing laws in the USA might prevent Penn from fully adopting this model, they should definitely look into something similar. Get rid of the house deans and dinners, lower rent, and let the students decide what they want.