RSSC members present: Abby Pelcyger, Eric Liu, Eli Hopson, Erin Hester, Steve Stuntz

 1) Diversity, as articulated in the 9^th "value", exists at two levels within the residence system. One is through a diversity within a given living group, and the second is through a diversity of different living group options within the system.

2) Diversity frequently conflicts with choice, and choice is generally afforded greater value.

3) What is inherently wrong with a rush timing much earlier in the academic year than in January?

• Concerns over impact in the academic (coursework) experience
• Counter-concerns over impact of sustained rush period on academic performance of upperclass persons.

4) How does the RSSC feel about the timing of bids being given (rather than when rush will take place)?

• This issue has not been discussed at any length within the committee.

5) The weather has to be factored into any discussion of a FSILG rush in January.

6) Emphasized by forum attendees that an extend rush period over several months will be scholastically extremely distracting.

7) Rush timing needs to account for the importance of the week before rush in preparing the house for rush.

8) Freshmen's connection to houses are truly superior to anything available within the residence halls, even in the future era of RA's. Opportunities for FSILG's to partner with residence halls in mentoring freshmen should be developed.

• Blocking of 10-20 pledges of a specific FSILG within a given residence hall should be the mechanism for generating that partnership.

9) The late fall represents that time where the "summer camp" friendships of the August rush mature to more lasting friendships. FSILG rush should precede that natural maturation timeframe.

10) What can we learn from the sorority rush at MIT (a rush that is fundamentally different in many ways from the fraternity and ILG rush)?

11) Residential inertia is the great fear of the FSILG system. The sophomore shuffle is not an obvious remedy to this inertia.

12) MIT fraternities must fight the national cultural bias that fraternal living is antithetical to academics. This fight is time consuming and expensive.

13) The high cost of rush is largely viewed as a given, and cannot be reduced.

14) Transition support via graduate students is not an obvious help to the FSILG system. Raises issues of liability and negligence for the houses.

15) How long is the RSSC considering for the transitional period? Three years? Ten years? What comes after the transition?

16) MIT needs a policy that allows any student to leave a housing contract at any time within the academic year without penalty.