CoopAtStan-28W Weds May 16 7:00 pm Draft Only — Draft Only — Draft Only Co-operative Living at Stanford A Report of SWOPSI 146 May 1990 Preface This report resulted from the hard work of the students of a Stanford Workshops on Political and Social Issues (SWOPSI) class called “Co-operative Living and the Current Crisis at Stanford.” Both instructors and students worked assiduously during Winter quarter 1990 researching and writing the various sections of this report. The success of the class’s actions at Stanford and of this report resulted from blending academics and activism (a fun but time-consuming combination). Contributing to this report were: Paul Baer (instructor) Chris Balz Natalie Beerer Tom Boellstorff Scott Braun Liz Cook Joanna Davidson (instructor) Yelena Ginzburg John Hagan Maggie Harrison Alan Haynie Madeline Larsen (instructor) Dave Nichols Sarah Otto Ethan Pride Eric Rose (instructor) Randy Schutt Eric Schwitzgebel Raquel Stote Jim Welch Michael Wooding Bruce Wooster ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people who contributed to this final report and the resolution of the Co-op crisis. Although we would like to mention everyone by name, it might double the length of this entire document. Our everlasting thanks go out to everyone who contributed. Especially Leland Stanford for having his co-operative vision, the SWOPSI Office for carrying it on and providing the opportunity for this class to happen, Henry Levin, our faculty sponsor for his help with the proposal process, Lee Altenberg, whose tremendous knowledge of Stanford co-operative lore is exceeded only by his boundless passion for the co-ops themselves; the Co-op Alumni network, the folks at the Davis, Berkeley, and Cornell co-ops, NASCO, and all of the existing Stanford co-ops for their support during this entire process. For special help with the house histories we would like to thank Susan Larsen, Sam Sandmire and Chuck Spolyar, Duane, Arvind Khilnani, Magic House, and all of the other co-op alums for their stories and contacts. Thanks go to Norm Robinson, Jim Lyons, Keith Guy, Charlotte Strem, Larry Horton, the Row office and Res. Ed. For the wonderful cover, we thank Irene Stapleford. We’re grateful to Eudaemonia house for their community, space, and food. To everyone who wrote a letter or signed a petition or filled out a survey, you contributed to what Bob Hamrdla called “the blitz”, thanks. AND and extra special thanks go to “Jack and Diana, two administrators, doing the best that they can....” Co-operative Living at Stanford Table of Contents Table of Contents Summary ..........................................................................................................................i I. Overview........................................................................................................................1 II. Co-operation ................................................................................................................3 Theories, Models and Issues Concerning Co-operation........................................3 What is Co-operation?..............................................................................3 Five Kinds of Companies Co-operative in the Narrow Sense ...................4 Principles of Co-operation........................................................................5 Notes on Community, Co-operation, and Sustainable Living....................7 Leland Stanford’s Ideas on Co-operation.................................................7 Residential Education and Co-operative Ideals..........................................8 The Co-operative Houses at Stanford .......................................................11 Goals of Residential Education Embodied in Co-ops ...............................11 The Co-op / Res-Ed Relationship .............................................................12 III. Background ................................................................................................................13 Current Campus Residential Co-ops.....................................................................13 The Stanford Residential Co-op Timeline.................................................13 Co-op Vacancy Statistics: 1980-89...........................................................14 Columbae House ......................................................................................14 Hammarskjöld House...............................................................................18 Kairos House............................................................................................20 Phi Psi House...........................................................................................22 Synergy House.........................................................................................25 Terra House..............................................................................................31 Theta Chi ..................................................................................................33 Defunct Residential Stanford Co-operatives .........................................................35 Walter Thompson Co-operative................................................................35 Jordan House............................................................................................35 Androgyny House (aka Simone de Beauvoir)...........................................36 Ecology House .........................................................................................36 Other Co-operative Institutions at Stanford...........................................................37 The Co-op Council ...............................................................................................37 The Co-op Alumni Network .................................................................................37 Non-residential Stanford Co-ops..........................................................................37 The Kosher Eating Co-op.........................................................................38 Co-operative Living at Stanford Table of Contents Stanford Federal Credit Union..................................................................38 Co-ops in the Community.....................................................................................39 Residential Co-ops at Other Universities ..............................................................39 Introduction ..............................................................................................39 UC Berkeley.............................................................................................40 Harvard.....................................................................................................40 Cornell......................................................................................................40 Madison....................................................................................................42 Brown University......................................................................................42 UC Davis..................................................................................................42 Conclusion: Implications for the Stanford Co-ops....................................44 Survey of Stanford Co-op Alumni........................................................................49 IV. The Current Crisis ......................................................................................................57 Chronology of the Post-Quake Events..................................................................57 Effects of and Concerns about Closing Synergy, Columbae , and Phi Psi Co-ops .........................................................................................61 The Structure of Decision Making........................................................................64 V. Recommendations and Alternatives..............................................................................66 Introduction ..........................................................................................................66 Recommendations of the Class.............................................................................66 Repair of Buildings...................................................................................66 Changes in Co-op Programs This Year.....................................................71 The Co-op Union......................................................................................73 Ethnic and Cultural Diversity....................................................................75 Options for the Future ..........................................................................................77 Co-op Office.............................................................................................77 Co-op Contract with the University...........................................................78 Resident Fellows.......................................................................................80 A Separate Co-op Housing Draw .............................................................81 Future Co-op Buildings............................................................................81 Outreach to Other Co-opers .....................................................................86 For Further Reference.......................................................................................................88 Appendix .........................................................................................................................90