There’s a meandering path that leads from Cowperthwaite Street to the main entrance of Dunster, which is charming in the summer and somewhat impractical in the winter. On those cold February nights when I finally reach the keycard reader and start fumbling for my ID, hands freezing, I’ll hear the click of the door already unlocking before me. As the double doors part, I’ll see Mike waving at me from the guard’s office. He’s got me.
In Dunster, you’ll feel pampered from the moment the Meese start chanting in your Zoom window. You can expect brie at brain breaks, a harp in the library, and a dining hall that’s reminiscent of Annenberg. Did I mention you can get food until 8 p.m.? Yeah, that’s right. And if you want to work off that late night snack, the newly remodeled gym features brand-new weight racks, rowing machines, and benches, and the squash court is the ideal place to play a pickup game; all 24/7. When you’re in Dunster, you’re at risk of forgetting that you live in a dorm and not a luxury resort. And then you’ll head to the dining hall for Brain Break and see the people clamoring for hints at CS124 office hours, and you’ll remember that you’re a college student after all.
Dunster is designed to cater to your every need. Hungry after the dining hall closes? The grille is just a flight of stairs away, serving up mozz sticks and milkshakes to the tune of curated alternative music. Need to practice for your audition? No problem, we’ve got five soundproof rooms and a 2019 Steinway. And unlike other houses’ disjointed layouts (God forbid needing to walk outside to get to the dining hall), Dunster’s floor plan isn’t here to mess with you. All the amenities are in one building, so you don’t need to walk outside to go anywhere.
Dunster is the only house that lives up to your high school fantasy. With its gorgeous red dome and riverfront views, it’s obvious why Dunster is the most-photographed house at Harvard. Imagine opening a Harvard brochure and seeing a photo of… Mather. Who would blame you for choosing Yale?
Beauty isn’t all we have; Dunster’s personality rivals its exterior. From deans Sean, Cheryl, and Michael to the Wellness Tutors Brian and Cara, the faculty know you by name and treat you like family. And playful email exchanges on [moose-droppings] (“you smelt it you dealt it” / “you replied all you supplied all”) solidify our community as a house, as do traditions like Stein, Goat Roast, and Sophomore Faculty Dinner.Still not convinced? Get Dunster for hygiene. Our state-of-the-art handwashing station may or may not have been one of the reasons why we’re known as “the cleanest house on Earth” (other Housing Day shirt slogans include “Dunster Mifflin” and “Canada Moose”). We may have chairs emblazoned with the Dunster crest and trash cans with hardwood paneling, but more importantly, we have incredible Meese with disinfected hooves. In short, your House could never.
Image Credit: HPR / Tarun Timalsina