While searching for jobs that might aid in my living a secure, happy next spring in Boston, three mysterious albeit important Harvard types entered the Leverett super’s office. They wanted to see a room, any room in the Towers. After explaining that they had already met with the superintendent himself, and my remembering which rooms were occupied and which lacked windows, I brought them to a partitioned double on the ninth floor of G.

The ladies were audibly disgusted by the cinderblock conditions but impressed by the view. However, the laminate floor tile couldn’t prepare them for the “pests.” The man, their leader who explained vaguely incorrect things about the undergraduate housing experience, asked whether I preferred the Towers to Old. I answered that I’ve always lived in the Towers because of their larger rooms, manifold singles, and lack of bugs. I continued, explaining that the geometry of the building is very isolating but that we have a strong dining hall community. They acknowledged my answers, but it wasn’t clear to me that they had listened to them.

Ah, but that’s exactly how I imagine the administration: emotionally distant and in a bow-tie.

Their tour started in Quincy and proceeded to Mather. If I were a betting man, I’d venture to say that the Allston houses might include large, concrete towers. But I’m not a betting man, so don’t hold me to it.