HOME / ABOUT MATHER /

Mather House Policies

house rules

Mather House: House Rules 

Community Standards and Residential Policies

August, 2023

Dear Members of the Mather House Community,

Welcome, or welcome back, to Mather House! Mather is a residential community where we get to know our neighbors and support each other as we study, learn, and grow. Living in this community is an opportunity that requires us all to show respect for each other and work together to meet our shared and individual goals. Please reach out to us or the resident tutors with any questions about the expectations and policies below.

Sincerely,

a_l

Amala and L. Mahadevan
Faculty Deans

l_s

Luke Leafgren
Allston Burr Resident Dean

 

EMERGENCIES

Please program your phone with these numbers right away. We’re here to help, 24/7: 

 

HUPD (all health/safety emergencies): 617-495-1212
HUHS (including overnight nurse advice): 617-495-5711
Operations (maintenance emergency): 617-495-5560
Mather Tutor-On-Call (TOC): 617-331-9510
CAMHS Cares After-Hours Counselor: 617-495-2042
SHARE (sexual assault/harassment): 617-495-9100   

 

 

HOUSE SECURITY

  • Theft happens (including laptops and phones), even in common rooms, bedrooms, and the dining hall. Move-in and move-out are particularly high-risk times. Disabling/blocking your lock or propping your suite door is a risk to everyone in the suite (including across a shared bathroom) and therefore is not allowed.
  • Piggybacking: Don't let people into Mather unless you’re sure they are members of the community. Call HUPD (617-495-1212) about any suspicious behavior.
  • Guests: You are responsible for the behavior of your guests and how they affect your neighbors and
    suitemates. Guests staying three or more three nights in a row must be registered with your tutor.

 

HEALTH & SAFETY

  • Be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially at night.
  • Register today with “Message Me” for important campus safety messages: www.messageme.harvard.edu
  • Physical and mental health support at HUHS is included in every student’s health service fee. Please invest in yourself by sleeping regularly, eating well, making time for physical activity, and developing relationships.
  • Observe all public health measures. Good hand washing helps stop the flu (and many other infections). If you fall ill, please avoid the dhall and stay home from class. Let your tutor know and email our dining hall manager to request a meal that your suitemates can bring back for you.
  • Mather is committed to an environment where everyone is safe from unwanted sexual contact and gender-based harassment. The Office of Gender Equity, the Title IX office, and Mather staff can provide support.
  • Let your tutor know if you are going to be away from campus for three or more nights.

 

FIRE SAFETY

  • For the safety of all: Do not block fire escape doors. Don't overload your outlets with equipment. Don't cook in your rooms (instead, make use of the JCR kitchen). Candles are prohibited.
  • Fire Alarms: Exit the building immediately if the alarm goes off. Do not use elevators. (Let your tutor know of any issue affecting your mobility.) If it’s too cold to gather in the courtyard, proceed to the Dunster DHall.

DRUGS

  • The College does not permit drug dealing or distribution because of the dangers it brings to the community. Marijuana possession is a violation of federal law and remains prohibited on Harvard property.
  • Illegal substances are both a health concern and a disciplinary matter. However, no disciplinary action will be taken for drug possession or use or for underage drinking when you seek help for yourself or a friend. 

SMOKING

  • Smoking (including vaping) is prohibited within Mather, both inside the buildings and in the courtyard.
  • Smoke passes easily between rooms due to the ventilation system, and it is a major annoyance to neighbors. Repeated offences will lead to notification of parents, disciplinary action, and a requirement to move out of Mather. Please don’t do it, not even once.

PARTIES & ALCOHOL

  • Parties: We want you to socialize in Mather. As always, you are responsible for the safety of your guests and for not letting them disrupt the community with unacceptable noise or inappropriate behavior. To help you plan a safe and well-organized party, the following events must be registered:
    • Private room gatherings with more than 15 people
    • Any party in a common room, which also requires an online room reservation. 
  • Party Registration: Events and parties are registered with an online form, available on the Mather website, which student hosts discuss with the TOC prior to their event, typically on a Thursday evening. Space for events held in the JCR, MCR, or Sunken Courtyard can be requested by an online form, due on the Sun before the event. After space allocation is decided, student hosts meet with the TOC to talk through their event. Hosts must be present for their whole event.
  • Alcohol: Students are expected to act responsibly and follow state laws: under-21 students may not possess or consume alcohol, and no one may provide alcohol to anyone underage. House staff will confront obvious violations of the law.
  • Safety: Not all Harvard students drink alcohol, and most who do set a limit. If you choose to drink: know your limits, avoid rapid alcohol consumption (especially via shots or drinking games), count your drinks, alternate with water and food, be careful of spiked drinks, and watch out for your friends.

 

LOCK OUTS, TRASH, & MAINTENANCE

  • If locked out, seek help in the superintendent’s office, or by calling Securitas at 617-496-9370, or the Tutor-on-call on Sat/Sun 8am-4pm. (As a general rule, HUPD is not available to help with lockouts.) 
  • Miguel’s office has vacuum cleaners and trash bags to help you keep our House clean. Bring trash and recyclables to the bins in the basement of the Tower and B-Entryway.
  • Report routine maintenance requests to Miguel via a form on the Mather website. Drop by the office for anything more urgent, and call Operations (617-495-5560, 24/7) for maintenance emergencies.

COMMUNITY

  • Mather is your home, and the staff is committed to supporting each of you.
  • Know your neighbors and get involved: introduce yourselves to one another, join HoCo, attend House events. Sign up for meetmather.fas.harvard.edu. You have the ability to build the community you want!
  • Contact HA Shannon and resident tutors Aja and Logan to request funding for student-initiated programs.
  • External decorations, including in the windows, are not allowed unless approved by House staff.
  • The dining hall and custodial staff are valued members of our community. Learn the names of these staff members who help make Mather a home! Respect their work by doing your part to keep Mather clean.
  • Dhall policies: No dining hall trays, dishes, or utensils should be stored in student rooms or abandoned in the hallways, basement, or other common areas. Swipe for every meal to ensure accurate records.
  • Sound travels easily in Mather, and neighbors on all sides will hear any normal-to-loud voices, TVs, or music in your room. You can show consideration and promote happiness by being mindful of your volume.
  • Quiet hours begin at 11pm on weeknights and 2am on the weekends and extend until 8am. If someone is making too much noise, express your concern directly and in person, or get help from a tutor. Music cannot be played through speakers at any volume during quiet hours.
  • Read emails from Concrete_Official and Concrete-Share to avoid missing important messages regarding community, residence, and academics. For up to date information on events check the website calendar. Share opportunities, events, and your thoughts on Concrete-Share, but no more than 3x per event.
  • Bystander intervention: You have the power to address any issue that makes you concerned for an individual or the community. Learn the skills (direct intervention, delegating someone to help, and creating a distraction), and you’ll be proud of the difference you can make. Use your best judgment in deciding whether a proctor, tutor, dean, or HUPD needs to be called or notified. We are always here to help.

 

 

Posting Policy: 

 

Here in Mather House, we encourage and appreciate student engagement and community resource sharing. To ensure the integrity of community posting spaces, the Faculty Deans (per the Student Handbook “Distribution of Printed Matter” policy) have the right to regulate the time, place, and manner of material distribution in posting areas. Mather community members are permitted to post on approved posting spaces, as denoted by the signage. Posters that are not in line with institutional policies may be removed by the house leadership team and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Posters put up in locations that are not approved posting spaces will be taken down and not reposted. Please be responsible and remove your posters when they are past date. All posters will be removed on the first of each month. Questions? Contact the Mather House Administrator at mather-ha@fas.harvard.edu