House Teas Still Drawing
Crowds
By Jessie Fredlund ’07
 “What
house do you live in?”
That’s often the first question asked when Smith
alumnae meet current students. For more than a century, Smith’s unique housing
system, in which students live together in self-governing residences, has set it
apart.
Houses—and housemates—are still important
components of life as a Smith student. But today’s Smithies are busier than
ever with research projects, student organizations, internships, sports and dozens
of other obligations pulling them away from their house. Moreover, dining changes
aimed at giving students more meal options allow them to eat in any dining hall on
campus.
When do housemates at Smith get to see each other?
Precisely at 4 p.m. every Friday during house teas.
House teas, which have always been central to Smith
culture, are now more important than ever, many Smithies remark.
“It’s hard to catch up with people during
the week,” explains Molly Gibson ’09, cradling a warm teacup in her hands
at a recent afternoon tea in the Hubbard House living room.
“Everyone comes,” adds her housemate Hannah
Lemmer ’10.
That’s apparent with one glance around the living
room. Not only is every available chair and couch occupied, but most of the floor
is as well. The room buzzes with a dozen conversations, punctuated by the clinking
sound of spoons in china cups.
 Although
everyone has come to tea to catch up with friends and relax at the end of the week,
Hubbardites have an additional motivation to come downstairs: Hubbard House boasts
the best baked goods on campus, thanks to master baker Lori McFarland, a dining services
employee who staffs the house kitchen.
McFarland, who started working at Smith in 1988, has
no formal training as a baker, but decided to give it a try in her extra time in
the kitchen, and soon became locally famous for her delicious confections, which
range from classic chocolate chip to elegant Milano cookies.
Students congregate around the platter of McFarland’s
cookies, and before long the tray is empty.
Over in Scales House, however, earlier this academic
year, attendance was low at weekly Friday afternoon teas, as some of the house’s
many athletes often have practices on Friday afternoons, said Scales House President
Trudi Cloyd ’07.
To accommodate the athletes, Scales residents decided
to move the weekly tea to Sunday afternoons. On a recent Sunday, students filled
the living room sharing stories over cheese, crackers and freshly baked brownies.
“I like hanging out with the house,” says
Scales resident Carrie Baldwin ’09. “It’s a good chance to take
a break in the middle of the day. It’s a good chance to catch up with people
and it’s just fun!”
In February, the house held a special Valentine’s
Day tea, complete with red and pink paper, scissors and glue for students to make
their own cards.
Meanwhile, in the Haven-Wesley two-house complex, tea
may be even more important, because even the most house-bound residents in one house
often lack chances to connect with their friends in their sister house. Tea, which
alternates between the houses, gives the two buildings a chance to get together.
Tea in Haven-Welsey hasn’t changed much in recent
years, say residents of the houses. Students gather as usual for an academic break
of sharing gossip, discussing their futures and forming their plans for the weekend.
“Its pretty close to the same as my first year,” remembers
Jan Arbaugh ’07. “It’s the same turnout, and the same conversations.”
Judging from the turnout, those conversations are not
getting old. |
