Telluride House

End of Semester Insanity

MeredithT — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:17:20 +0000

It’s been quiet on the blog the past couple of weeks probably because everyone, including myself, is preparing for the end-of-semester push. In terms of the House, we’re going through our peer evaluation process, which happens every semester, and also preparing passover reports. Those reports are not Jewish in any way. It just means that committees write reports that pass over to the new members of the committee the following semester.

Hockett Talk

DanielK — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:23:17 +0000

Robert Hockett, Associate Professor at Cornell’s Law School, recently came to us to talk about “Bailouts, Buy-Ins, and Ballyhoo”: the causes, historical antecedents, and possible solutions to our current financial crisis. The title really did not to justice to this talk, which was exemplary in its clarity and lucidity. Talking entirely without notes, Professor Hockett — who has training in philosophy, economics, and law — addressed analytical, historical, and normative dimensions of the crisis while steering clear of the jargon that has come to plague us in the halls of the academy. I wish that Treasury Secretary Paulson had been here, as I’m confident he would have profited Hockett’s talk and from the ensuing discussion. Academic events like this one are only one of the many privileges of living here.

Formal Dinner Pictures or, Telluriders Just Wanna Have Fun

MeredithT — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:00:59 +0000

Here are a couple of pictures from our Halloween formal dinner, though I can’t seem to find pictures from the actual dinner itself. I guess people were hungry or tipsy from cocktail hour beforehand. Here’s a picture of Jim and Julie posing in front of the coffin:

and here are some people dancing afterward, including me in the foreground and our faculty fellow Suman in the background:

Election Day: 11/4/2008

JacobS — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:25:58 +0000

You know, this is really an amazing day. The campus has been buzzing with anxiety all day, and professors in all of my classes rambled on for at least 10 minutes at the beginning of each class about the historic nature of this day. Now it’s about 11:00 PM EST, and I’m surrounded by my fellow Housemates in the living room of Telluride house watching streaming ABCNews.com projected onto the wall. Wine, cookies, and sparkling cider have been broken out by one and all, and Ian just took an order for victory cocktails. I haven’t been able to focus on any of my work since 8:00 PM because people have been anxiously pacing around the House…and now John McCain is giving his concession speech. It is an honorable speech. But I didn’t mean to ramble on about the election. What I really want to say is — there isn’t anyone I would rather be watching this historic election with in the world.

That old pool table must be Austro-Hungarian

Sinziana — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:52:56 +0000

When I’m not in a meeting discussing our bright and funny future house members or planning the formal Halloween party, I make up useless strategies for convincing house members to buy a new pool table. Step one is to get them addicted to playing pool. Step two is to beg faculty guest members to express their wishes for a new pool table in our guest book. Step three quickly takes me back to square one: playing pool and getting fond of the old mini-golf/pool table, with it’s winding cushions and brick legs.. The picture above shows one of our professors during his PubSpeak at the house. His major and distinguished contribution to establishing the new rules for playing pool shall be remembered as the Austro-Hungarian Rules. The picture below shows the corruptible youth willing to play by the rules.

Retreat Pictures

MeredithT — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:09:50 +0000

At the beginning of the year we went on a one-day bonding retreat to Watkins Glen where we took walks, barbecued food, and played board games. Here are Martin, Breanna, and Steph at the playground looking like the thoughtful and lively people they are:

Here’s Brandy showing off her fire-manipulation skills with a practice fire thingie that I don’t know what to call. These skills are apparently acquired at Burning Man:

And here are Vinod, Jim, and Daniel our male grad student crew at the lakeside restaurant for dinner:

Last sunny weekend…

MeredithT — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:52:01 +0000

we spent a total of about 16 hours wading through an amazing group of talented applicants to choose who we want to live with next year. The process for me was at times agonizing, at times emotional, at times exhausting, but I came out of it with the feeling that I’ve gotten closer to my fellow housemembers as a result. I felt that even though the process wasn’t perfect, as processes can never be, everyone was generally respectful and thoughtful throughout. And it definitely feels like I have a deeper connection with Telluride House now that I have had a hand in choosing the people I’m going to be living with next year.

Interviews Interviews

MeredithT — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:29:49 +0000

Last weekend was our interview weekend for high school and transfer students who have perviously participated in our affiliated programs to be in the House for next year. It was exhausting doing five one-hour interviews in three days, along with all the socializing that came with it. But it was that kind of exhaustion that was also revitalizing. It was exciting to meet all these wonderful, bright young people who are on the verge of their college careers, trying to figure out what to do with themselves. I was so happy to be able to provide information and advice that I personally didn’t get when I was applying to college. I’m looking forward to having a number of them in the House next year.

Hill Applications Are In!

MeredithT — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:49:29 +0000

I was excited but also a little bit apprehensive about the work associated with admission season (which we call preferment in Telluride parlance), but I found myself reading all the applications in one long session, followed by the stragglers the next day, so that now I have my list of candidates ready for the meeting next week where we’re going to decide about who to interview. It’s amazing how there are so many applications that just leap off the page, demanding to be considered. There are too many in fact, which I suppose is a good problem to have. There were a number of applications I read and thought, what a fantastic mind to have around, and it’s amazing that I actually have a hand in making the people who have those minds become part of the house.

EnviroCom goings-on

JimH — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:59:30 +0000

Telluride House is improving its environmental performance. Last year, we switched over to fluorescent bulbs and started composting in a clean, efficient manner. This year, “EnviroCom” is coordinating with a new Green Committee that has the same mission across the Association. We’ll bring in an energy auditor early this week, and we’ll work on material ways to implement recommendations, some of which may involve structural improvements. In the meantime, we’re thinking of smaller things that will be socially, environmentally, and fiscally sound and efficient. The committee kicked a few ideas around last week and will be canvassing Housemembers for their input, as well as encouraging each other to become more mindful about stewardship and habits of use. The energy audit will certainly add new priorities: this is an old house, and despite ongoing renovations, a lot remains to be upgraded.