Since its days as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center on campus, the house at 1790 Alder St. has seen many changes in recent years. Now known as the Janet Smith Cooperative, the home provides a studious atmosphere not typical of most co-ops.
For many students, trying to study at home without distractions is already difficult, but living with almost 30 other roommates in a cooperative environment can make that mission nearly impossible. With its recent opening of a third house, JS Cooperative, the national group Students’ Cooperative Association hopes to improve the local scenario by offering a co-op arrangement that provides an appropriate academic environment as well.
The JS Cooperative, which opened in mid-June, has expanded the SCA’s membership by 21 new residents, bringing the group to a total of 81 participants this fall. This includes the other two houses on campus, the Lorax and the Campbell Club. All three are entirely student-run and include communal food and supplies in their leases. In contrast to the two other houses at the University, the newest addition aims to provide an atmosphere that reduces the common distractions of living in a co-op. While the Lorax and the Campbell Club have nearly 30 residents each, the new building will hold close to 20.
“It’s a smaller house,” said membership recruitment coordinator Ben Cutler. “This means less people, less traffic and less noise. It’s much more study-oriented.”
The JS Cooperative also enforces quiet hours between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., features a study room and prohibits pets and parties. Cutler said these kinds of changes are designed to cater more toward graduate students and other students who are looking for not only a low cost living arrangement, but one that provides a studious atmosphere.
Adam Harter, a senior fine arts major and current resident of the JS Cooperative, said he moved from the Campbell Club because of the calmer environment.
“I really liked the whole idea of a co-op,” he said. “But the other co-op was a lot more of a heavy party atmosphere and this house has a lot less of that.”
The building has always belonged to the SCA, but was closed down in 1997 due to low membership and resident conflicts. It was leased in 1997 to Passages, a state-funded organization that served as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for men — the establishment served as a transition house helping them get back on their feet. After suffering a lack of funds, Passages closed down the residence and the SCA leased it back, naming the home Janet Smith Cooperative, in memory of a University secretary in the 1940’s.
“It’s kind of a sad thing that we got it back only because it means that Passages doesn’t exist anymore,” said Robin Brandt, chairperson of the SCA board of directors. “But I think it’s also really exciting to add a house and get more people involved.”
For more information regarding open space in the Janet Smith Cooperation, contact the SCA at 683-1112.