A month after the Greek system’s rush, the cooperative houses have their own, much more low-key selection process, known as “mosey.” The spring of my freshman year, I decided on a whim to take part. A week later, after days of home-cooked dinners, arts and crafts, and indie films, I knew that there was no way I could live in a dorm again. For the past year, I’ve lived in Watermargin Cooperative, one of eight university-owned co-ops. In Watermargin, we not only live together, but also cook, clean, and run the house cooperatively. Cornell’s co-ops vary a bit (for example, not all of the houses regularly cook meals together), but the essence is the same: a place in which members work together to maintain a safe, happy, and functioning home.
In my co-op, I never feel alone. When I am up until 4 a.m. writing a paper, I just have to listen for the squeak of a chair or the tap of a keyboard to know that others are awake too. When I have a bad day, there are always people around for me to talk to or sit with. The house is filled with talented and motivated people: the walls are covered in paintings done by residents; our social justice education officers bring in such programs as Camp Trans, a transgender activism group; and the sounds of accordions and ukuleles flow down the hall. And the food is delicious; in the past year, I have eaten everything from rice-filled acorn squash to vegan chocolate truffles made with nuts and dates to a dozen varieties of homemade hummus.
At the same time, though, living with twenty-four people has its pitfalls. The bathrooms and kitchen get dirty quickly, and the toilet paper always runs out before anyone thinks to order more. Our mansion of a house is falling apart, and our busy schedules often prevent us from accomplishing our chores. However, when a faucet breaks or a radiator refuses to turn on in the dead of winter, we don’t have to deal with Collegetown slumlords; as a Cornell-owned building, we can file a request and a maintenance man will come fix it within a couple days.
In my year of co-op living, I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. I can now clean everything from an industrial-size stove to a thirty-quart pot coated with burned rice. And while I still occasionally burn a batch of cookies, I can cook dinner for thirty people on a budget. Even more important, I have learned how to be a member of a community. I have learned how to deal with problems as a group, how to be a leader, and how to embrace those who are different from me.