Washington University Cooperative

Dear Cooperators,

Here is the new Cervantes House Rules and Residential Membersihip agreement, along with the original 2005 version. Please note the last clause:

"s) THE BOOK OF LOVE [BOOK OF CO-]: Residents are encouraged to volunteer for tasks above and beyond the call of duty, to help the Cervantes House and the rest of the Cooperative Network and greater community. These extra hours are called Love Hours (or Co- Hours) and are recorded in the Book of Love (also called the Book of Co-). Generally we get back what we give."

There actually was a Book of Love, renamed the Book of Co- when our founding matriarchy gave way to patriarchy. In it were recorded all sorts of love offerings, supposed to help and not hurt the CoOp and its Pillars. We did not always agree on this. What is Healthy Living? Yoga? Raw food diet? Smoking? What is Social Responsibility? Attending an antiwar demonstration or s sit-in in the Admissions Office?

Who wrote the Book of Love? [Book of Co-]? We all did, and we are still writing it, and co-founding the CoOp.

CERVANTES HOUSE RULES AND RESIDENTIAL MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT
CERVANTES HOUSE
Cervantes House (6036 Pershing), though affiliated with the Washington University Cooperative Network, is the private property and home residence of Professor Jerome Bauer, who is also the Director of the non-profit Cervantes Free University and Learning Cooperative [Community], and the Librarian of the Washington University Cooperative, of which he is a co-founder and special residential member with full voting rights. Boarders in Professor Bauer’s house may become full voting members of the Washington University Cooperative (including the Perry House, 6021 Pershing) and the Larry House (6015 Pershing) by filling out the WashU CoOp’s application, pending approval of the CoOp membership. One need not be affiliated in any way with Washington University. Cervantes House residents are paying guests of Professor Bauer, and they and their guests must at all times conduct themselves respectfully of Professor Bauer and each other, and the values of a University cooperative community. They are exempt from CoOp dues and chores, though voluntary participation in CoOp projects is recommended. Cervantes House boarders, in addition to this agreement, sign separate contracts with Professor Bauer, henceforth designated the Landlord.

Cervantes House Residents include the Landlord and up to two Boarders, who share the common space (living room, hallways, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms, basement, and yard) and occupy private rooms, and up to four cats, who share the common space. We also have an alumni network of former members in good standing and friends of the house, who are always welcome at our social, political, and academic events.

The Washington University Cooperative Network and Cervantes House share the secular, multicultural values of Washington University. We have no shared ideological, religious, or spiritual path as such. We are committed to the Six Pillars: Community Building, Social Responsibility, Cooperative Learning, Healthy Living, Environmental Sustainability, and Leadership, and our informal Pillars, including Initiative and Civility, broadly and generously conceived. Cervantes House is informally known as the Loophole House because it was purchased to serve the CoOp by finessing a neutrality policy. We can host openly political events such as meet’n’greets and fundraisers and all manner of potentially controversial and divisive activities and groups, because our house, although an organic part of the Washington University Cooperative Network, is neither owned nor controlled by the University. Cervantes House and its alumni also help maintain the institutional memory and foundational vision of the Washington University Cooperative Network.

II. CERVANTES FREE UNIVERSITY AND LEARNING COOPERATIVE [COMMUNITY]
The Trustees make policy and approve and schedule courses. Courses may be scheduled in the Cervantes House common space at any time between 9am and 10pm. A schedule will be posted as a courtesy to house residents and any concerns will be addressed in house meetings. Residents and their guests must respect class discipline and must turn off the TV, radio, or stereo, and cease playing musical instruments or talking loudly while classes are in session. If requested they must vacate the common space while a class is in session, except the kitchen, which is open to all residents at all times.

The Trustees are: Jerome Bauer, Director; Harriet Shanle, Assistant Director, Diane McCameron, Treasurer, and Doyle Cozadd, Secretary.

III. LIBRARY OF THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE NETWORK
The Library and Library Computer are based in the Cervantes House living room. The Library will have open hours once or twice a week, and these will be posted. Residents are expected to maintain quiet when the library is open.

IV. HOUSE RULES
a) NO ILLEGAL DRUGS or any illegal activity is tolerated anywhere on the property or its immediate vicinity.
b) NO SMOKING in the house. Residents may smoke outside.
c) NO RUDE, LOUD, OR ABUSIVE CONDUCT OR SPEECH in the common area, including but not limited to profanity, personal insults or invasive personal questions, gratuitous and pugnacious speech about political, religious, spiritual, philosophical, cultural, or lifestyle matters, especially in social or domestic situations, loud partying or fighting, or any other conduct that makes any resident, friend, or visitor feel uncomfortable in the common area and disinclined to come back, or any conduct that reflects badly on the Washington University Cooperative Network as a whole. Boarders and their guests must not engage in conduct that makes the Landlord or his cats uncomfortable in their own home. Let the Golden Rule be our rule at all times.
d) TV, RADIO, OR MUSIC PLAYING in the common area: The TV in the living room is for the free use of the residents and their guests, who may watch whatever they want at a reasonable volume until reasonable hours, as long as they wish, until boredom sets in or a class or library hour or other event occurs. Residents may watch any free cable program, but must reimburse the Landlord promptly for any Pay Per View program. The same general rule applies for radio, stereo, or musical instrument playing in the common area. There are no restrictions on program or performance content and all residents have equal rights, on a first come, first served basis, as long as no single resident monopolizes the space. Residents may not play over each other or change the channel or station without permission, and they are strongly discouraged from making snide remarks or gratuitous social or aesthetic commentary on each other’s choice of entertainment or news. Residents are of course free to watch or play whatever they want and say whatever they like in their own private rooms.
e) PRIVATE PARTIES AND EVENTS in the common area: Residents may freely organize events such as parties, meditation or prayer sessions, jam sessions, or other political, social, or cultural events in the common area, as long as there is no conflict with a previously scheduled Cervantes House party or Free University educational, political, or cultural event. Residents should get approval of the other residents for formal, publicized events. Residents may entertain small groups of guests freely in their own rooms, or in the common area without prior notice, as long as the House Rules are observed. Residents are not obligated to attend each other’s events, or to invite each other.
f) USE OF LIBRARY COMPUTER AND PRINTER: All residents may use the CoOp Library Linux PC and laser printer in the living room. Please pay ten cents per copy. If you wish to have a private partition on the PC, we can set one up for you.
g) USE OF HOUSE TELEPHONE: There are two phones in the common area. One is the Landlord’s personal phone. Residents are not to answer that phone. The other is the CoOp Library phone, 314-725-0815, limited to local calls. Any boarder who does not have a cell phone may use this as their personal number.
h) USE OF GARDEN: Cervantes House has a raised bed garden in the back yard, and many fruit trees, berry bushes, and herbs. Use of these resources will be worked out amongst the residents each year. Residents may also help with the garden behind the Perry and Larry Houses.
i) LAUNDRY: Residents may use the washer in the basement and the a clothesline for drying, or they may use the coin-operated laundry across the street in the Perry House. Please ask for a current door code.
j) COMMUNAL MEALS: Residents are not required to share meals, but they may participate in the CoOp meal plan, or share cooking and expenses for occasional house dinners.
k) PERSONAL ITEMS in common areas: Residents may leave personal items in common areas, within reasonable limits and at reasonable times, but they must pick up after themselves. Residents must get permission of the Landlord to decorate the common area, or to remove decorations, or any item related to the Library or Free University.
l) OVERNIGHT GUESTS: Residents may have overnight guests (one or two) in their rooms. If the guest wishes to stay more than a night or two, the Landlord must grant permission. Generally the limit is two weeks. Couch surfing must be approved by all residents.
m) HOUSE MEETINGS: Residents may call a House meeting any time to address grievances and make suggestions. The Landlord has the final say in his own house.
n) WORK HOURS AND WEEKLY CHORES: All residents are required to work one hour per week for the Cervantes House. Work hours may be accumulated for special projects. In addition light chores such as taking out the trash or recycling, mowing the lawn, tending the garden, sweeping, mopping, and and keeping the bathrooms and kitchen clean will be assigned using a chore chart. Residents are free to do their weekly chores however and whenever is most convenient to them.
o) PRIVATE ROOMS: The bedrooms have individual keys and deadbolts. The Landlord has a key to each room but will only use it in case of an emergency or a clear duty of a Landlord. Residents or their guests are not permitted to enter a resident’s room without permission.
p) BASEMENT AND YARD STORAGE: Residents may store a limited number of personal items in the basement, in clearly marked places. Items should be labeled with the owner’s name. Residents may store large items (e.g. junk pulled from dumpsters) only with special permission.
q) BUILDING SECURITY: Residents must make sure all doors are locked when leaving the house, even for a short time. This includes the front door, back door, and basement door. Windows should be closed and the yard gates locked whenever residents leave the house for a longer period.
r) HELPING THE LANDLORD SEE: The Landlord has a serious visual problem and sometimes needs help seeing. Boarders agree to help when necessary, within reasonable limits.
s) THE BOOK OF LOVE [BOOK OF CO-]: Residents are encouraged to volunteer for tasks above and beyond the call of duty, to help the Cervantes House and the rest of the Cooperative Network and greater community. These extra hours are called Love Hours (or Co- Hours) and are recorded in the Book of Love (also called the Book of Co-). Generally we get back what we give.
By signing this Residential Membership Agreement, we agree to these terms.
Jerome H. Bauer

LINKS:
WashU Cooperative Network, www.washucoop.com
Housing Application, www.washucoop.com/application
Cervantes Free University and Learning Cooperative, www.cfu-lc.com

KSDK Channel 5 story, “Students rally to save professor’s co-op house,” http://origin.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=194877&catid=3

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Note: the original Cervantes House Rules, though labeled "FOR RECIPIENT ONLY,' was rather widely circulated. I sent it to Chancellor Wrighton, many Deans and Vice Chancellors, my Koenig 03 Residential Assistant and students, my freshman CoOp Focus class and TAs, annd alll students on the WashU CoOp's residents list. That's quite a few people to trust!

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***FOR RECIPIENT ONLY; NOT TO BE FORWARDED***

House Rules (6036 Pershing, St. Louis, MO 63112, Jerome Bauer’s Residence)
(in effect from 8/23/05)

Welcome to my Cooperative House! The main floor and basement are private space, used cooperatively. The second floor is off limits (unless I invite you).

“My house is your house.” I want you to feel at home. If everybody follows the rules, and respects my privacy, this cooperative arrangement will enhance the security and enjoyment of my home. If not, my security could be seriously compromised. Either way, I doubt if my insurance company will understand. So let’s be discreet. Please, let’s all work together to make this experiment work!

1) Eligibility. If I sent this notice to your address, or if you are a current or former resident of the WashU Cooperative, or if you are a current resident of Koenig 03, you are welcome to use this space. You may bring one guest at a time, but please introduce your guests to me personally. I may make special exceptions upon request.

2) What is available?
a) A large furnished living and dining room, with many chairs, two coffee tables, and a banquet table.
b) The Cooperative Library (over 1,000 books; donations are welcome! I will post an online catalog soon, with use and circulation policies; please see http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~jhbauer/wucoop.htm).
c) A PC set up as a Linux server, available for email, internet, and simple word processing.
d) A wireless LAN (Apple Airport; ask me for the password).
e) A TV with full cable access, DVD and VHS.
f) A DVD collection (not for loan, but you may watch them downstairs).
g) A phonograph and tape player.
h) A wireless phone with answering machine (local calls only), 314-725-0815.
i) A deluxe wooden chess set.
j) A foldout cot.
k) Full kitchen facilities (refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher, coffee maker, teapot, etc.)
l) A cookbook collection (WashU Coop and Hindu Medicine and Indian Food students only).
m) A washroom with toilet.
n) Basement storage (WashU Coop residents only).
o) Washer and Drier (WashU Coop residents only).
p) Garden tools (WashU Coop residents only).
q) Hand lawnmower (WashU Coop residents only).

3) Weekday Hours (M-Th). 1-7pm (Quiet Study Hours; you may watch TV with headphones). 8-11pm (TV and Quiet Conversation Hours).

4) Weekend Hours (Fri-Sun): by invitation only. I plan to have a weekly or bi-weekly dinner on Sunday evening, followed by a movie night or game session.

5) Entrance. Please knock on the front door. If I do not answer, you may call my home phone number (upstairs): 314-725-1470 (I may be wearing headphones). If I still do not answer, please call the WashU Coop (phone number TBA) or the designated Coop “keeper of the keys,” or your Koenig 03 RA. They may be able to let you in.

6) Procedure for entering my house in my absence. A very few people will be entrusted with my front door key and security code (which I will change from time to time). They may let people they know and who have legitimate business into my home in my absence, and are responsible for locking up and re-arming the security system when everybody is gone. Please turn on the lamp by the security pad when you leave, so that I may have light to see when I return. To learn in advance if anybody is using the Coop Study Room and Library, please call the Coop Library phone number, 314-725-0815.

7) Admission of guests. I want to meet all your guests. Please call my upstairs phone (314-725-1470) to inform me when you are bringing a guest into my home.

8) No admission of strangers. If you do not personally know and trust someone, please do not let them into my home. Please report any suspicious activity immediately.

9) Please keep my doors locked at all times. The front door has a deadbolt that can be locked from within. Even if you are sitting right by the door, I expect you to keep the deadbolt locked. If someone knocks at the door, please look through the windows by the door to see who it is.

10) Please do not come upstairs. To get my attention, please call me. You may use the downstairs Coop Library phone (314-735-0815 to call my upstairs number (314-725-1470).

11) Sign-in and Sign-out. I will keep a notebook on the board above the radiator, right next to the front door. All users are required to sign in and sign out.

12) Message board. You may leave messages to me, and to each other, using erasable markers. There is a message board and bulletin board on the refrigerator.

13) Backyard access. Coop residents only will have access to the backyard and basement. Designated “keepers of the keys” will have backdoor and backyard padlock keys (to borrow garden tools, etc.). Please let me know what you borrow and when you return it.

14) Kitchen use. When I am not cooking, you may use all kitchen facilities except the refrigerator. Please clean up after yourselves, and report any problems to me promptly. If you wish to leave a small supply of coffee, tea, sugar, etc. in my kitchen, please label it clearly.

15) Washer and drier use. Coop residents and former residents only will be permitted to use the washer and drier, for twenty-five cents less than you would pay to use Coop facilities. I will keep a jar downstairs for your money.

16) Foldout cot. With my permission, you or a guest may use the foldout cot or couch in the living room to stay overnight. Please ask me for bedding.

17) DVD use. The following DVDs will be kept upstairs, but please feel free to call upstairs if you want to watch them (I had originally planned to keep most of my collection downstairs, but I think this may be too risky).

The X-Files TV show (all nine seasons)
The X-Files movie
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, deluxe extended DVD (Peter Jackson)
The Hobbit (animated)
The Lord of the Rings (Ralph Bakshi, animated)
The Return of the King (animated)
The Chronicles of Narnia (BBC)
Millennium TV show (both seasons)
Harsh Realm TV show (complete series)
Red Dwarf TV show (all four seasons)
The Matrix Collection (all three movies, Animatrix, and special commentarial versions)
Dark Star (movie)
Galaxy Quest (movie)
Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Essentials
Mystery Science Theater 3000, Volume 5
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (BBC TV show)
Plan 9 From Outer Space (Ed Wood movie)
Bride of the Monster (Ed Wood movie)
Ed Wood (movie)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension (movie)
I [heart] Huckabee’s (movie)
21 Grams (movie)
Waking Life (movie)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (movie)
Before Sunrise (movie)
Miracles (complete TV series)
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance (movie)
Powaqatsi: Life in Transformation (movie)
Naqoyqatsi: Life as War (movie)
Baraka (movie)
What the Bleep Do We Know? (movie)
Healing the Luminous Body (documentary)
Carlos Castaneda’s Magical Passes (documentary)
Carlos Castaneda’s Tensegrity Series (documentary)

I also have a fairly extensive VHS library. Ask me about it.

18) Taking advantage of me. This is not really so easy to do, although it seems so at first. Although I have set clear boundaries, I may be inclined to bend my own rules on occasion (or perhaps frequently). Don’t take this for granted. If you abuse my hospitality or my trust, or show me disrespect, you will not be welcome in my home.

Gandhi said that an implicit trust in human nature is the very essence of his creed, and one must always be ready to trust, even someone who has deceived you twenty times. I say, yes, but twenty-one is the limit, and I am the one keeping count. One should not always turn the other cheek.

I expect this will not be a problem.

19) Once again, welcome to my home! My home is your home (up to a point).

---Jerome Bauer

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There's more than one way to get kicked out of Bauer's house:

HOW TO GET KICKED OUT OF BAUER"S HOUSE: Behave as if you own the place. Pay no rent for a whole year, making excuses only when pressed. Fill the air with smoke. Leave doors unlocked despite repeated warnings. Leave windows open so my cats can wander off and get lost. Rub my cats' noses in excrement and lock them outside. Lend or give my stuff to friends without asking. Fill my entire backyard with junk, and leave it to rot while you take a long vacation. Laugh in my face: "You deserve to have been fired because EVERYBODY knows there is NOTHING you can do to get any grade other than A" [not true]. "Hey buddy, they don't appreciate you here. Why don't you leave town, and rent us your house?" [rent??!!??]

"Give 'em enough rope" is my philosophy. As you know.