Drinking spiced cider from jam jars and assorted mugs, students gathered Saturday for an open house at the student cooperative "Houseasaurus" on West College Avenue.
Designed to create an atmosphere where students can be socially and environmentally active, the house has become a headquarters for discussion and lifestyles centered on sustainability.
"Our goal is to live in a community that stresses environmental sustainability and responsibility," Carrie Peters (senior-medieval studies) said. Peters has been a resident of the house since 2008.
Held once a semester, the open house attracts prospective residents and informs the community about sustainability and environmental harmony.
The 18 people who live in the co-op came to the open house at different times, picking up leaf-shaped nametags as they greeted each other. The residents, who range in age from 21 to 27 this semester, are undergraduates, graduates and non-students.
Residents are chosen through an application process each semester. Candidates have to demonstrate a passion for environmental responsibility. The residents split up house tasks such as cooking and cleaning bathrooms on a weekly basis. Each resident pays about $600 a month, which covers food, board and utilities, Peters said.
Music and food attracted visitors to the open house, as people began coming in off the street shortly after 2 p.m. The walls of one of the three common spaces were lined with art and information on topics ranging from diet to labor systems. The open house even offered organic and vegan dishes for visitors.
Josh Coggins, a junior at State College Area High School, came to the open house wondering what the difference was between the co-op and "living in a big house with a bunch of your friends."
His question was answered within minutes -- the co-op stresses a sense of community to all who come through its doors.
"Our community tries to be as inclusive as possible," Peters said.
The open house was followed by an open mic performance. The house frequently hosts musical and artistic acts, including a band manned by several housemates.
As for its environmental agenda, the co-op comes equipped with a garden and a compost heap. Residents support local farmers as well, buying their beef and dairy from farmers who raise organically fed cows, Peters said.
Inside the house, laws are decided by consensus of the 18 housemates, ensuring that each person has a voice.
"It's a sharing space for knowledge, music and opinions," Ben Tutolo (senior-environmental systems and engineering) said.
That said, the diversity of opinions and perspectives does not always mean that people get along.
"There's a lot of conflict here living with 18 people," G.A. Nicholas (senior-landscape architecture) said. "You learn how to talk things out."
Kristina Brownshire, a senior at State College Area High School who plans to attend Penn State next year, said she attended the open house to learn more about the co-op.
"I like the way people come together," she said.
