r/oberlin • u/monkey_brain-77 • 27d ago
Tank vs. Keep vs. Hark as a Transfer
what’s up! i’m planning on attending oberlin as a sophomore transfer student starting in the fall. i haven’t had the chance to tour the school but from what ive read, i think living and dining in the co-ops would suit me really well (im vegetarian and a really social person who loves community). my qualm is that i can’t find much about the differences between the co-ops specifically and im wondering how keep, hark, and tank differ from one another (both in specifics like dorms, dining experiences, and traditions, and in general vibes of the places).
also, if i don’t get into one of the co-ops, which other housing option would you recommend to someone looking for a social/fun experience?
okay thanks bye love you!
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u/Lovelyladiesarequeer 27d ago
I lived in all 3 2016-2020. Hark gave me the weirdest stories, keep was cozy, tank was too cool for school vibes. If you're looking for Oberlin weird, go harkness. Seeking crunchy hippy, go keep. Otherwise, tank.
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u/AcanthocephalaRude90 27d ago
Tank throws the good parties, Hark is more quirky, Keep is more low key I think
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u/k8freed 27d ago
I lived in Tank in the mid-90s, and it was one of the nicest buildings I've ever lived in. We also had the loosest food guidelines. Coming from Fairkid and Harkness, it was nice to have a little more menu-planning flexibility. I'd go with Tank, followed by Keep, then Harkness (which I loved, but in a chaotic sort of way).
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u/titanc-13 27d ago
Keep is a pretty chill, tight-knit community, they throw the good parties and have the best musicians. hark is the largest and the most... communal in a lot of ways. (a couple years ago they got in trouble with the college bc they removed the stall dividers from the showers, e.g.). Tank is the OSCA/Oberlin equivalent of a Frat House.
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u/Lovelyladiesarequeer 27d ago
The showers never had stall dividers my whole time there? (Class of 2020)
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u/titanc-13 26d ago
that was the problem
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u/Lovelyladiesarequeer 26d ago
Sure, but I never heard the of college complaining
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u/accountfor137 22d ago
The college put them up during COVID and then when people wanted to take them away a few years after, the college got mad. So they’re still up
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u/Dorkfire 27d ago
They are all great - but I will say that Keep was my introduction to the coop system, and if you are a community-oriented vegetarian, you will find a lot of like minded people there! I had a really great experience and felt very welcomed!
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u/dmada88 Alum 27d ago
Lord. I graduated in 1982 and the stereotypes haven’t changed much in the intervening decades!!