Friends' Cooperative House

437 W. Johnson Street has been home to Friends' Cooperative since 1967, although our history begins a year earlier when a local chapter of the Society of Friends (Quakers) sponsored the creation of a housing co-op on the corner of Brooks and University. Our name, Friends', our moment of silence before house dinners, and our commitment to consensus attest to our Quaker roots, even though none of the current members are active Quakers.
Our co-op is based on a principle of acceptance of people's differences. All it takes to become a member is a willingness to take part in the cooperative effort that keeps the house running. In addition, we have policies in place that emphasize an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

Our 13 residents include undergraduates, graduate students, and working people. The age range is often quite large.

We want to place special emphasis on creating a strong and tight-knit community. We aim to do this with a house retreat at the beginning of the school year and some organized house outings in addition to the informal social activities.

Benefits of living at Friends:

• Cooperative living.

• Great location. The heart of campus and the Capitol are each just a five-minute walk away.

• Eat what you want. Living in Friends' makes it easy to eat what you want to eat, whether you are a vegetarian, vegan, or meat eater. Friends also emphasizes organic and locally grown foods.

• Family-like atmosphere. Our house is small enough to allow members to form close relationships with everyone they live with. Our dining room, cozy living room, and five porches are very popular spots for spontaneous hanging out.

• Free washer and dryer.

• Local calls are included in your room charge. Friends has a phone line that everyone shares. You are also free to buy your own phone line for your room.

• Free wireless DSL.