For many prospective Smithies, house community is a critical aspect to their college decision. With Smith’s distinct neighborhoods and decades-long house traditions, these established support systems help first-years feel less adrift in this new stage of their lives. But despite being touted as a hallmark of the Smith experience, the traditional house community isn’t available to all students. For residents of Parsons House, it’s what they're trying to build. For residents of Talbot, it’s something they’ll need to fight to preserve.