Students Reject 'Camp Harvard' Myth

The old myth of Harvard Summer School as a glorified summer camp can be laid by the wayside.

That is, if some of this summer's crop of high school students congregating yesterday in Harvard Yard are to be believed.

For the 900 high school students who came to see if they could make the Harvard grade, "Camp Harvard" appears to be all they bargained for--and more.

"I'm working more than I thought--I didn't think it would be this hard," said Amanda M. Minami, whose three and a half hours a day of calculus lectures and sections have kept her studying well into the night.

While the computer and pre-medical scholars are sweating it out, those in the humanities say they have an easier academic time of it. "I'm really not working that hard," says a student from New York City, who just completed an optional midterm in an international relations course.

"I think they treat the course in the summertime with a lot more leeway," says the soon-to-be high school senior.

But for most students, the greatest challenge has been to limit their social endeavors.

"The hardest thing to get used to is that no matter where you're at trying to work, there are always people having fun and making noise," laments Matthews resident Bita Kahmsi.

Roberto Weinstein, a prospective engineering major at college, agrees. "It's pretty intense--especially with midterms and all--but people seem to have fun all the time."

But for some students the solution is simple: "We try to get our homework done during the day and go out at night," agree Leslie A Myrow and Nina C. Feldman, from their grassy perches in South Yard.

Some local hangouts, however, are off limtis to the high school students, most of whom are three or four years below Massachusetts' drinking age minimum of 20 years.

Those who hoped to ignore the law quickly set a precedent earlier in the term when they were caught drinking in a dorm room. Although the Summer School's Administrative Board--which handles all disciplinary problems--allowed the students to finish the summer term, it imposed an 11 p.m. curfew on the six.

Some students, however, called the curfew too severe. "You miss out on a lot of what Harvard's all about--learning from and talking with other people, and that goes on mostly late at night," Julie Subrin of Newton, Mass. said.

Added another student. "Besides you can't even get to see the "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Summer School officials say the punishment was just and effective in limiting additional offenses of the drinking prohibition.

"The word got out that we were serious about the rules," says Dean of Students Hugh M. Flick.

But drinking rules remain easy to circumvent, according to one student, because "Many older students would be more than willing to buy the stuff for me."

More wholesome challenges, however, seem to be filling most students' time.

Says Brooklyn native Andrew I Port. "I just walk around Harvard Square and try to look weird too."

As for the stereotype of academic "Camp Harvard's" patrons as rich and snobby, mixed feelings prevail.

"There seem to be a lot of the same kind of kids--those who are wealthy and snobby, with a new coordinating outfit each day," says Wesleyan sophomore Rebecca Gallager.