Greenhouse Goes Dark As Students Complain

Harvard Dining Services workers have begun turning off the lights in the Greenhouse Cafe at 10 p.m. each night, darkening the Science Center's popular late-night study area and angering some students.

In past years, the nocturnal lighting and cozy atmosphere of the Greenhouse would attract the academically or socially inclined, but now those students have been forced to move to empty rooms elsewhere in the Science Center.

"It's really hard to work if you're doing a problem set late at night," said Karen C. Lee '94. "I wouldn't want to work in an empty classroom. It's spooky."

Director of Dining Services Michael P. Berry, who assumed control of the cafe this semester, refused to take responsibility for the absence of light last week.

Berry said the Science Center director, Nona D. Strauss, had authority over the use of lights in the building. Strauss could not be reached for comment yesterday.

John Mathers, assistant director of the Science Center, said building management has had a "10 o'clock" policy--the closing time of the cafe--in place for years because of energy-saving concerns, but had only begun to enforce it after the cafe's recent renovation.

"We're trying to reduce the amount of energy used, especially since we're already paying to have the classroom lights on," Mathers said.

Mathers acknowledged that he has received a number of student and non-student complaints but said he thinks the empty classrooms are adequate for late night study.

"A number of students and non-Harvard people have come in to complain, who have traditionally used that area," Mathers said. "The guards willnow direct them to the classrooms. We have justpurchased four new standard sized tables for theclassrooms to use for group study."

One student said in an interview last week thathe supported the decision to turn out the lights.

"There are plenty of other places to study,"said Bryan D. Garsten '96. "If it's for energy, itmakes sense."

The new Greenhouse blackout is the secondcontroversy involving the cafe since HarvardDining Services took over its management earlierthis year.

Last month, several students complained afterthe cafe began bouncing students using the cafe tostudy during meal hours.

Mathers said Science Center management isconsidering opening the cafe on weekends as soonas next semester, which would provide morelighting hours. But for the time being, the cafewill remain in the dark

One student said in an interview last week thathe supported the decision to turn out the lights.

"There are plenty of other places to study,"said Bryan D. Garsten '96. "If it's for energy, itmakes sense."

The new Greenhouse blackout is the secondcontroversy involving the cafe since HarvardDining Services took over its management earlierthis year.

Last month, several students complained afterthe cafe began bouncing students using the cafe tostudy during meal hours.

Mathers said Science Center management isconsidering opening the cafe on weekends as soonas next semester, which would provide morelighting hours. But for the time being, the cafewill remain in the dark