New Club Honors 'True Lies' Film Star

Move over, Barbra Streisand and Tom Hanks. Yet another artist-as-citizen may be coming to Harvard, and the stage definitely won't be big enough for anyone else.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, action-movie hero, former Mr. Universe and Republican activist, will be Cambridge-bound if the members of Harvard's new Arnold Schwarzenegger Club get their way.

Levered House residents Jeffrey M. Balis '97 and L. Luke O'Brien '97 are the co-founders of the new club, which Balis calls "both academic and social."

"My roommate and I shared an interest in Arnold Schwarzenegger's films," he said.

Balis and O'Brien formed the club to honor Schwarzenegger, to study his work and--they hope--to bring him to Harvard to meet the members and accept a special award for his contributions to the film world.

Along with nearly 60 official club members, Balis and O'Brien revere the actor because "[Schwarzenegger] came over from Austria doing low budget documentaries and became perhaps the greatest [crowd] drawing actor of all time," Balis said.

Screenings of Schwarzenegger films will fulfill the social goals of the club, Balis said, while discussions that follow will stimulate an academic analysis of the films' content.

Club members are also drafting a letter to Schwarzenegger inviting him to Harvard to attend a special awards ceremony honoring his acting contributions.

Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology B. Irven DeVore is the official faculty advisor to the club.

"No, it's true, I admit to it," DeVore said of his membership, "[but] I'd forgotten all about it."

DeVore said he accepted club membership last spring when Balis and O'Brien approached him. He said he hasn't heard anythign since, but "ItI'm ever invited, I'll go [to club events]."

"I've long been an admirer of Mr.Schwarzenegger; not his Republicanism, but hismarrying into the Kennedy clan," DeVore said.

Will the club have luck in bringingSchwarzenegger to Harvard? "I never underestimateHarvard undergraduates," DeVore said. "I don'tthink we should ever underestimate the drawingpower of Harvard. I wish them luck."

Leverett Resident Tutor Linus Yamane will alsoadvise the group, Balis said. "He was sort ofexcited about it," Balis said.

The Schwarzenegger Club has received officialrecognition from Dean of Students Archie C. EppsIII, Balis said. Members expect to begin posteringfor events within the next few weeks, he said.

And the membership list keeps growing. Balisestimated the number of unofficial members atnearly 100. Hayle Chun '98, who brings specialqualifications, said he hopes to join,

"I've met Arnold," he said. "Can I be anofficer?

"I've long been an admirer of Mr.Schwarzenegger; not his Republicanism, but hismarrying into the Kennedy clan," DeVore said.

Will the club have luck in bringingSchwarzenegger to Harvard? "I never underestimateHarvard undergraduates," DeVore said. "I don'tthink we should ever underestimate the drawingpower of Harvard. I wish them luck."

Leverett Resident Tutor Linus Yamane will alsoadvise the group, Balis said. "He was sort ofexcited about it," Balis said.

The Schwarzenegger Club has received officialrecognition from Dean of Students Archie C. EppsIII, Balis said. Members expect to begin posteringfor events within the next few weeks, he said.

And the membership list keeps growing. Balisestimated the number of unofficial members atnearly 100. Hayle Chun '98, who brings specialqualifications, said he hopes to join,

"I've met Arnold," he said. "Can I be anofficer?