Coke Is It

Give us Coke or give us death! Has our Mealtime Messiah finally deserted us? Has Director of Dining Services Michael P. Berry finally become a true Harvard administrator and ceased to regard student opinion? We refer, of course, to the planned replacement of Coca-Cola products with Pepsi products in our dining halls.

This switch, more than any other action by Harvard's administration in its 350 year history, threatens the University's status as our nation's premier institution of higher education.

Pepsi, betraying its utter lack of good values, has resorted to bribery in its attempt to infiltrate Harvard. It is giving $10,000 each to the Undergraduate Council and PBH, plus an additional $5,000 for general student activities.

Harvard should not succumb to such base techniques of persuasion. Or at least, the richest school in the country should have a higher price tag.

Pepsi may be enthusiastic, but we will not be won over by such unethical behavior. Even their $25,000 payment for forcing their inferior products down our throats will not make our loyalties waver.

Berry told the Crimson that he believes Coca-Cola is the "preferred product." How right he is!

Contrary to misleading advertisements, Pepsi is not the choice of a new generation of Harvard students. In fact, in a recent Crimson poll, 59 percent of students said they prefered Coke products, while a measly 14 percent chose Pepsi.

A taste of Diet Pepsi alone should convince Berry that Diet Coke is the right one. Uh-huh.

Berry does have some logic behind his choice: Coke has not had a great service record. But is that really a reason to toss decades of good taste out the window? At the very least, why don't we sign a one year contract and see if Coke comes to its senses?

We respect Berry's professed reluctance to make the switch. But have we really done everything that can be done to save Coca-Cola?

At the very least, we will take comfort in the fact that the vending machines will continue support the comforting red-and-white logo we all know and love.

As far as we're concerned, it's always Coca-Cola.