Fogg May Ban Student Festivities In Museum

Several drunk students from Harvard Medical School (HMS) acted inappropriately at the Fogg Art Museum during the school's winter formal, prompting a backlash from Fogg administrators.

"Someone got sick in the bathroom. Someone kissed a statue," said Nancy E. Oriol, dean of students at HMS. "Someone spilled wine on a statue."

In response to the students' drunken conduct, the museum decided not to host future medical student formals, according to a letter circulated to medical and dental students by the Student Council officers of HMS and the Harvard Dental School (HDS), which also sponsored the formal.

"Consequently, the Fogg has banned Harvard Medical and Dental Schools from holding future events at the Museum," the letter said. "And they are reconsidering their policy of allowing any student events to be held there."

Corinne P. Tran, a Student Council officer for HMS, said, "We did lose our privilege for using the Fogg as a place to hold functions."

Fogg administrator Ann Starnbach, however, denied the museum has banned the schools from holding future parties in the Fogg.

"We rent to the general public," she said. But she said that contracts for student groups differ from those that the Fogg signs with the general public.

Fogg administrators refused to comment further on the incident.

Chelsea H. Foxwell `99, chair of the Steering Committee for the Student Friends of the Harvard University Art Museums (HUAM), said she does not think guests have ever defaced works of art in the past.

"Once a year we hold a formal for the Student Friends of HUAM in the Fogg," Foxwell said. "We're really making it a museum event. The Fogg is being appreciated as the very special institution of world art which it is."

Foxwell compared the educational function ofthe formal sponsored by the Student Friends of theHUAM with the wild party atmosphere of the HMSformal, the "Snowflake Soiree."

"The Student Friends of the HUAM aims to hold aformal which increases students' respect andunderstanding of art," she said.

Oriol said that, shortly after the event,officials at the Fogg called to inform her thatstudents had behaved discourteously. She said sheasked the Fogg to formalize its complaint inwriting.

"In order to record what happened, we wanted toput it on paper and let people discuss it," Oriolsaid.

She said that, while the students' behavior wasunprofessional, the students did not get out ofhand.

"It wasn't like the Fogg was horrified," shesaid. "It was not a wild, drunken brawl."

Some students who attended the event said thatthey did not notice any people who wereexcessively drunk.

"I found the letter surprising. I hadn't seenanyone abusing any of the art or getting drunk,"said James Rhee `97, a first-year student at HMS."I didn't see any museum officials around."

Tran said that the Student Council was alsosurprised to hear about the excessive drinking.

"When we first received the letter I wassurprised," she said.

Oriol said she wants to use the incident toencourage students to evaluate their own behavior.

"The students have used this as an opportunityfor introspection, a chance to reflect on how theyact," she said.

Oriol said the Student Council is conferringwith students about what steps to take in thefuture to prevent further incidents. She addedthat her office is "leaving it up to the studentsto design and organize their response."

"The students themselves chose to inform allthe students that there had been behavior that wasless than professional," Oriol said. "It isbecoming a springboard for discussion aboutprofessionalism and alcohol."

The students' letter mirrored her comments.

"It is important for us as students to reflectupon our own attitudes and behavior," the letterread. "In order to ensure the future ofschool-sponsored social events, we need toexercise better judgement."

Tran said the letter has started to achieve itspurpose.

"It did bring out a lot of good discussion,"she said. "It made us think about things ingeneral we don't talk about.

Foxwell compared the educational function ofthe formal sponsored by the Student Friends of theHUAM with the wild party atmosphere of the HMSformal, the "Snowflake Soiree."

"The Student Friends of the HUAM aims to hold aformal which increases students' respect andunderstanding of art," she said.

Oriol said that, shortly after the event,officials at the Fogg called to inform her thatstudents had behaved discourteously. She said sheasked the Fogg to formalize its complaint inwriting.

"In order to record what happened, we wanted toput it on paper and let people discuss it," Oriolsaid.

She said that, while the students' behavior wasunprofessional, the students did not get out ofhand.

"It wasn't like the Fogg was horrified," shesaid. "It was not a wild, drunken brawl."

Some students who attended the event said thatthey did not notice any people who wereexcessively drunk.

"I found the letter surprising. I hadn't seenanyone abusing any of the art or getting drunk,"said James Rhee `97, a first-year student at HMS."I didn't see any museum officials around."

Tran said that the Student Council was alsosurprised to hear about the excessive drinking.

"When we first received the letter I wassurprised," she said.

Oriol said she wants to use the incident toencourage students to evaluate their own behavior.

"The students have used this as an opportunityfor introspection, a chance to reflect on how theyact," she said.

Oriol said the Student Council is conferringwith students about what steps to take in thefuture to prevent further incidents. She addedthat her office is "leaving it up to the studentsto design and organize their response."

"The students themselves chose to inform allthe students that there had been behavior that wasless than professional," Oriol said. "It isbecoming a springboard for discussion aboutprofessionalism and alcohol."

The students' letter mirrored her comments.

"It is important for us as students to reflectupon our own attitudes and behavior," the letterread. "In order to ensure the future ofschool-sponsored social events, we need toexercise better judgement."

Tran said the letter has started to achieve itspurpose.

"It did bring out a lot of good discussion,"she said. "It made us think about things ingeneral we don't talk about.