Too Young for a Final Club

My friend's 16 year-old sister and her friend went to an A.D. party on Saturday night, Oct. 10. The fact that she wanted to go is not so shocking; I can see the allure a final club must hold to someone in town from high school for the weekend. I myself have never been to a final club (unless you count my foray to the front door of the A.D. at 4 a.m. that Saturday night to retrieve the two girls), so I am not able to say anything about the parties or the people first hand.

I am disgusted, however, at the reckless behavior and obvious lack of judgement the A.D. had at that weekend's party. The two girls went to the party earlier in the evening, returned around 1 a.m. and then snuck out of the room at 2 a.m. to return. My main concern is that the A.D. let them in again. There are people on campus who may look young, but any Harvard student would be able to tell that my friend's sister and her friend are definitely not in college.

Maybe the first time they got in there was a large rush at the door and whoever was in charge of letting people in was overwhelmed and accidentally stamped their hand (this might sound ludicrous, but it appears to me the only possible way the A.D. could explain it without saying the doorman blatantly did something illegal). Once in, however, someone must have suspected they were too young to be drinking and should have said something, taken their alcohol away or at least asked if they were with someone from the College. No one did, however, and the two 16-year-olds were able to enjoy themselves.

In fact, when they returned to the room at 1 a.m. they talked on and on about the guys they met. Unfortunately, they decided their evening wasn't over yet and snuck out of the room at 2 a.m. to rejoin the party.

When we noticed they were gone, at around 4 a.m., we went to the A.D. where there was a large group of guys milling in the street. Once the door was finally opened, we saw the two girls standing in the hallway, drunk and surrounded by seemingly intoxicated men.

Upon grabbing her sister, my friend told the guys that the girl was 16 years old and that they should have been more careful before letting people in.

One responded that they knew and were about to bring the two home. Nonsense. At 4:15 a.m. the members of the A.D. decided that being 16 was just too young to be at their party?

I had little respect for final clubs before this incident, but now I have none for the A.D. and any others whose practices resemble it. I am not accusing any of the guys of hurting my friend's sister and her friend. I am accusing them of immature and irresponsible behavior. They should realize that having two drunk 16-year-olds surrounded by a large group of men at 4 a.m. is an unsettling and potentially dangerous situation. Why would you want to risk your reputation? Furthermore, why would you want 16-year-olds at your party? Shame on you all.

You can try to blame the high school students (and you may even try to blame us), but Harvard students should have better judgement any day, drunk or sober, than 16-year-olds do.

I have spoken with other Harvard students about this incident, mainly women, and none have seemed as upset as I am. Why not? Perhaps they are simply thinking about themselves and their experiences at final clubs. In this situation, though, because of the age of the two girls, you cannot just rely on personal experience.

The members of the A.D. were wrong. There is no way of getting around it. I don't know if this article will change the behavior of any of the guys I saw that evening or any one else who participated, but it is still important that everyone knows about the incredible practices that take place behind the doors of final clubs. Hopefully, though, it will change some of your minds and cause you to think twice before you let yourself or your little sister go to the A.D. ever again. Angela M. Miklavcic '00 is a social anthropology concentrator in Lowell House. Editors' Note: The A.D. says that licensed bartenders, hired to check identification as well as to serve alcohol, were present at the party in question.