Moving Move-In

The agony of returning to school this fall will be a little less stinging. Last week, Thomas A. Dingman '67, associate dean of the College for human resources and the House system, announced changes to the move-in policy that will make life a bit easier this September, especially for members of student groups who must come back early to participate in Orientation Week activities.

Last year, the administration did not permit residents of the Houses to move in until after first-year registration, just two days before upperclass registration and a mere five days before the beginning of classes. Students who returned early for athletic training, as well as student groups who wished to table at first-year registration, were forced to shack up in Houses other than their own, causing inconvenience and confusion on the day they finally were permitted to move into their real rooms.

Students arriving early could only bring a few bags, since just one hour was allotted for the transition from temporary to permanent housing. This 60-minute transfer was even more absurd for those transferring from temporary houses by the river to their homes in the Quad.

This year's policy is better in that it allows early arrivals to move into their own houses. General move-in will be on a Thursday and upperclass registration on the following Tuesday. Classes will begin on Wednesday. These changes should make for a more pleasant opening to the school year.

But the changes do not go far enough. The Administration should return to the policy of two years ago, when the houses were open a full week before classes began.

Opening the Houses for those few additional days would also alleviate another problem. This past September, with upper-class move-in on a weekday, students living in the region were forced to wait for the weekend for their parents to bring the majority of their belongings--or working parents had to take a day off. Harvard would be wise to schedule move-in day on a week-end.

The beginning of the year should be a relaxed time to settle into our rooms and catch up with friends. Harvard should allow us an adequate chance to acclimate before the onslaught of pressures commences.

In the past, House masters have argued that allowing students back on campus with too much time before classes will only result in raucous parties. Heaven forbid that such social behavior should take place on these hallowed grounds.