If Only the Paper Came

It is hard to be an effective Reader Representative for The Crimson when I am barely a Crimson reader. I decided to take this job because during my first two years at Harvard I read The Crimson almost every day and developed strong feelings about many aspects of the paper. I was excited by the idea of finding out about what other people thought about the paper and trying to work with Crimson executives to affect change.

So it is somehow ironic that I find myself unable to write about any of the important concerns and questions I share with readers about Harvard's daily for the simple reason that I have been unable to read The Crimson regularly this year. So far this semester, The Crimson has been delivered to my room three times. Three times in six weeks. Out of necessity this first column deals only with Crimson circulation. If, and when, I start receiving my paper, I hope to move on to other matters.

Three years ago The Crimson made the bold and expensive decision to distribute the paper free to all undergraduates. In prior years, the paper was door-dropped daily to all students with paid subscriptions. By attempting to freely distribute the paper for the past three years, The Crimson has truly become the prime organ of information dissemination at Harvard. And The Crimson is still unique among campus newspapers in this respect.

The Crimson executive charged with running circulation is very much aware the distribution system has had trouble this year. David I. Kim '01 understands that "it's not perfect. We're aware of the problems." In order to find out where the delivery problems are concentrated, The Crimson has a Web site (http://www.thecrimson.com/delivery) where student complaints about distribution problems are compiled. According to Kim, the Web site is effective and helpful: "It makes it easier to complain, and we pass on the information to the deliverers." Still, he admits that many people complain, but don't use the Web site.

Although the Web site is certainly a positive step, it has not solved the circulation problems. In fact, one of my roommates contacts the site almost every day, and yet we still do not receive the paper. Kim says the Quad represents a particular challenge for distribution. "The way the streets of Cambridge run, the logical distribution route gets to the Quad last. There is no anti-Quad bias, but if the paper is late getting out, it might not get dropped door-to-door" in the Quad Houses.

Other executives seem to believe that distribution problems, in the Quad and throughout campus, are rare occurrences. Crimson President Joshua H. Simon '00 believes that "there are anomalous situations where a whole House does not get the paper door-dropped." Further, despite the fact that Quad distribution has been particularly bad this year, Simon is unaware "if [circulation problems] affect certain areas more than others."

The executive who oversees circulation, Crimson Business Manager James L. Hegyi '00, insists that circulation has neither improved nor worsened significantly during his tenure. Rather "it may have oscillated." Hegyi says, "We're not satisfied; it's clearly not perfect." But he insists that the business department is aware of the problem and that "there are people working on circulation every day." Those in charge of circulation seem particularly sensitive to the fact that their colleagues work so hard to get the paper out. Says Kim, "I want to see The Crimson going door-to-door, not just dropped off in the dining halls. I have lots of friends who work for The Crimson, and it really is the voice of the undergraduate community."

Georgia N. Alexakis '00, The Crimson's managing editor, seems to represent the views of most students in the news department: frustrated but understanding. Alexakis says that "it is frustrating for us. We work hard to get the paper out, and ideally everyone would get the paper." But she insists that "we are all one organization. Every department has weaknesses."

True, but more drastic action is needed to get circulation in order. The Quad problems seem particularly chronic. Almost every day, piles of newspapers sit in the corner of the dining halls. Perhaps the maintenance workers who deliver The Crimson need more direct supervision. Students have come to expect The Crimson at their doors every morning, and many of us rely on it to find out what is going on around campus. Student groups use it to advertise, expecting that all undergraduates will receive the paper.

Everyone at The Crimson needs to be concerned about circulation. Alexakis sums up the issue perfectly: "We can improve the paper as much as we want, but if no one gets it..."

Exactly.

David B. Orr '01, who is not a Crimson editor, is a social studies concentrator in Cabot House. He is the reader representative for The Crimson.