What's Wrong with Assassin?

To the editors:

I absolutely agree with Dean of Freshman Elizabeth Studley Nathans that playing Assassin is "fundamentally at odds with basic standards of behavior and interaction at the college" (News, March 10). This game is a horrific example of what is commonly known as "having fun," and it must be stopped.

Imagine, a frivolous game that gets Harvard students out of libraries and their rooms. A game through which students meet new people. The horror! Though many other people in the world "have fun" on a regular basis, we at Harvard are certainly above it.

Administrators have stated that it is not Harvard's responsibility to provide interesting things for students to do or to ensure that students are "happy." Apparently according to Dean Nathans and the Masters of Lowell House, however, it is the responsibility of Harvard to shoot down whatever social events students dream up.

This state of affairs is absolutely ridiculous. The same people that brought you the patented Sink-or-Swim advising system we enjoy here at Harvard are now worried about the touchy-feely emotional well being of students who may be scarred by playing a silly game. GREGORY S. NOVAK'00   MARCH 10, 1999