A Good Time is Hard to Find

If Harvard students had a nickel for every time they or their friends criticized campus social life, the College would probably churn out fewer consultants or investment bankers.

While no one expects the MTV 'Party to Go' team to move shop from Cancun to the MAC Quad, most students agree that there can be constructive solutions to their malaise, and some say they are already happy with their social lives.

Envisioning their ideal campus social scene, students proposed a variety of ideas, but few believe that Harvard needs social catalysts that are institutions at other campuses, like a university-supported Greek system.

"The problem I see with fraternities and sororities is that the same clique mentality [associated with final clubs] is there," says Undergraduate Council Vice-President Kamil E. Redmond '00. "We talk about community here all the time. Rather than talking about a Greek system, I think we need to talk about opening up that community."

While other students agree that campus social life is disappointingly fragmented, some say fraternities and sororities can actually improve campus community.

"I know when I've gone to other universities I've had a really good time at fraternities that are there because anyone can go, unlike final clubs where only the final clubs guys can go," says Rachel Perez '99. "Even if you go to the fraternities all the time you still meet different people."

While it is not difficult to find students who heartily concur with Redmond's characterization of final clubs as "racist, sexist, elitest, etc.," others felt that the problems with final clubs as they currently exist are not intractable.

"I think the ideal situation would be a scenario where women and men each had their own final clubs, all affiliated with the school," says Phoenix, S.K. Club President Simon S. Cheng '00. "If that were resolved we'd also be affiliated with Harvard, which would solve a lot of liability issues."

Redmond herself believes that "finals clubs can co-exist with the Harvard community."

"I think that if we can have larger Harvard parties, we can negate some of the ill effects of final clubs," she continues. Redmond and others say the lack of large social spaces at the College stifles the social scene.

"There are a lot of people at Harvard I would like to meet that because of the lack of social venues I don't have the opportunity to meet," Cheng says. "But that's also coming from someone who lives off campus."

Students did suggest solutions to their sense of social fragmentation that do not involve private clubs.

As McComma Grayson '00 says, a student center might go a long way toward bringing together students that might not ordinarily run into each other.

"I see a student center serving as a gathering ground for people to meet, talk and chat at various points during the day and the afternoon," Grayson says. "Some people go to bars and like to drink, and others don't. This might be a way to foster a rapport from ground zero."

Other students had proposals that were a little bit more imaginative, such as Perez's suggestion that The Crimson make an effort to advertise campus social events.

In addition to expanding House institutions like the well-loved stein clubs, Redmond suggested campus-wide parties outdoors with DJs and alcohol.

"[We need] parties in large open areas, like in Harvard Yard in a huge tent or in the MAC Quad," says Redmond. "That's part of the problem--that we have all of these parties marginalized in student rooms. I think we need to expand on the Springfest model."

Redmond also believes that the council's recent discussion of a new student center and increased space for student groups indicates a growing concern with campus social issues among undergraduates.

Despite the flaws they identified in Harvard's social scene, students said they were more or less happy with the social lives they had created for themselves.

"I've been very satisfied with my social life here," says John N. Belitsos '02. "I've found that I have the option to be as social as I want to be."

When all is said and done, most students were just as willing to lay the responsibility for having a good time on their own shoulders as they were to blame University policy or problems with social venues.

"Number one, students need to take a lot more initiative in creating a social life for themselves," Redmond says. "They expect the University to take care of them, but they need to step up to the plate."