Campus Readies for Saturday’s Battle at Yale

The walkway leading to the Science Center has become an open marketplace for anti-Yale products. Everyone is trying to get to the Murr Center as fast as possible. Students are visiting www.safetyschool.org with unusual frequency.

The signs of the traditional Harvard-Yale rivalry are everywhere.

This weekend, the Crimson prepares to play the Bulldogs, a team it hasn’t beaten in three years. As a result of these losses, most undergraduates have yet to see a Harvard victory in “The Game.”

But with Harvard’s perfect record, and a chance to clinch an undisputed Ivy championship, students are eagerly preparing for what could be their first weekend of celebration.

Kiana C. Foster ’02, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, is looking forward to cheering at “The Game.”

“Nothing compares to it. There’s always so many people there, and it’s going to be extra exciting this year because I’m sure a Harvard win is going to happen this time,” Foster said.

Just one of many student organizations selling game attire, the Harvard cheerleading squad finished selling all of its 400 “Yuck Fale” shirts yesterday morning.

The Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team had sold 200 shirts by yesterday afternoon.

And T-shirts aren’t the only game-related items selling out.

Robert M. Gee ’02, services chair of the Undergraduate Council’s campus life committee, said that all council shuttles to and from New Haven have sold out quickly.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Gee said. “I’m happy we sold out, but I’d like to get more shuttles. If the tickets had sold out earlier, I would have gotten more.”

More shuttle tickets will go on sale at 11:00 tomorrow morning in the Holworthy basement.. The council will send more than 23 shuttles, 47 people per shuttle, to and from Yale. It sent only 17 shuttles two years ago.

Some students, however, are choosing alternative means of transportation.

Daniel A. Bachovchin ’05 is driving three of his roommates to New Haven.

They are going early with the hope of partying in New Haven tonight.

“We want to meet girls from Yale so my roommate can give them mono,” he said. “But it’s not like they need help to get more undesirable.”

Other students planning to party before the game are waiting until tomorrow’s tailgates.

Adams House is one of the many houses hosting a tailgate. Adams House Committee Co-Chair Benjamin L. Miller ’02 said that the House plans to offer various food and hot drinks as well as champagne, beer and the opportunity to play laser tag.

Rivalry and Unity

The Harvard-Yale rivalry runs so deep that it can even divide families. “This will be the fourth year that I have been on the opposite side of my family,” said Elizabeth N. Dewar ’02, who is also a Crimson editor. “My father got his Ph.D. from Yale, my sister is a sophomore there and my mother is Yale’s provost. I hope for the first time it will be me spilling over the wall onto the grass celebrating Harvard’s victory.”

Some students, however, are using the game as a way to promote unity.

Harvard University Band Manager Alisha H. Creel ’02 said that this year’s pre-game show will be a joint salute to the flag by the Harvard and Yale bands.

“Usually we play the ‘[Stars Spangled] Banner’ together while our band forms an H superimposed over the Yale Band’s Y, but we felt that given the events of the past few months, it would be a powerful gesture of unity to create and perform a special pregame show together,” Creel said. “Despite the fierceness of our rivalry, on some level it is more important to work together.”

A number of Harvard students groups are planning joint events with their counterparts at Yale.

Black Student Association (BSA) President Brandon A. Gayle ’03 said that Yale’s BSA will be hosting this year’s joint tailgating party.

“I don’t know if they’ll be able to top the show we put on last year, but they’re certainly going to try,” Gayle said.

The Harvard College Democrats are planning a private happy hour with Yale’s Democratic club tonight, followed by a larger party, according to Harvard Democrats Club President Sonia H. Kastner ’03.

Kastner said that their shared political beliefs will help members of the Harvard and Yale clubs to overcome their rivalries.

“The weekend is partly about rivalry and partly about getting to meet people from other schools,” said Kastner. “Since we all have something in common, everyone will be friendlier to each other than if it were just a regular Yale party.”

Performing arts groups are also coming together throughout the weekend.

Members of the Harvard Glee Club will perform with the Yale Glee Club tonight at 8 p.m. in Woolsey Hall. Tomorrow night, the Kuumba Singers will join the Yale Gospel Choir and other groups from both universities in a talent show at 7:30 p.m. in the Whitney Humanities Center.

With so many events planned for this weekend, students are planning to support Harvard, despite all obstacles.

“I have a midterm on Monday and I don’t have any animosity towards Yale ,” said Melanie D. Napier ’05, who is going to the game anyway. “I’m just jumping on the bandwagon with everyone else.”