City Approves Late Party Hours

Nearly six months of effort culminated in a victory for Undergraduate Council members yesterday when the Cambridge License Commission voted unanimously to allow Harvard dining hall parties to run until 2 a.m.

The vote allows extended party hours for a trial period of February through April 2002.

“No one thought that we could ever accomplish extending the party curfew, seeing that we’re in a city which has pretty restrictive rules,” said Undergraduate Council Member Rohit Chopra ’04. “With a lot of hard work and patience, it got done.”

The license commission plans to hold a hearing next September to consider making the change permanent.

“Unless problems arise, I expect that, when [the policy is] reviewed, they will choose to continue it.” said Council President Paul A. Gusmorino ’02.

The Undergraduate Council, led by Brian R. Smith ’02, has been fighting since last spring to institute later party hours.

On Wednesday, the license commission endorsed the party-hour extension. Once the issue was endorsed, its ultimate passage was all but assured, Smith said.

House Committee members—who are in charge of organizing and overseeing house parties—praised the Council’s effort in winning the later curfew.

“We’re psyched,” said Quincy House Committee Member Nancy J. Chang ’02. “I think that the council did a stellar job in doing what their constituents wanted.”

Kyle D. Hawkins ’02, a Lowell House Committee member, said, although he is pleased with the news, he does not think there will be dramatic changes in the house party scene.

“I don’t think we’re going to see a huge growth in the number of dining hall parties,” he said.

Hawkins said he would like to see a similar extension for individual room parties where alcohol is served, something many council members say is unlikely.

“I think [the trial extension is] a really big step in the right direction, but we obviously can’t get there in one leap,” Hawkins said.

Cambridge License Commission Chair Benjamin C. Barnes said on Wednesday that the city commission will be working to discourage drinking among college students in Cambridge. As part of that effort, Barnes said he hopes the council will encourage alchohol-free options for Harvard students.

The now-sanctioned party hour extension fulfills a promise Gusmorino made during his campaign for council president last year.

“A year ago we made a promise. Today it’s a reality,” Gusmorino said.

—Staff writer William M. Rasmussen can be reached at wrasmuss@fas.harvard.edu