The Social Socialist

One balmy, autumn midnight of Stephen Smith’s freshman year, he and his roommates were on their way back to Pennypacker after a riotous night of Harvard bar-hopping . Unsolicited, two pit-like girls approached the cadre of boys, set their longing gazes on Stephen, and propositioned him for a little menage-à-trois.

At a glance, Adams House resident Stephen Smith ’02 does seem like a bit of a playboy. His peppermint smile, spiked, lemon blonde hair, and preppy wardrobe smack of Abercrombie and Wall Street. However, to evoke that hackneyed adage, appearances can be deceiving. If Stephen Smith is a playboy, he is the playboy of the collegiate socialist movement.

Smith is—and has been since freshman year—at the vanguard of Harvard’s progressive movement. His political persuasion is unlikely.

“I’m from a conservative Texan town where I was not exposed to social activism,” Smith says, “but when I came to Harvard I saw an avenue for affecting change through these organizations.” And that is what he has worked to do since the first day he stepped foot on campus. Literally.

Steve’s resume is impressive: he has founded Ivy Corp, Har’d Corp and BASIC, and he co-chairs the Campus Life Committee. His inerest in social causes extends beyond community service to include AIDS awareness, the living wage, and sexual violence. “There is a lot of crossover in doing so much. In terms of time management, I know what I’m doing at all times—even if I’m playing video games.”

Perhaps this is the recipe for success. Smith has adroitly balanced his commitment to various extra-curriculars with academics. At the time this interview was conducted, Smith was at a Texas airport en route to Austin for his Rhodes Scholarship interview. Smith is in the running for both the Rhodes and a cast member spot on MTV’s The Real World, which is, like, totally a metaphor. Under Smith’s watch, these dichotoumous pursuits are, in fact, reconcilable. Indeed, blockmate Greg Padgett ‘02 attests that “Steve knows the lyrics to any and all rap song—be it old school or newly released. At parties you can catch Steve rapping along with Dr. Dre.” Smith waxes philosophical as he muses about these apparently disparate lifestyles.

“In part, yes, I’m an activist. I’m an optimist who believes that we all have one chance and must do all we can in life. We have one shot.”

His sincerity is a disarming contrast to the cynicism and social climbing rampant across this campus. This quality extends beyond his professional relationships to his private life. Indeed, blockmmate Josh E. Cogswell ‘02 attests that “He’s the type of guy I want to set my girlfriends up with.” Alas, ladies, Smith has been in a committed relationship with a Northwestern senior for two and a half years. His room is a shrine to their relationship, wallpapered with images of her.

While at Harvard, Smith has elegantly managed a social conscience and a social life. Smith will undoubtedly create a comfortable niche for himself in the future—whether at Oxford or MTV.