Out-of-Touch Administrators

Last week, Harvard administrators confronted several first-years for their recent appearance in The Crimson’s weekend magazine, Fifteen Minutes (FM), which included references to underage drinking. While I realize that Harvard seems to think that its students should only amuse themselves through the arts and intellectual discussions about Kant, this latest action by the Freshman Dean’s Office (FDO) seems simply ludicrous.

The University already makes too much of its status in loco parentis; it sets up absurd 1 a.m. room-party curfews and alcohol restrictions, and then wonders why people flock to the finals clubs. Harvard’s social scene is a nonentity compared to that of almost any other school in the country. For first-year students, the social scene is often particularly bleak. It was quite refreshing to read about a group of students truly disfruiting Harvard’s weekend offerings. Furthermore, the actions of the students profiled in the article were in no way dangerous or abnormal for people of their age; in fact, they showed far more restraint and responsibility than typical college students. While the University as a liberal arts school does have a responsibility to the students outside the realm of the intellectual, it should not impede normal social activity amongst them.

This latest act by the FDO also serves to impede the community-building efforts of FM. Many students enjoy reading about the weekend activities of other students on campus; FM helps to provide a sense of community for an often-disconnected Harvard populace. By using FM as a sort of informant, the administration weakens its ability to act as a bridge between students. Harvard’s weekend social activities are no secret to anyone. For the administration to pretend that seeing it in print would startle anyone is simply pretentious.

Yes, this latest act by the FDO is more than a little disappointing. Intimidation of students, while not really surprising, is something which one would hope not to see from a school of Harvard’s caliber. The administration needs to relax, and stop trying to force undergraduates to fit into its picture of the model Harvard student.

—FRANCIS S. MARCEL-KEYES