Molière’s Dining Halls

In 1672 the French playwright Molière wrote that “it is good food and not fine words that keeps me alive.” Over three centuries and several thousand miles away, the Harvard students who are bombarded daily with a plethora of fine words—including, from time to time, Molière’s own—are still waiting for administrators to digest his message.

Last week’s announcement that Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) has postponed the much needed renovations to Quincy, Dunster and Mather dining halls ensures that many undergraduates will continue to eat—or not, as the case might be—in facilities that lag far behind the rest of Harvard.

HUDS cited financial concerns as the reason that renovations have been shelved, for this summer at least. This line of reasoning would grate less, however, if HUDS did not waste money throughout the year in ingenious ways, ranging from the merely irrelevant to the outright infuriating. The decision to cry poverty barely four months after serving up thousands of (overcooked) lobsters in the annual Clambake is incredibly irritating, if not entirely surprising. So that HUDS can set about refurbishing the dilapidated serving areas in the affected—or, afflicted—houses as soon as possible, it should discontinue the farcical practice of theme meals. Instead of wasting money on jaded frippery that will be used once and promptly discarded, HUDS should focus on making real long-term improvements to everyday dining. Spare us the Hoe Down and give Matherites something better to chow down.

Other cost-cutting measures should include a moratorium on glossy pamphlets sent out to incoming first-years extolling the virtues of the mandatory meal plan that they have been forced to purchase. There is also no need for bizarre attempts at community outreach, such as soliciting recipes from parents. Presently, Harvard has a ludicrously expensive board system—but the least that students should expect for their $4041 per annum is superb food provision. Alas, residents of the three Houses yet to be renovated are paying top dollar for substandard service.

The least that HUDS can do until the renovations are finally completed is to end the unfair interhouse restrictions and allow all students to eat where they will most enjoy their meals. After all, without good food, Harvard students, like Molière, know that eventually even the finest of words becomes stale.