Size Does Matter

“I finally made it to Harvard,” shouted Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins to a huddled mass of enthusiastic undergraduates at this year’s damp Yardfest. The singer proceeded to don a top hat and take off his shoes, in a dissonant but oddly endearing tribute to both the conservative costume of Harvard yore and the liberal spirit of the occasion. Harvard’s College Events Board (CEB) should be commended for a Yardfest that succeeded in spite of inclement weather.

But amid the frivolity of a two-story slide, a tire swing, and the strains of “Semi-Charmed Life,” we could not help but reflect that the College community would perhaps be better served by more frequent, but smaller events rather than the occasional pan-campus blowout.

Events like Yardfest are effective at drawing a large part of the undergraduate population, but do little to spark new friendships and relationships based on common interests. The reputation and budget of the CEB seems disproportionately dependent on the success of such celebrations.

Smaller house events and socials, in contrast, are cheaper, quieter, and more contained than the College’s carnivals and concerts, but are perhaps more important in terms of community building. Instead of placing so much emphasis on Yardfest and the Harvard Carnival, the CEB would be better advised to turn its attention and focus to funding to the litany of opportunities for community-building that exist on a weekly basis: in the new pub, the houses, and wherever a group of friends and classmates can gather for diversion. Instead of huddling with blockmates in front of a stage, for example, the CEB might sponsor a smaller event in the pub catered to fans of a niche musical genre. In a smaller setting, those fans could meet each other and form friendships based on mutual interest. Not only would this represent a more efficient use of the CEB budget, it would have a lasting impact on the rather flimsy fraternal feeling among the student body.

Furthermore, these small events are far easier to plan: The promise of food and entertainment is guaranteed to lure some students, and even a modicum of experimentation will reveal the most popular opportunities. The CEB’s present movie-showings, dances and discussions form only a small fraction of what could be accomplished given the resources and motivation.

Fortunately, it seems the somewhat misguided emphasis on larger College events is beginning to shift. The CEB’s recent dispersal of funds for trivia-night stein clubs and sing-alongs is testament to this trend. These events have been predictably popular, and cost about as much as a tire swing. We hope that next year sees a greater number of similar activities—even if it means not catching Eve 6 on a reunion tour.