Bringing Parties Back

If you thought the Boston Police Department’s Harvard-Yale tailgate restrictions were sobering, wait until you see the list of parties scheduled. There is no shortage of a capella jams and musical performances, but if you planned on dancing the night away in a sweaty dining hall, think again.

As Harvard-Yale weekend approaches, the absence of dining hall parties should not go unnoticed. One of Harvard’s most anticipated traditions has been overcast by the cloud of bureaucracy that continually chokes Harvard social life: namely, the lack of communication and collaboration among House staff, the Student Life and Activities Office (SLAO), and students. The tailgate restrictions have already put a damper on the weekend, and none of the 12 Houses is permitting dining hall parties this weekend, perhaps due to overcrowding concerns. Furthermore, the decisions that have prevented student groups from hosting parties are but a sample of the misguided policies that have steadily corroded Harvard social life in recent years. These policies make it incredibly difficult for students to have social events on campus, and without revisions they can create a dangerous party atmosphere that undermines the College’s commitment to student safety.

Student groups face an inordinate number of obstacles when throwing parties. Student groups must secure large spaces three weeks in advance of events, and when Houses have different policies and procedures for using their dining halls, it becomes difficult to find a space within the required time frame. In addition, the upfront costs for throwing dining hall parties have grown over the past year. The hourly rate for Harvard University Police Department detail has increased from $46.50 to $70.55 over the past year. Lowell, Pforzheimer, Mather, and Adams Houses have also employed surcharges for dining hall rental and sometimes clean-up. Since student groups and House Committees (HoCos) are the driving force behind much on-campus social life, something needs to be done jointly by University Hall and the Houses to offset rising costs and make parties less arduous.

The College’s policies are pushing the Harvard social scene to the periphery. Not only is this push an inevitable outcome of difficult party policies, but the administration actually encourages partying in areas that are difficult to monitor. When asked in an e-mail to explain where students were expected to party during Harvard-Yale weekend, Jason B. McCoy ’08, the SLAO’s Campus Life Fellow, pointed out that “there will be room parties going on in the houses on Friday night,” implying that these room parties are a legitimate alternative to the dearth of dining hall parties.

Not only does this indicate the dearth of viable party options, but it also marks the lack of communication between University Hall and the House masters, since at least one House, Currier, is in fact not having any parties this weekend—dining hall, room, or otherwise. The House masters and the administration must recognize the danger presented by stuffing Harvard and Yale students into tight House spaces. Moreover, many students will flock to final clubs and off-campus buildings to party. If ensuring student safety is a major priority for the College, it seems counterintuitive to push Harvard and Yale students into partying in more isolated venues.

Some immediate changes could ameliorate the problem. The College should provide large venues for fun and safe parties, especially on Harvard-Yale weekend. The administration is doing its part by looking into alternative venues for parties, and it should be commended for actively pursuing suitable social space. The Malkin Athletic Center (MAC) will be used this Friday by the First-Year Social Committee to host the Freshman Dance Party, and, if all goes well, the MAC might be used again by student groups in the future. University Hall is also tasking the Common Spaces Steering Committee with exploring large party space in Cambridge. The Houses should do their part in coordination with University Hall and be more open to allowing student groups to use House space. Smart renovations could make many House spaces more conducive to smaller parties to accommodate students with small rooms.

The SLAO should also develop a system to streamline the process for throwing parties and keep students informed of decisions on student life. With only four employees, the SLAO does not have adequate staffing or funding to fully support the 12 HoCos and over 360 student organizations. They are a great source for advice and support, but they must be willing to fully disclose the rationale behind sweeping policies and should consider simplifying the regulations for throwing parties.

On the whole, the College must commit to making Harvard an intellectually and socially stimulating campus. The SLAO is working to address some of the issues surrounding parties, and, if we reach out to students and resident deans early, I hope that current issues will not persist through April Visiting Weekend for pre-frosh. With the creative minds on this campus, we can certainly work together to make Harvard a fun campus for everyone. That’s something we can all raise a glass to.



Timothy D. Turner ’09, president of the Harvard Black Students Association, is an economics concentrator in Dunster House.