Law and Order: Special Harvard Unit

It was raining over the cobblestone alley when one hopelessly lost reporter entered the dimly lit security office of Dunster. This investigator is on the trail of the first meeting of the so-called “Crime Club.” She walks down the narrow stairs. She puts her hand on the doorknob. She’s ready for the shady gathering of adrenaline junkies that is sure to await her. The door creaks open.

Inside, 10 to 15 girls are mingling over bowls of chips and other snacks, chatting about the newest happenings in crime TV.  The Crime Club members seem to have left their revolvers at the door.

The Harvard Crime Club, founded this term by Colleen M. Berryessa ’11, intends to get down to the nitty-gritty in the coming semester. “[The Club] is open to future lawyers, people who want to be in government administration someday, people who want to be defense attorneys,” Berryessa said. “Really anything that you could ever think of that involves crime, including the cheesy TV shows.”

Club members intend to make field trips to justice-related facilities and host panels with criminologists, police, and the FBI. They also hope to get some CSI workshops started and to collaborate with HUPD, the Harvard Shooting Club, and the Harvard Kennedy School Program in Criminal Justice.

Berryessa explained that she started the club as an outlet for undergraduates looking to pursue criminal justice carers at Harvard, given that there are few opportunities for the study of crime or law enforcement on campus.

Securitas officer Richard L. Eliseo, Sr. gave the new club his blessing. “It’ll get more students interested in their surroundings and the world today and in the proper way to record and look at crime,” he said.

One attendee, Madison J. Shelton ’11, explained her interest in criminal psychology. “The mentality of a criminal has always fascinated me,” she said.

Some of the draw, of course, is less than academic: “‘Criminal Minds’ is a fantastic show,” Shelton admitted.