Tips from Yale

Remember last year when we gloated over the fact that Yale copied Harvard by adopting CS50, our notorious introductory computer science class with record breaking enrollment numbers of over 800 students? Well, the saying “what goes around comes around” must exist for a reason, since recently some administrators at Harvard have been looking up to Yale to improve its social scene.

This year, the administration’s mission seem to be want to create inclusive, open, and safe social spaces on campus. Eli Schachar, a Lowell Resident tutor, has a few suggestions for how the College can work towards this goal. And, he happens to be a Yalie. Here are some of his suggestions:

A Harvard version of Toad’s
Toad’s, the notorious nightclub in New Haven, has its mixed reviews with its sketchy townies and sticky floors (but let’s be real; final club floors are sticky too). But we have to admit their party was lit during Harvard Yale weekend. It would be cool to have a Harvard version as well. Perhaps the club above Kong is a possibility. Chinese food and an open party space? Sounds like heaven to me.

More in-suite common rooms
The recent house renovations in Quincy, Dunster and Leverett have received criticism for the replacement of in-suite common rooms for hallway common rooms. In suite common rooms might very well be the inclusive social space so many students are pining for, something the administration should keep in mind with the renovations for Winthrop and Lowell coming up.

Freshmen live with upperclassmen in Houses
Yale is known for their residential college system, which are kind of like Harvard’s houses, except with freshmen. Instead of being sorted on housing day, Yale freshmen are sorted into their residential colleges before they even step on campus. This could have its pros and cons as we would lose Housing Day, a beautiful Harvard tradition. Plus, who will live in the yard dorms? Will freshmen live in the Quad as well? How many freshmen will get lost on their way to class? There are too many unanswered questions here.

Undergrad RA’s instead of resident tutors
Like many other colleges, Yale has undergrad RA’s or resident assistants instead of proctors and tutors. So instead of an angry and sleep-deprived grad student shutting your party down, it might be an even more sleep-deprived fellow Harvard student. This modification would really change the social dynamic. Some interesting possibilities here.

Perhaps a change is in need, despite the fact that the inspiration came from an icky place called New Haven. But some of these suggestions would change some of the fundamental traditions and nature of Harvard. It will be up to the administration as well as the voice of the students to decide what kind of Harvard we want to become.