House Life
Eliot House Renewal to Begin Construction in June
Residents of Eliot House, one of Harvard’s undergraduate residential houses, have one more semester in their main building before renovations begin next June, according to Cameron Borgasano, Director of Undergraduate House Renewal Program.
‘I Am Really Sorry’: Khurana Apologizes for International Student Winter Housing Denials
Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana apologized for the confusion and outrage sparked after many international students on financial aid were initially denied winter housing but clarified the reasoning behind the decision in a Monday interview with The Crimson.
‘All in Good Fun’: Camaraderie and Competition in Harvard’s Club and Intramural Sports
In more than a dozen interviews with The Crimson, participants in club and intramural sports described the motivation as camaraderie and competition — not success.
In Reversal, Harvard Offers International Students Winter Housing
The Harvard College Housing Office offered campus winter recess housing in emails to dozens of international students on Monday afternoon, reversing its initial decision to reject the housing applications and subsequent appeals.
Denied Winter Campus Housing, International Students Scramble to Find Alternative Options
Many international students on financial aid at Harvard are scrambling to find lodging over winter break after the College Housing Office unexpectedly denied their housing applications, sparking outrage among undergraduates.
‘All Bark, No Bite’: Admin Threats Fail to Deter Black Market for Harvard-Yale Tickets
Undergraduates are participating in what has become a biannual Harvard tradition: selling their Harvard-Yale tickets on the black market and ignoring administrators’ threats that doing so could result in disciplinary action.
Absentee Anxiety: Harvard Students Struggle to Vote by Mail
After dozens of Harvard students were unable to cast their votes in the 2024 election Tuesday due to missing or delayed absentee ballots, several undergraduates from battleground states resorted to desperate measures — even flying home to cast in-person votes.
Lowell Dining Hall Temporarily Closed After Oven Fire
The Lowell House dining hall closed Monday after a “small oven fire” broke out just before lunch at 11:30 a.m., according to Harvard University Dining Services Spokesperson Christa Martin.
DSO to Pay $43,000 to Compensate For Drop in Student Activities Fee Revenues
The Dean of Students Office will pay more than $43,000 to keep funding for student activities at the same level as last year after a sizable dip in students paying the Student Activities Fee.
‘A Marathon, Not a Sprint’: Faculty Launch App to Promote Physical Activity
A group of Harvard faculty and administrators led by Human Evolutionary Biology department chair Daniel E. Lieberman ’86 launched CrimsonZip — a new app designed to connect Harvard affiliates to opportunities for physical and social activities — last month.
‘Make It Easy, Make it Tasty’: How Harvard’s Dining Services Influences Student Food Choices
In Harvard’s dining halls, every array of food has been carefully constructed. Harvard University Dining Services selects particular tray placements, serving station names, and menus based on student preferences to meet sustainability and local sourcing goals.
13-Hour Power Shutdown Leaves Dunster House Students in the Dark
During a 13-hour power outage on Friday, students in the overflow housing for Dunster House studied using flashlights, plugged appliances into hallway outlets, and flocked to nearby dining halls and libraries.
Harvard Yard Ops Doubles Down on Pest Control, Students Report Mice and Cockroaches
Yard Operations implemented a series of pest management and prevention strategies in freshman dorms over the summer — but students continue to report pest sightings.
As Harvard Cafe Prices Rise, BoardPlus Remains Stuck at $65 Per Semester
Over the past 17 years, Harvard’s tuition has nearly doubled. But over that same time period, the $65 credit that undergraduate students receive via BoardPlus to use in Harvard cafes and grilles has remained the same.
Grammy-Winner Daya to Headline Crimson Jam 2024
Grammy award-winning singer Daya will headline Crimson Jam, Harvard’s annual outdoor back-to-school concert for undergraduates, the College announced at a freshman orientation event Thursday morning.
Dunster House Faculty Deans to Step Down at End of Academic Year
Dunster House Faculty Deans Cheryl Chen and Sean D. Kelly will step down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, the deans announced in an email to House affiliates on Tuesday.
Historic Heat Wave Reignites Debate About Lack of AC in Harvard Housing
As a heat wave descended on Cambridge, students living on campus sought relief from the scorching temperatures — just not in their dorm rooms.
Historic Bow & Arrow Press Will Move to Lamont Library Following Adams House Eviction
Bow & Arrow will be run by Houghton Library’s Printing and Graphic Arts department, though the library has not yet announced a timeline for when operations will begin.
‘A Guinea Pig’: Looking Back on Randomized Housing for the Class of 1999
For more than two decades, Harvard students were able to rank where they wanted to live for three years of college. But in 1995, Harvard’s administration decided it was time for a change.
‘Adjust on the Fly’: Harvard Undergrads Receive Diplomas at House Ceremonies Despite Rain and Protest
Whether they chose to participate in a pro-Palestine walkout or remain seated at the University-wide Commencement, undergraduates streamed to their residential Houses Thursday afternoon to officially receive their diplomas.
‘Crazy Times’: With Graduation Approaching, Seniors Reflect on Harvard Journey Bookended by Crisis
The Crimson spoke with dozens of seniors about their memories of a Covid-19-hued transition to college and how they reclaimed a vibrant student life amid four years bookended by crisis.
Bad Karma: How Anonymous Social Media Platform Sidechat Shapes Harvard Campus Politics
Though Sidechat is often a platform for much-needed levity and humor in moments of stress, many students have raised concerns about its effectiveness as a medium for political debates and propensity for spreading negativity.
Dilapidated Dorms: How Harvard Undergrads Cope with Run-Down Housing
Some students say they’ve grown accustomed to living with rodents and the occasional maintenance problem in dilapidated houses. But for others, housing problems raise broader concerns about how run-down living spaces may detract from quality of life at Harvard.
Harvard Prepares for Commencement Disruptions, Enlists Tutors as ‘De-Escalators’
The College enlisted a number of residential tutors across the 12 undergraduate Houses to serve as “de-escalators” during this week’s Commencement festivities as Harvard makes contingency plans for handling disruptive protests.
‘Tied to the People’: As Renovations Loom, Harvard Affiliates Say House Culture Will Persevere
Despite initial fears, alumni and affiliates who experienced living through past renovation projects expressed optimism surrounding House culture — saying that they were able to preserve their Houses’ long-standing traditions, culture, and spirit.