THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873 | VOLUME CXLV, NO. 58 | CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS | TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
The Harvard Crimson All eligible students should vote in upcoming unionization election.
Men’s lacrosse drops third straight game after Penn steals second half. SPORTS PAGE 12
EDITORIAL PAGE 10
Police, University Scrutinize Arrest Cambridge Police Commissioner Defends Officers Following Arrest
Faust Calls Arrest of Student ‘Profoundly Disturbing’
By JONAH S. BERGER
By KRISTINE E. GUILLAUME
CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard Jr. said he stands by the actions of the officers who arrested a black Harvard student Friday and said the Cambridge Police Department has not placed the officers involved on administrative leave at a press conference Monday. The student involved in the incident is currently undergoing evaluation at a hospital for issues including mental health concerns—and the ongoing evaluation is “one of the reasons” the student has yet to be arraigned, Bard said Monday. Bard did not directly answer a question asking whether charges against the student—which include assault, indecent exposure, and resisting arrest—could be dropped in light of the undergraduate’s mental health.
University President Drew G. Faust called the forcible arrest of a black undergraduate by the Cambridge Police Department Friday night “profoundly disturbing” in an email sent to University affiliates Monday. CPD officers arrested a College student Friday at the Corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Waterhouse St. after tackling the undergraduate to the ground. Officers tackled the student, who was naked, after determining the undergraduate had previously taken narcotics. CPD officers later wrote in a police report they tackled the student because he was making aggressive movements toward law enforcement. But members of the Harvard Black Law Students Association who witnessed the event have called CPD’s version of
SEE CPD PAGE 9
SEE FAUST LETTER PAGE 7
Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard Jr. defended the officers involved in the Friday arrest of a Harvard undergraduate at a press conference Monday afternoon. JONAH S. BERGER—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
HUHS, HUPD Stuck to Protocol In Arrest, Per Officials By CAROLINE S. ENGELMAYER and MICHAEL E. XIE CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
Spokespeople for Harvard University Health Services and the Harvard University Police Department said both
organizations followed proper protocol before and during the arrest of a black Harvard undergraduate Friday that has sparked allegations of police brutality. HUHS was contacted about the student, who was naked and likely un-
FratPAC Lobbies Against Sanctions
By NINA H. PASQUINI and PAUL D. TAMBURRO CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
An influential pro-Greek life political action committee is pushing for legislation that could threaten Harvard’s ability to enforce its social group sanctions and this year added a graduate member of the Porcellian Club to its board of directors. Harvard’s sanctions—which took effect with the Class of 2021—bar members of single-gender social groups from holding campus leadership positions, from serving as captains of varsity athletic teams, and from receiving College endorsement for certain prestigious post-graduate fellowships. But a bill currently working its way through Congress could imperil Harvard’s social group policy. The bill, known as the PROSPER Act,
SEE FRATPAC PAGE 8
Marathoners—decked in ponchos, hats, and tennis shoes—approach the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday as onlookers cheer them on. AMY Y. LI—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
University Gears Up for Unionization Election By SHERA S. AVI-YONAH and MOLLY C. MCCAFERTY CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
With Harvard’s second unionization election set for Wednesday and Thursday, union organizers, University officials, and anti-union students are making final preparations for the vote, as well as a last push to reach eligible voters. The election will determine whether over 4,000 eligible graduate and undergraduate teaching and research assistants will collectively bargain with the University. This week’s vote will be Harvard’s second unionization election. The University also held an election in Nov. 2016, the results of which were subject to over a year of legal disputes between union organizers and the University before the National Labor Relations Board over the election’s validity. In subsequent rulings, the NLRB decided that the eligible voter list generated by the University did not meet the agency’s standards and ordered a secINSIDE THIS ISSUE
Harvard Today 2
SEE PROCEDURE PAGE 11
Harvard Students Run Boston Marathon
By CAROLINE S. ENGELMAYER and MICHAEL E. XIE
der the influence of narcotics. But the Cambridge Police Department ultimately arrived on the scene and made the arrest, charging the undergraduate on several counts including assault,
ond election. Organizers for Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers say much of the next 48 hours will be business as usual. Andrew B. Donnelly, an HGSU-UAW organizer, wrote in an email that organizers’ pitch to eligible voters remains the same. In the run-up to this election, organizers have often emphasized a proposed union’s ability to negotiate for increases in graduate students’ pay, protections against sexual harassment, and advocacy for international students. “No change in plans: we’re trying to talk to as many people as we can about how organizing a union will provide more stability in our pay, secure protections against mistreatment or sexual harassment, and provide a process by which we can collectively bargain and democratically approve a contract,” Donnelly wrote. In the past several days, union organizers have canvassed campus dorms
Arts 3
SEE UNION ELECTION PAGE 9
Editorial 10
Sports 12
A group of Harvard students faced grueling conditions—including heavy rains, strong winds, and biting temperatures—to cross the finish line of the 122nd annual Boston Marathon on Monday. Founded in 1897, the Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the world. This year marks five years since the Boston Marathon bombings, which killed three and injured hundreds more. Since the bombings, the race has taken on a greater significance for Boston, becoming a symbol of the city’s resilience. More than 30,000 people ran this year’s race. “It was great. It was cold, wet, and windy, but spirit was incredible, and I don’t know—I had a really fun time,” Emma P. Seevak ’20 said. “It was more
SEE MARATHON PAGE 9
Priebus to Join IOP as Visiting Fellow By ALEXANDRA A. CHAIDEZ CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Reince Priebus, former chief of staff for President Donald Trump, was named a Visiting Fellow for spring 2018 at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics. Priebus, who also served as the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, will be on campus from April 23 until April 25. Throughout his time at Harvard, Priebus will attend “a number of events” and “engage” with students at the IOP, according to a Monday press release. “We are pleased to welcome Reince Priebus to campus as a Visiting Fellow during the Spring semester,” IOP
FALSE ALARM
Firefighters respond to an overheated generator in Lowell House. CALEB D. SCHWARTZ—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
TODAY’S FORECAST
MOSTLY CLOUDY High: 50 Low: 34
SEE PRIEBUS PAGE 9
VISIT THECRIMSON.COM. FOLLOW @THECRIMSON ON TWITTER.
2007
HARVARD TODAY
TUESDAY | APRIL 17, 2018
FOR LUNCH
FOR DINNER
Crispy Fish Sandwich
Fried Buttermilk Chicken
Suashuka Bolognese
Haddock Provencal
Spicy Rice, Bean, and Lentil Casserole
Multigrain Rotini w/ Peas and Mushrooms
AROUND THE IVIES
ALMOST THERE Two men in uniform walk the Boston Marathon in the rain. AMY Y. LI —CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
Columbia Graduate Student Union Plans to Strike Unless University Agrees to Bargain The graduate student union at Columbia University announced they are planning a six-day strike unless the University agrees to bargain, according to the Columbia Daily Spectator. The dispute between graduate students and the university over graduate students’ right to unionize has been going on for some time, stemming back to the University refusing to bargain after the graduate students first voted to unionize in December 2016. A union website states that if University President Lee C. Bollinger does not send a letter with the intent for the union to bargain, graduate student workers will strike from April 24 to April 30. In addition, the union warned that if the University does not continue to support graduate student unionization, more strikes will be scheduled.
University of Pennsylvania Short on Hosts for Admitted Students Visit
HAPPY TUESDAY! Guess who’s back? That’s right. College Students and Mental Health: Confronting an Emerging Crisis (12-1 p.m.) The Dr. Lawrence H. and Roberta Cohn Forums and the Huffington Post jointly host a presentation on the emerging mental health crisis at
college across the nation, and how there is a serious gap in services to help students affected by it. Head on over to The Leadership Studio at 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston. The Art of Energy Revolution In this public lecture, Lui Zhenya, former Chairman and President of State Grid Corporation of China (the world’s largest utility company), will
discuss changes to global energy systems, particularly increasing interconnectivity to promote renewable energy usage. If you love environmental and energy sciences, this is the lecture for you. Bonus: it’s given in both Mandarin and English. 5-6:30 p.m. in Milstein East B/C, Wasserstein Hall.
The University of Pennsylvania is facing a shortfall of hosts for admitted students for their annual Quaker Days scheduled for this Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian. Quaker Days serve as an opportunity for admitted students to experience campus life, visit classes, and attend special events. The shortfall of hosts—48 registered students are currently without housing—is due to a jump in the number of students registering for Quaker Days from last year with an increase of 242 students. The Office of Admissions is reportedly looking for an additional 100 student hosts to compensate for hosts who might cancel or become sick. An admissions office spokesperson said the office is looking for other options to house the admitted students, but recognized that hotel accommodations do not equate with the experience of having a student host.
Lorenzo F. Manuali Crimson Staff Writer
IN THE REAL WORLD Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer Prize for Music Rapper Kendrick Lamar won a Pulitzer for his album Damn, for his storytelling and for capturing “the complexity of modern African-American life.” This marks the first time a non-classical or jazz musician has won this award. Trump Scraps New Sanctions Against Russia, Overruling Advisers In a surprise move, President Trump decided to not move forward with planned Russian sanctions, contradicting his U.N. Ambassador Nikki R. Haley. This comes after Russia’s ally—Bashar al-Assad— launched a chemical weapons attack. South Carolina Prison Riot Leaves Seven Inmates Dead In a series of altercations over “territory” and “contraband” inside the maximum security Lee Correctional Institute in South Carolina, seven inmates were killed with several more injured. An investigation is currently underway.
REFLECTIONS WAITING AT THE DOT
A chair sits reflected in a puddle following heavy rain Monday. AMY Y. LI—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
The Harvard Crimson THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873 Derek G. Xiao, President Hannah Natanson, Managing Editor Nathan Y. Lee, Business Manager Copyright 2018, The Harvard Crimson (USPS 236-560). No articles, editorials, cartoons or any part thereof appearing in The Crimson may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the President. The Associated Press holds the right to reprint any materials published in The Crimson. The Crimson is a non-profit, independent corporation, founded in 1873 and incorporated in 1967. Second-class postage paid in Boston, Massachusetts. Published Monday through Friday except holidays and during vacations, three times weekly during reading and exam periods by The Harvard Crimson Inc., 14 Plympton St., Cambridge, Mass. 02138 Weather icons made by Freepik, Yannick, Situ Herrera, OCHA, SimpleIcon, Catalin Fertu from flaticon.com is licensed by CC BY 3.0.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE
“It was more fun than I was expecting. I obviously did it because I thought it would be fun, but it was more fun than I was expecting. I was smiling for a lot of it.”
Night Editor Brian P. Yu ’19
Design Editor Diana C. Perez ’19
Assistant Night Editor Shera S. Avi-Yonah ’21 Aidan F. Ryan ’21
Editorial Editor Cristian D. Pleters ’19
—Emma P. Seevak ’20, Boston Marathon Participant
CORRECTIONS The Harvard Crimson is committed to accuracy in its reporting. Factual errors are corrected promptly on this page. Readers with information about errors are asked to e-mail the managing editor at managingeditor@thecrimson.com.
Story Editors Joshua J. Florence ’19 Hannah Natanson ’19 Claire E. Parker ‘19 Brittany N. Ellis ’19 Phelan Yu ’19
Photo Editor Caleb D. Schwartz ’19 Sports Editor Spencer R. Morris ’20
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 3
ARTS ARTS
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‘Faculty Lounge’ Bridges Gap Between Students and Faculty HAE-IN SEONG CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Though the Harvard College Stand-up Comic Society usually runs shows every week or so, the April 14 performance was not your run-of-the-mill show. In fact, the star comedians were not students at all. Instead, most of the show featured comedy sketches and routines by Harvard faculty. A personal project of over three months in the making, “Faculty Lounge” marks a new method of connecting professors, organizations, and the student body. Eight faculty members performed that night, including Biology lecturer Andrew Berry, Dean of Student Life Katherine G. O’Dair, and Divinity School Professor Jonathan L. Walton. Topics ranged from their worst experiences in graduate school to anecdotes about living as a gay person, and satirized events from awkward dates to shopping week. The faculty cracked jokes about family, class, social life. Joel Kwartler ’18, co-president of the HCSUCS, says it took considerable time and effort to find faculty who were willing and able to participate. “I sent probably about 80 emails,” he says. “I snuck around and found out where office hours were for high-profile professors who kept them pretty secret.” The professors had a short amount of time to prepare a routine. Kwartler and the HCSUCS completed the rehearsal over the span of three weeks. Though HCSUCS members streamlined and supplemented the faculty’s act, the basic premises of the show were written by the professors and deans. “If I was doing a show with eight first-time freshmen or eight professors, the professors will probably be the better show,” Kwartler says. HCSUCS hosted the show to raise money for Y2Y and Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, two organizations that run shelters in Cambridge to serve the homeless population. Jeong Jun Kim ’18, finance director for HSHS, says both organizations have played a significant role in managing the logistics of the show. “I deal mainly with
the administrative parts…booking the venue, selling tickets,” he says. Nathan Cummings ’18, fundraising director for Y2Y and a former Crimson design chair, believes that “Faculty Lounge” serves as a powerful new tool for organizations like Y2Y and HSHS to reach out to students. “One of the goals we have for Y2Y is to move towards more student involvement in terms of fundraising, more grassroots projects like these, small donations, events, benefits,” he says. At the same time, Cummings also adds, “It’s not just about fundraising in the end. It’s also about developing a great relationship with the student body.” To date, $2000 has been donated to charity from ticket sales. Having Harvard faculty perform stand-up comedy has been a long time coming. Kwartler acknowledges it as a personal project of his, an idea he conceived in November 2017. “I always wanted to do some sort of benefit performance… it occurred to me that if professors would perform in stand-up, people would probably pay some small amount to see that.” Next spring, Kwartler began reaching out to professors at the very beginning of spring semester. “I had the lineup set…a week or two before spring break.” Concerning Kwartler’s role in “Faculty Lounge,” Cummings says, “This is really his baby. He’s put so much time and effort into this show. If this succeeds, it will be entirely on his merit.” Will “Faculty Lounge” change the way students think of their professors? Kwartler hopes so. “This is the first time we’ve had this—since 1636,” says Kwartler. “I think there’ll be stories about personal lives, or unusual habits or observations that they’ve picked up, that just would not come up in class.” At the moment, it is uncertain whether the “Faculty Lounge” will become a mainstay of the stand-up comedy scene at Harvard.“If this works out, I hope that whoever succeeds our role will continue to do this,” Kim says.
the week in arts
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TUESDAY
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wednesday
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WRESTLING WITH THE DEVIL: A PRISON MEMOIR Author Ngugi wa Thiong’o talks about his time as a political prisoner in Kenya. He will present his latest book, dedicated to the power of the written word. Brattle Theatre. 6 p.m. $5.
THE OVERSTORY: A NOVEL Richard Powers presents his latest book, an ode to the secret life of trees. Join in his effort to reconnect us with our flora. Harvard Book Store. 7 p.m.
Thursday
ICA FREE THURSDAY NIGHT Admission is free to the Institute of Contemporary Art. Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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friday
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saturday
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sunday
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monday
VISITAS CONCERT The Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra presents Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Sanders Theatre. 8 p.m. Regular $20. Students $10.
THE MANAGEMENT OF SHATTERED IDENTITY: GERMAN FILMS, 1945-57 The Harvard Film Archive screens two German feature films dealing with topics like guilt in the aftermath of WWII. This screening accompanies the Inventur—Art in Germany exhibition Harvard Film Archive. 7 p.m.
CIRCLE ROUND LIVE Part of the Women in Comedy Festival, this children’s storytelling show features a classic Romanian and a Swedish Folktale told by Boston comedians. Brattle Theatre. 2:30 p.m. $10.
THE NEUROSCIENTIST WHO LOST HER MIND: MY TALE OF MADNESS AND RECOVERY Neuroscientist Barbara K. Lipska presents her latest book. She will discuss the insights she obtained from witnessing cancer spread in her own brain, descending into madness and eventually recovering to tell the tale. Harvard Book Store. 6:59 p.m.
COURTESY OF ROB LAUGHTER
17 April 2018 | VOL CXLv, ISSUE xI Arts Chairs Mila Gauvin II ’19 Grace Z. Li ’19
EDITOR Associates Kaylee S. Kim ’20 Caroline A. Tsai ’20 Aline G. Damas ’20 Noah F. Houghton ’20 Edward M. Litwin ’19 Petra Laura Oreskovic ’20 Ethan B. Reichsman ’19 Yael M. Saiger ’19
Caroline E. Tew ’20 Jonathan P. Trang ’19 Lucy Wang ’20
Executive Designer Hanna Kim ‘21
Design Associates Mireya C. Arango ‘20 Emily H. Hong ‘21 Jessica N. Morandi ‘21
Executive PhotographerS Kathryn S. Kuhar ‘20 Zennie L. Wey ’20
ARTS
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 4
film
‘Truth or Dare’: If Disney Channel Made a Horror Movie Dir. Jeff Wadlow YAEL M. SAIGER CRIMSON STAFF WRITER In director Jeff Wadlow’s “Truth or Dare,” a group of friends on spring break gets pulled into a lethal game of truth or dare. The movie had the potential to turn a juvenile game into something twisted and terrifying; instead, it feels incredibly childish. The stilted acting and shallow relationships, along with the relationship drama that seems equally important to the characters as the threat of death, are reminiscent of a Disney Channel-style horror flick. One scene steps beyond teen drama towards educational children’s television, when a character reads menacingly from a piece of paper, “Demons can possess people, places, even ideas.” I felt transported back to fifth-grade grammar class—demons, it seems, can possess nouns. The movie makes an effort to hit not just on every classic horror movie trope, but also on every non-horror-related cliché possible, starting with the characters themselves. There is Ronnie (Sam Lerner), the completely clueless misogynist who tags along with the group in hopes of getting laid: He provides comic relief and is obviously introduced to serve as the first kill. There is Tyson (Noland Gerard Funk), the wealthy, perfectly-groomed, overconfident boy with no morals who sells fake prescriptions COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS and only cares about getting into medical school. His perpetually drunk, doting girlfriend Penelope (Sophia Ali), is perhaps the most interesting character, as her alcoholism is at least surprising, but even that remains unexplored. There is Brad (Hayden Szeto), the problem-solving, likeable boy who is not yet out to his policeman father. And then of course, there are the two best friends Olivia (Lucy Hale) and Markie (Violette Beane)—who supposedly mean the world to each other despite constantly fighting—a nd the quiet, brooding boy they are both in love with, Lucas (Tyler Posey). The clichés unfortunately extend past the characters into the writing and score. It is hard to take a movie seriously when someone unironically says, “We can’t change the past but we can still have a future.” The soundtrack also screams, “This is a horror movie,” loud and off-putting enough to be grating but not at all scary—an unexplained creepy laugh echoes even before the end of the opening credits. At times, the stereotypes and attempts at drama move beyond the ineffective and toward the actively offensive. For instance, the friends begin their game of truth or dare in Mexico, and the demon associated with the game follows them back to the United States. It is possible, of course, that Mexico was just the natural setting for a spring break trip. But after the fifth slow pan across the green Mexican border sign, the shot begins to seem not just repetitive but also slightly pointed—of course the unfamiliar dark magic, demons, abandoned buildings, and gruesome ancient rituals are
from another country. The script shows a similar lack of sensitivity. In another scene, Olivia is dared to sleep with Lucas, Markie’s boyfriend. The pair’s feelings for each other have been obvious since the beginning of the movie, but they have not acted on them out of concern for Markie. As Lucas begins to passionately kiss Olivia, she stops him, fearing that he is faking his passion, complaining that he has to have sex for the sake of the game. “You have to. I don’t,” he replies, in a response that is somehow framed as romantic. In a scene meant to be the pinnacle of Olivia and Lucas’s relationship, this language unnecessarily and uncomfortably recalls issues of sexual consent. This awkward and inconsiderate writing unfortunately represents a larger trend in the film. Wadlow cannot quite seem to make up his mind about what sort of horror movie he wants “Truth or Dare” to be. It is not particularly gory, and having the characters’ faces transform into what the movie itself acknowledges looks like “a messed up Snapchat filter” before they die dulls the impact of their deaths. The plot sets the movie up to be a psychological thriller, a seventh-grade game gone wrong, but the inner workings of the characters and the demon are not particularly interesting and the truths and dares laid out not particularly disturbing. The movie could have made good use of comedic horror —making it almost enjoyable to watch, or at least to make fun of, if not for the perpetual references to rape and suicide, which felt unemotional, out of place, and unnecessary, making it instead harder to laugh at the characters without feeling guilty. The lack of emotion in general is almost impressive. It is quite a feat, for example, to take the emotion out of a scene depicting a son as he is forced to hold his own father at gunpoint. The characters do not grieve at all as one after another of their friends die, and Olivia, the protagonist, barely reacts when her friend literally takes a bullet for her. The one possible redeeming feature is the concept. The idea of truth or dare—a game that is slightly sadistIC even in its relatively innocent seventh-grade iteration—turned deadly and inescapable is certainly interesting. But the plot of the movie gets a little ridiculous as time goes on, and when the demon—in a move that has been annoying seventh-graders for centuries—dares someone to tell the truth, it is hard not to groan. One could also read the film, albeit generously, as a critique on social media, between the main characters’ obsession with various social media platforms, the comparison of their possessed faces to a grotesque Snapchat filter, and the demons occasional communication over social media. But even then its point is unoriginal and the moral does not justify the poor execution. The twist ending is the most compelling part of the movie, equally enjoyable both because it is surprising and because it means that the movie is finally over. Staff writer Yael M. Saiger can be reached at yael.saiger@thecrimson.com.
music
FESTIVAL AS ESCAPE: THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF YARDFEST 2018 RICK LI CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
As the spring semester slowly tapers to an end, students gather for a much-needed break in the form of Yardfest. Temporarily sectioned away with fences from the rest of the world, the string of performances feels just walled-off enough for attendees to shake away their stresses and exhale—an action far too often neglected by the student body. Unfortunately, though eagerly anticipated, the festival does not always meet expectations. The gradual decline in audience engagement as this year’s Yardfest unfolded is a testament to how difficult it is to traverse the college’s atmosphere through performance. It’s never a good sign when you feel like the night was front-loaded coming out of a four-hour lineup. The opening acts were the unquestionable highlights of the show. The first group, Disco Band, was a charming throwback. Covering crowd favorites like The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.,” and especially well-received closing cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” the student performers managed to win over the crowd with established classics and glistening saxophone accompaniment. If its counterpart was all about the past, vocal powerhouse 21 Colorful Crimson gave a picture of a robust student body looking forward. An outspoken advocate for diversity on campus, 21CC carried through their mission statement through their song selections, showcasing an array of styles including Latin, hip-hop, and pop ballads. Their message, though saccharine, struck a nerve with the
JACQUELINE S. CHEA/CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
audience: The performers received thunderous applause from their peers. Nestled symbolically in the heart of the New Yard, the student groups brought to the stage a confluence of old and new, retrospective and progressive, which really made it feel like—at least for a couple of hours—that music might effectively assuage the stress-related tensions of the term on campus. The artists that followed them, however, struggled to recreate this effect. Friday’s performance made palpable the strange, awkward feeling of separation that occurs when artists come to the University. The same playful acknowledgement of setting that flies so well with sold-out arenas manifests itself differently here. Artists engaging a Harvard audience come up harshly against the fourth-wall, inserting themselves into a student body seeking to forget academic life for an evening. Unlike student musicians, headliners lack useful campus context and must actively adapt to their audience with varying levels of success. Wale’s set generally landed. His bars, crisply delivered, fell on receptive ears and were even echoed back, despite his reputation as a more niche artist. The performance of his new song “Black Bonnie” was intimate and enjoyable. He was able to work the crowd, at one point hoisting a fan holding copies of his albums over the barrier and onto the stage to dance for several songs. These moments of immersion, however, were punctuated by humor, not all of which worked. While a joke about future well-con-
nected lawyers getting his friends out of trouble garnered a smattering of laughter, Wale’s praising of Harvard students for understanding the word “algorithm” uncomfortably brought student focus right back to the college beyond the festival. Any concerns one might have had with Wale, though, were even worse with the final act and supposed crown jewel of the night. Lil Yachty was, by all accounts, resoundingly disappointing. Unlike those who came before him, he was unable to convincingly make the steps of Memorial Church his own, and even the most recognizable pieces of his discography—“Broccoli,” “iSpy,” and “Minnesota”— were tepid. Worst of all, however, was his inability to read the crowd. Misdirecting his charisma towards unsuccessfully urging the student body over and over to form mosh pits (which he was later told, quite fittingly, that he could not say due to liability), Yachty squandered valuable time when he could have let his music speak for him instead. It’s a funny thing, being right up against a festival barricade. It’s up there where performers decide, deliberately or not, how they will contend with their audiences. The successful acts this Yardfest were able to reach across this divide, pulling listeners out of campus at least for a few hours. Others, however, were unable to surmount this wall, failing to provide the perennial musical performance as retreat which students so desperately covet. Staff writer Rick Li can be reached at rick.li@thecrimson.com.
ARTS
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 5
music COURTESY OF BBC/STARZ
“Howards End”: A Glorious Take on a Classic Novel
ALINE G. DAMAS CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
BBC’s latest period four part mini-series, “Howards End,” has just come to Starz—and it is marvelous. Based on E. M. Forster’s muchloved novel, which was then made into the iconic 1992 film for which Emma Thompson won an Oscar, “Howards End” was burdened with high expectations. Yet this new adaptation, written by Kenneth Lonergan of “Manchester by the Sea” and directed by Hettie MacDonald, refreshingly enlivens the story. It manages to stand on its own with its skilled cast and gorgeous cinematography, and does a faithful job of unpacking the novel’s complexities while never losing sight of the overarching themes and main characters. “Howards End” focuses on the lives of three families in London in the 1910s: the Wilcoxes, the Schlegels, and the Basts. The Wilcoxes are an affluent family who reside both in London and in a country house called Howards End. Henry Wilcox (Matthew Macfadyen) is a wealthy magnate and a steadfast capitalist, but only nominally the family patriarch. In fact, the Wilcoxes’ world revolves largely around Mrs. Ruth Wilcox (Julia Ormond), an enigmatic force bringing balance to the selfish family. In contrast with the conservative Wilcoxes, the Schlegels are bohemian and progressive. After her parents’ death, Margaret (Hayley Atwell) raises her younger siblings Helen (Philippa Coulthard) and Tibby (Alex Lawther)
in a large house in London on their large inheritance. This family, modeled after the Bloomsbury group, represents a brewing world of change and idealism. They spend their time smoking, reading Kant and Dostoevsky, attending classical concerts, and gallivanting to lectures on reform. The novel’s conflict is set in motion after the Schlegels encounter Leonard Bast (Joseph Quinn), a lower-middle class insurance clerk. It is his interest in art that convinces the Schlegel sisters to help him financially. In a casting choice that diverges from the film adaption, Leonard’s wife Jacky is played by Rosalind Eleazar, a black woman. Although her race is never directly addressed, this directorial choice has undertones which will be important as Jacky’s history is revealed. The casting is the show’s greatest strength. All three Schlegels are delightfully portrayed by their respective actors. Atwell brilliantly plays Margaret, bringing to life her maternal strength and compassion. Her excellent chemistry with Macfadyen, who plays Henry, sets up the seeds for their relationship from the start. The sparks between them make their eventual relationship completely believable, something with which even the 1992 film struggles. Lawry’s Tibby is another great addition, stealing all the scenes he is in with his deadpan humor. He delivers his lines monotonously, but always with the
slightest tinge of irony. Tibby has the unbearable habit of talking over his other siblings, but in the hands of Lawry this is comedic and almost loveable. Coulthard gives a nuanced portrayal of Helen. She plays the character with a sensitivity that makes Helen much more palatable, since she—despite her good intentions—could have come across as obnoxiously naïve in the wrong hands. Her arc is centered on her realizations about money: Even though she deplores it and the people who worship it, the great irony is that her inheritance supports her artistic and counter-culture lifestyle. With the innocence that she imbues in her character, Coulthard makes these revelations feel less obvious and thus less frustrating. However, Coulthard’s scenes with Quinn never feel quite right. Perhaps because the nature of the relationship between Helen and Leonard is so bizarre—Helen’s interest in him is more akin to a subject in an experiment than as a man. Quinn’s Leonard is overall quite powerful. As Leonard’s class and lack of finance continually thwart his desire for social mobility, he becomes more demoralized. Quinn shows this deterioration very carefully through hauntingly desperate looks and a constant trepidation in his movements. The show’s setting is breathtaking, and the frequent panoramic shots put its beauty on
display. As the show opens and ends with views of the idyllic world of Howards End there is a sense of closure despite the ever-changing nature of its residents. The shots of London are also varied, from the riches of the Wilcoxes’ flat to the grime of London’s poorer neighborhoods. Altogether, these elements make the production a great success. Lonergan’s script keeps all the different threads of the show together. For a series like “Howards End,” structure is key especially as it can be difficult to follow the intricate plotlines. Perhaps its only fault lies in its pacing: It fails to show the passage of time, which can be quite confusing as there are rather large temporal leaps. Because of this, it feels as though very little time has passed between Ruth’s death and the marriage between Margaret and Henry. While such abrupt jumps in time might add a sense of urgency to drive the story forward, they feel unnecessary. Ultimately, “Howards End” doesn’t need this fast pace: It develops the story so well that it always keeps you guessing. With its stellar cast and depth, this production does just as well if not better then its Oscar-winning predecessor. Staff writer Aline G. Damas can be reached at aline.damas@thecrimson.com
campus
COURTESY OF JESSICA AMERSON/AMERSON CREATIVE
Evamore Co-Founders Present at Music Entrepreneur Conference
BROGAN M. MCPARTLAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER From organizing festivals on farms to arranging events in Ryman Auditorium , EVAmore co-founders Channing Moreland and Makenzie Stokel have seen it all. The entrepreneurs of the music-tech company met in college in Nashville and immediately bonded over their shared passion for putting on music events. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a profession when event planners and artists started reaching out to them for assistance to bridge the gap between the two parties. EVAmore is an online booking platform for live musicians. Most recently, Moreland and Stokel came to Harvard on April 8 to share their experiences at the first ever Music Entrepreneur Conference .
forefront.
THC: Another service of your company seems to provide is supplying a platform for artists to become popular. Was that intentional? Makenzie Stokel: We are helping get artists out there and paid. But with that, we’re collecting a lot of data about which artists are doing best in which markets. That’s something that’s valuable to them and to the music industry, to know who’s popular, who’s coming up.
The Harvard Crimson: What were the motivations and
inspirations that led you all to create Evamore?
THC: Do you think this service is encouraging more artists to create music now that there are more avenues for them?
Channing Moreland: Being in Nashville, there were 15 live shows a night. And we loved it because it was like playing roulette on picking what was going to be the best event to go to. But we couldn’t get into a lot of events because it was 21 and up and we were 18 and 19. So we were like, “Why don’t we start putting on our own events?” We saw a need that the college community wasn’t able to go to as many live shows as we’d like
MS: I think before us, you had to be really creative to get booked or make relationships. So underground artists who are unsigned had to do that or they wouldn’t get booked. Also, a lot of artists don’t think about private events in general. To show them they can play all these shows and get paid pretty well and get live experience is another way for them to feel really confident.
to, so we started putting on our own. THC: How did you find the time to create a business while involved in school?
CM: Something people don’t like to talk about is that when an artist is booked at a venue they are making a percentage of their ticket sales and giving away a percentage of their merchandise sales to the venue. If anything, on a a good night, if they are an up-and-coming artist, they are walking away with around 150 bucks. With us, an average event runs from 1500 bucks to 10 grand. To these artists, that three-hour event is covering their rent.
CM: We were so obsessed with live music and it was our passion. There was never a question of, “Oh, can we make this work?” It was “how.” There were a lot of 8 a.m. crunch work sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. We always managed to get the schoolwork done, but this just became so much more in the
THC: You’ve spread to large cities, and cities with a lot of musical talents. Do you think it’s possible to be successful in places where there isn’t a thriving music scene? CM: Definitely. When you look at a city like Denver or Boston, their budgets for corporate events are nearly double because of the scarcity of talent, so you can get artists there. We can even potentially work with the same pool of talent and get them there. THC: What plans do you have for the service? What’s your next step in terms of expansion? CM: I think something we’re excited about is what we’re building on the tech side and what that can mean on the data we are gathering. We are an asset to the industry. Technically we are getting data on up-and-coming artists. What if they get signed to a label next? What if EVAmore was getting listened to from that side? That’s exciting. Of all the things it could be, it’s our job to make sure EVA more stays open for the ones that make the most sense. THC: In terms of the next place to expand—Channing, you’re originally from Boston—do you think there’s any chance of you bringing EVA more to Boston? CM: Boston is a special place in my heart. There are incredible talents here, but you see them going to New York, L.A. and Nashville because there is no industry here. That’s why I love that we get to come to this conference. We’re finally talking about innovating music technology here in Boston. So absolutely I want it to come to Boston. I want to give the artists here more bookings. We’d love to reinvest back into this town.
ARTS
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 6
film
“A Bag of Marbles”: a Worthy Addition to the Holocaust Story Tradition MASON SANDS CONTRIBUTING WRITER In “A Bag of Marbles,” two brothers, Joseph “Jo” Joffo (Dorian Le Clech) and Maurice Joffo (Batyste Fleurial), flee from Paris in the middle of the night to escape Nazi persecution in occupied Vichy, France. The two youngsters make their way from place to place, often only evading capture due to luck or goodwill. The Frenchlanguage film is a harrowing tale of hatred, separation, and death, like many films about the Holocaust, for example, “Sophie’s Choice” and “Schindler’s List.” However, it adds to our understanding of this human tragedy, speaking powerfully about finding joy and love amid times of great darkness. And, while the movie is based on the autobiography of French Jewish author, Joseph Joffo, the boys’ flight to freedom makes a wider statement of the mentalities of the victims, witnesses, supporters, and humanitarians of this tragedy that scarred the first half of the twentieth century. Ultimately, “A Bag of Marbles” highlights that even in great hardship, one can still find and enjoy times of happiness, love, and lightheartedness, a testament to Jewish resilience during the Holocaust. Unlike other films of its genre, “A Bag of Marbles” is able to have lighthearted moments by giving its protagonists the advantage of preparation. Joseph and Maurice Joffo only have one advantage, and that is time. Following an order that all French Jews are to wear a yellow star, their parents quickly realize the way the winds are heading and adequately prepare the boys with money, a travel plan, an order to never reveal they are Jewish to anyone, and assurances they will reunite in Nice before sending them off. The boys’ preparation and greater understanding of their situation, which do nothing to minimize the danger of their plight, make for a lighter movie than “Schindler’s List,” “Sophie’s Choice,” and “Life is Beautiful.” The boys luckily have a plan, keeping them one step ahead of the Germans and enabling the film to focus more on brotherly bonding and horseplay. One fond moment is their first steps into the Free Zone, an administrative area under the control of the Nazi-collaborating Vichy regime. After Jo is shot in the foot, Maurice carries his little brother on his back and says, “It’s only natural. You’re my little bro. I’d carry you to the end of the world.” This lasts for about
COURTESY OF GAUMONT
two seconds before Maurice complains about his brother’s weight and puts Jo down, who jokingly replies, “To the end of the world?” After arriving in Nice, being reunited with the family, and being presented with papers, the tale of the brothers isn’t one of hiding or feeling from place to place under the cover of night, but of avoiding detection, allowing them to actually find some joy despite fear. Director Christian Duguay masterfully uses wavering definitions of image and lighting to show the feelings Jo associates with his memories and to give access to his thoughts while he is constantly threatened. Throughout the film, positive memories, such as the reunification of the family in Nice and the journey of the two brothers through the Free Zone are depicted in bright lighting and a gloss that serves to make the entire scene shine with a luster, but blurs the usually high definition of the individual figures within it, suggesting impermanence. In contrast, negative memories are stark and well-defined, often in dark yellows and browns. By associating color and scene clarity with Jo’s emotional perceptions, Duguay offers the audience a clear
insight into the mind of his protagonist, an established pattern that he later uses to disrupt an initially benign scene during Liberation Day. At first, the scene is brightly lit and glossy. But once a mob enters the home of a staunch Petanist (a Nazi supporter) to harass him and his family, the colors become starker and the lighting darker. Already, Duguay’s filmic language makes an important statement on how violence begets violence and how Jo relates to this revelation. Jo’s feeling about the Peronist (a supporter of Argentine leader Juan Perón) who had unwittingly hid him from Nazi persecution for some time suggests the film’s larger elucidation of how the war and antisemitism have affected all aspects of French society. For as much as the narrative is centered around Jo and his brother, it is as much about the people they encounter and how these people relate to the Holocaust. The film depicts how coyotes (human smugglers), collaborators, Catholic priests, resistance fighters, and Jews view themselves in the conflict. A trustworthy coyote helps Jo and Maurice along with another fleeing family across the demarcation between German-occupied France and the Free Zone.
columns
TAILS ANNE E. CARLSTEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Despite the coyote’s kindness, he is not exempt from a desire for money—namely 1,000 francs a head. A powerful and complex story works behind each character and his or her motivations, jointly brought to life by good writing and good acting. This coupled effort manifests in the character of the father, Roman Joffo, whom actor Patrick Bruel embodies excellently. After fleeing from Russian pogroms (organized massacres) to Paris as a child and now having to see his own children flee Paris, Roman has great wisdom and understanding of the recent developments in France but also wishes to spare his family from the culture of fear and demoralization inherent to their escape and the reason behind it. Bruel works with the script to give Roman a certain world-weariness and gravitas. Despite the father’s constant optimism and promises, Bruel highlights the fact that there is always something darker behind his eyes. When Roman must be rough with his children to give them some inkling of the danger they are in, Bruel brilliantly plays simultaneous heartbreak, resulting in some of the most tear-inducing, empathetic moments in the film. By virtue of the horrific nature of the Holocaust, the film’s setting is provocative enough to induce great emotion as the depths of human barbarity are revealed. “A Bag of Marbles” strives to tell a different story. The situation of Jo and his family allows for good as well as bad memories during years of death and loss. In showing this balance, the film emphasizes the resilience and bravery of Jewish families to find light and laughter against the darkest backdrop. It also tells the stories of others in World War II France and how they relate to the war, giving the audience a greater understanding of French society in a time of great division, war, and horror. Just after crossing the demarcation point and arriving in the French Free Zone, the brothers sleep in a barn, where Jo asks his brother if they are finally “free to be Jewish,” to which his brother replies, “Free to sleep, numbnuts.” This film brings to light what Jo and his family could not at the time: The many manifestations of the Jewish struggle during the Holocaust and their experience with the resistance, their families, and the collaborators.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 7
Faust Responds to Arrest FAUST LETTER FROM PAGE 1
resources that students could utilize if they are in need of support, including HUHS and Counseling and Mental Health Services. Jennings, who co-wrote his message with Academic Dean Nonie K. Lesaux, extended Hernandez’s invitation to faculty and staff. Kennedy School Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf sent an email to HKS affiliates shortly before Faust responded to the arrest on Monday. Like Manning, Elmendorf emphasized that the school wanted to support students who are “distressed” by the arrest. “We are, of course, concerned about the well-being of that student,” Elmendorf wrote. “We are also concerned about the impact of this incident on the Kennedy School community.” Elmendorf invited students to convene at the school’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Monday afternoon to reflect on the incident. Twenty-five students attended the meeting, which Robbin Chapman—the Kennedy School’s new diversity dean— co-hosted with Debra E. Isaacson, the associate dean for degree programs and student affairs. Attendees charged that Elmendorf’s message was “unsatisfactory,” highlighting the fact that the email did not identify the victim as black and that Elmendorf sent it two days after the Friday incident, unlike administrators at the Law School and Graduate School of Education. At a reception for Chapman following the meeting, Elmendorf addressed students’ feedback regarding his message and apologized that he “wasn’t clear.” “I figured people know [about the incident] from The Crimson,” Elmendorf said. “I didn’t think to spell this out, but I understand now after hearing some of the reactions that were around in this room.” Elmendorf also said he should have sent the email to HKS affiliates on Saturday, rather than waiting until Monday. He explained that he had reached out to central administrators to learn more about the incident over the weekend. “There were a lot of conversations among administrators about what happened and I didn’t actually learn much in that meeting that had not been seen in The Crimson,” he said. Elmendorf said HKS will respond to further developments “as best as we can.”
BLACKLISTED? BLACKLISTED? BLACKLISTED? BLACKLISTED?
events “incorrect” and have said the officers tackled the student without provocation. While on the ground, at least one CPD officer punched the student in the stomach five times in an attempt to unpin the student’s arms and handcuff the undergraduate, according to the CPD police report. Faust wrote in her email that the University does “not yet know all the facts” and cannot fully understand what occurred until “the necessary reviews have been completed.” CPD is undertaking an internal review of the incident given use of force was involved; internal reviews are mandated by CPD policy whenever force is used. Faust did not explicitly say whether Harvard is undertaking its own review of the incident. “What we do know raises important issues about the relationship between police and the communities they serve, student health resources, and the manner in which University units operate with each other and with our partners in the community,” she wrote. Students have questioned whether University respondents to the scene incorrectly followed procedures in reporting the behavior of the student. Callers first contacted Harvard University Health Services about the incident, but HUHS transferred the callers to CPD. Students have questioned why HUHS transferred the callers directly to CPD instead of HUPD or instead of taking other steps. Faust wrote that the arrest occurred against “the backdrop of increasingly urgent questions about race and policing in the United States.” In their statement Saturday evening, BLSA called the incident “a brutal instance of police violence.” Students gathered across campus Saturday and Sunday to discuss the incident and plan a response. Faust wrote that she and other Harvard administrators will work with the City of Cambridge going forward to address the incident. “We will work with City officials to address concerns members of our community have raised about interactions with the Cambridge Police Department,” Faust wrote. “We will be asking questions of ourselves, recognizing that the responsibility rests with the University to establish the conditions of trust necessary for effective campus
policing and the delivery and coordination of effective health care.” She added that this process will involve consulting students, faculty and staff. “Ultimately, this is about building a community where people from all backgrounds and life experiences can come together confident in their ability to do their best work in a safe, supportive, and constructive environment,” she wrote. Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion Roland S. Davis said Sunday that Harvard’s Office of General Counsel and Massachusetts Hall—traditionally, a reference to the University’s central administration— are “involved” in examining the Friday arrest. Asked about the OGC’s role in responding to the incident, University spokesperson Melodie L. Jackson initially referred reporters to Faust’s email to Harvard affiliates. The email did not mention the OGC. “The Office of the General Counsel plays a role in working with institutional leaders to help understand consequential events and to advise on ways that institutional processes might be improved,” Jackson wrote in a separate statement. Deans at a number of Harvard’s individual schools sent emails to school affiliates following the student’s arrest. Law School Dean John F. Manning ’82 responded to the event in an email Saturday morning, writing that the Law School’s “immediate focus” is to provide support to the community. Like Faust, Manning wrote that though the University is “still learning all the facts,” the incident has invoked a nationwide debate surrounding use of force by police officers. “What occurred last night reminds us again of troubling questions about the relationship between police and the community nationwide—and particularly encounters with members of the Black community,” Manning wrote. At the Graduate School of Education, two administrators—Executive Dean Jack Jennings and Associate Dean for Enrollment and Student Services Maritza Suyapa Hernandez— sent messages to students, faculty, and staff on Monday morning and afternoon, respectively. Hernandez invited students to a community meeting on Tuesday to discuss the incident. She also listed
UC Votes to Subsidize Summer Storage By JONAH S. BERGER CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
The Undergraduate Council voted at its Sunday meeting to allocate $7,000 to subsidize summer storage for certain low-income students. Residents and soon-to-be residents in Quincy, Dunster, Winthrop, Mather, and Leverett Houses who are eligible for the Student Events Fund—a College initiative that provides event tickets to undergraduates with demonstrated financial need—will be eligible for the $35 subsidy. According to the legislation, these five houses are the only ones that currently do not provide “free storage options” for their residents.
We want to help people who are really financially burdened with this now. Sarah Fellman ‘18 Quincy House Representative
The UC sent a survey to residents of the five houses that don’t provide free storage to gauge their storage needs. Of the 575 students who responded, over 50 percent reported they spend at least $100 on storage each year. In addition, over 97 percent of respondents reported they would “take advantage” of a free or subsidized storage option if it were available to them. Quincy House Representative Sarah Fellman ’18—who co-sponsored the legislation—said she and FirstYear Class Committee chair Rushi A. Patel ’21 have discussed with Associate Dean of Students Lauren E. Brandt ’01 the possibility of obtaining funding from the College for summer storage. Patel and Fellman have broached a variety of ideas with Brandt at these meetings, including integrating stor-
age funding into the financial aid package, according to Patel. “It seems like this is something that the OSL and that Lauren Brandt care about,” Fellman said. “The Financial Aid office has been responsive to us and to her.” In the meantime, though, the legislation’s co-sponsors reiterated the short-term needs of certain students. “We want to help people now because people are really financially burdened with this now,” Fellman said. “We want to get good data on how important this is for students and we want to keep working with administrators to make a longer-term and fuller solution.” Patel said they asked administrators about possibly allowing residents of houses without storage to use available spaces in other houses, but he said administrators told them that all storage spaces already reach capacity during the summer. Finance Committee chair Henry S. Atkins ’20 asked Fellman about the long-term goal of this legislation. “The specific policy is what the administration is willing to do,” Fellman said. “The general policy is we don’t want students to have to pay for storage, especially inequitably.” Sunday’s vote to subsidize summer storage marks the Council’s second effort in less than a month to financially support SEF-eligible students. At a meeting in late March, the Council voted to subsidize purchase of bicycles and other means of transportation for SEF-eligible students in the Quad. The UC voted the following week to include Dunster and Mather in the program. In response to a question from Education Committee chair Sruthi Palaniappan ’20 about storage costs at other institutions like Yale and Stanford, Fellman said that on average, summer storage costs at those schools were higher for students. Storage, she said, could be one Harvard perk that informs prospective students’ college decisions. Staff writer Jonah S. Berger can be reached at jonah.berger@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @jonahberger98.
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PAGE 8 | APRIL 17, 2018 | THE HARVARD CRIMSON
FratPAC Adds Porcellian Grad to Board of Directors FRATPAC FROM PAGE 1 proposes an update to the Higher Education Act that could force the University to choose between implementing its sanctions and receiving millions of dollars in federal research funding. The PAC in question forms part of a group, the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition, that retained the law firm Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer LLP to lobby Congress around the PROSPER Act starting in 2017, according to public filings. FGRC, which also includes fraternity and sorority umbrella organizations the North American Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Conference, has previously worked with Arnold and Porter on issues related to the Higher Education Act. FSPAC’s previously unreported move to join the fray means Harvard will face significant firepower on the Hill in its fight to preserve the social group sanctions. University President Drew G. Faust, referencing the PROSPER Act, has said she is “distressed” by what she called Republican lawmakers’ attempts to interfere with internal University affairs. FSPAC, commonly known as FratPAC, added Lars E. Peterson ’68, a graduate member of the Porcellian, to its board of directors for 2017-2018,
according to records available on the PAC’s website. No member of a Harvard final club previously sat on the PAC’s board of directors for at least the past five years, public filings show. Every other FratPAC board member is affiliated with a Greek organization—as has been the case for at least the past five years. Peterson wrote in an email that he and many other alumni are “gravely concerned” about Harvard’s sanctions. “I found the FSPAC represented a nationwide network of allies already hard at work at supporting the elected officials committed to preserving every student’s right to gather with others in the organizations that best suit their needs,” he wrote. Arnold and Porter is also overseeing lobbying efforts around the PROSPER Act for the Cambridge Coalition, a band of Harvard final clubs and Greek organizations that includes the Porcellian. The Wall Street Journal first reported in Feb. 2018 that final club members are lobbying Congress in an effort to counteract Harvard’s sanctions. Kevin O’Neill, an Arnold and Porter lobbyist working for both the Cambridge Coalition and the FGRC, also serves as executive director for FratPAC, according to publicly available documents.
FratPAC President Marc Katz wrote in an email that the PAC condemns Harvard’s sanctions. “The FSPAC strongly opposes Harvard’s blacklisting of students who exercise their fundamental freedom of association rights off-campus and on their own time,” Katz wrote. “That was our position before Mr. Peterson joined our board, and we appreciate the perspective Lars brings to this issue as a Harvard alumnus.” FratPAC is the premier political arm for fraternities and sororities in the United States. The group has lobbied Congress in the past around legislation related to the ways in which colleges investigate and seek to prevent sexual assault on campus. The group has historically had success in its lobbying efforts. Several years ago, FratPAC stymied legislation meant to curtail hazing.The PAC significantly increased its donations to key supporters of the PROSPER Act this year. The group focused on legislators who have been supportive of an amendment to the act, first introduced in Dec. 2017, that makes the bill potentially pertinent to Harvard’s social group sanctions. Representative Brett Guthrie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced the amendment, which would ban schools
that have “a policy allowing for the official recognition of single-sex student organizations” from imposing penalties on members of the groups. Because Harvard does officially recognize single-gender final clubs and Greek organizations, the amendment does not currently apply to the University. The Cambridge Coalition and other opponents of the sanctions hope to change that by altering the language of the amendment. FratPAC has upped its donations to Guthrie, giving him $10,000 in 2018, ten times what the group donated to the representative in 2016, according to public lobbying records. FratPAC’s donation of $10,000 marked the highest amount the PAC gave to any individual candidate. The PAC also increased its givings to Representative Elise Stefanik ’06, a New York Republican and a Harvard alumna; The Crimson reported in Dec. 2017 that Stefanik is pushing for the social group amendment to the PROSPER Act. FratPAC donated $2,000 to Stefanik in 2018, twice what the group donated to her in 2016, public lobbying records show. The PAC also gave $10,000 to Virginia Foxx—a main architect of the PROSPER Act—in 2018, according to public filings. FratPAC has a “history” of giving to
the three representatives which predates “the Harvard controversy,” Katz wrote in an email. He added Peterson was “not on the board when the PAC made spending decisions for 2017.” “We have increased our fundraising substantially this cycle, which has given us the chance to increase our contributions to many members we have previously supported in both chambers and across both political parties,” Katz wrote. Peterson’s addition to FratPAC’s board came around the time he made a $5,000 donation to the PAC in 2017, public filings show. All members of FratPAC’s board of directors are required to donate to the committee, Katz wrote in his email. Katz also noted the $5,000 donation represents the maximum contribution allowed under law. The PAC held a webinar on March 29 to update donors on efforts to lobby around the PROSPER Act. Lawyers from Arnold and Porter spoke to donors about how the PROSPER Act could affect single-sex campus social groups, according to the PAC’s website. “Lawmakers are considering legislation that will have a tremendous impact on the future of fraternities and sororities—most notably our rights to remain single-sex organizations,” the website reads.
UC Criticizes Harvard’s ‘Failure’ to Protect Students By JONAH S. BERGER CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
A segment of the Undergraduate Council issued a statement Monday evening sharply criticizing Harvard for what the UC called the school’s “failure” to keep students safe in the wake of the Cambridge Police Department’s forcible arrest of a black undergraduate. The statement also affirms that the Council stands “in solidarity” with the arrested student as well as with black Harvard affiliates more broadly. “We want to express our solidarity with the Black community in this painful time,” UC members wrote. “We recognize that anti-Black racism at Harvard, in Cambridge, and in our world at large is systemic and institutional.” CPD officers arrested the undergraduate Friday at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Waterhouse St. after receiving several calls about the student, who was standing naked and had thrown his clothes at a bystander. A CPD police report released after the incident states the officers tackled the undergraduate after he made aggressive advances toward law enforcement. But eyewitnesses of the arrest— including members of the Harvard Black Law Students Association—later called CPD’s version of events “incorrect” and stated that the officers tackled the student “without provocation.” While the student was on the ground, at least one officer punched him five times in an attempt to unpin his arms and handcuff the undergraduate, according to the report. The stu-
dent was ultimately charged on several counts including assault, indecent exposure, and resisting arrest. BLSA has called the incident an instance of police brutality. “Though we do not yet know all the facts of the event leading up to the incident, we do know that a Black Harvard student was struck five times in the torso by a police officer while three other officers pinned him to the ground–clearly an excessive use of force,” the UC representatives wrote in their statement, emailed to the student body. “Like so many members of the community, we are outraged, horrified, and disgusted by these events.” The UC representatives also criticized what they called a “failure” on the part of Harvard to adequately respond to the student’s needs prior to his arrest. “On Friday, the very institutions that were supposed to keep us safe at Harvard failed us, failed the Black community, and failed a valued member of our community,” they wrote. “This abject failure to keep students safe engenders deep distrust in the notion that Harvard prioritizes the safety of students in need of medical attention and transport to HUHS, especially students disproportionately subject to discrimination and police violence.” University spokespeople could not immediately be reached for comment late Monday evening. The student involved in the incident is currently undergoing evaluation at a hospital for issues including men-
tal health concerns—and the ongoing evaluation is “one of the reasons” the student has yet to be arraigned, Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard Jr. said at a press conference Monday. Bard did not directly answer a question Monday asking whether charges against the student could be dropped in light of the undergraduate’s mental health. University President Drew G. Faust called the student’s arrest “disturbing” in an email she sent to Harvard affiliates Monday afternoon. Faust also pledged to work with the City of Cambridge moving forward to address the incident. The UC letter demands accountability for those involved both directly and indirectly in the arrest and asserts Harvard and local institutions should treat this event as an opportunity to enact change. “This must also be a time for answers, for accountability, and for structural change,” the statement reads. “Those involved and those complicit in this incident must be held accountable.” CPD plans to hold an internal review of the student’s arrest given the officers involved used force to apprehend the undergraduate. CPD policy mandates the department must conduct this kind of review whenever officers use force. Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion Roland S. Davis said at a UC meeting Sunday that Harvard’s Office of General Counsel— as well as Massachusetts Hall—is “in-
volved” in examining the student’s arrest. Bard said at the press conference that the department will make the results of its internal review public. He also said he “absolutely” supports the officers involved in the incident. The UC members who wrote the letter also questioned the sequence of events Friday. “If Harvard cannot ensure the safe transport of marginalized students to HUHS when they are in need of medical attention, these students will suffer, facing a decision between two dangerous options: not seeking care and seeking care that puts them at risk for police violence and further harm,” they wrote. “For example, this incident raises doubts about the spirit behind and safety in activating the alcohol and drugs amnesty policy, as despite the fact that HUHS was called to help, the student in question was not safely transported to HUHS. “Instead, he was arrested, charged with a crime, and brutalized by CPD,” the UC members wrote. The amnesty policy the UC representatives referenced in their statement stipulates that, if a Harvard undergraduate brings “an intoxicated or drug-impaired friend” to HUHS or to another hospital—or to seek help from College residential staffers or HUPD— neither the student nor the friend “will face disciplinary action from the College for having used or provided alcohol or drugs.” In response to a UC representative’s
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question Sunday asking why the amnesty policy was not applied during the incident Friday, Davis said he is unsure. “I hope to hell it’s being looked at,” Davis said. Council members also wrote in the statement they feel the UC’s response to the arrest came too late. “We want to acknowledge that we are one of the groups that needs to be held accountable to being responsive to student needs,” the representatives wrote. “This message is coming too late; we wish we had responded sooner.” “We know that as elected representatives, it is our job to respond to and advocate for student concerns in real time,” the members added. “We know that the burden of proof is on us as a council to earn your trust.” All but five active members of the UC signed the letter. The five who did not sign the statement either could not be reached for comment or declined to comment late Monday evening. “We promise to advocate for structural change to ensure events like this never happen again,” the letter concludes. UC President Catherine Zhang ’19 and Vice President Nicholas D. Boucher ’19 wrote in an email accompanying the Council members’ statement that the two plan to send a follow-up email detailing action items including meetings with administrators, conversations with undergraduate leaders, and a town hall slated to be held next week.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 9
CPD Commissioner Defends Officers After Arrest CPD FROM PAGE 1 “I absolutely do support the officers,” he said Monday. “You have to judge their actions within the context of a rapidly evolving situation and not within an ideal construct.” “We operate in a practical world,” Bard said. Bard added, though, that he is making no final determinations prior to “completing a complete and thorough investigation.” As mandated by department policy, CPD is conducting an internal review in the wake of the arrest given the incident involved use of force. Bard said Monday that CPD will make the results of this review public. Bard also said Harvard administrators—specifically Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion Roland S. Davis—have been in touch with CPD in the wake of the arrest. Davis previously said Harvard’s Office of General Counsel and Massachusetts Hall, traditionally a name for the University’s central administration, are “involved” in examining the Friday incident. CPD officers arrested the undergraduate Friday after responding to several calls about the student, who was standing naked at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Waterhouse Street. After determining the student had previously taken narcotics, law enforcement officials—including three CPD officers and one officer from the Transit Police Department—tackled the student to the ground. A later CPD police report states the officers tackled the undergraduate after he made aggressive moves toward law enforcement. But eyewitnesses including members of the Harvard Black Law Students Association have stated the officers acted “without provocation.” While the student was on the ground, at least one CPD officer-
punched the undergraduate in the stomach five times in an attempt to unpin the student’s arms, according to the CPD police report. The student was transported to the hospital after the physical confrontation and was ultimately charged on several counts including indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, and assault. CPD spokesperson Jeremy Warnick said in an interview after the press conference that the student is no longer being treated for injuries sustained during the arrest, but that he remains in the hospital—under police custody—for complications stemming from “drug ingestion” and from “an evaluation related to his mental health.” Asked why the student has been charged if the incident involves concerns over the undergraduate’s mental health, Bard said the department is currently working to decide whether the student’s situation means he would be better served by “means other than the criminal justice system.” “That’s an excellent question,” Bard said. “That is one of the reasons why the individual hasn’t been arraigned yet.” Bard added CPD is working with individuals from multiple “entities,” including the District Attorney’s Office, to determine the best path forward. One of the CPD officers involved is “still out” due to a leg injury he sustained during the altercation, according to Bard. Other officers present at the arrest sustained “minor” injuries, Warnick said. BLSA has called the incident an instance of police brutality. Bard—while emphasizing that he has not yet conducted “a frame-byframe review” of video of the arrest— offered a detailed account and a defense of the CPD officers’ actions Monday. He noted CPD officers are trained to always use the least amount of force possible. Bard said that, in an “ideal” world, the officers would have engaged “ver-
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bally only” with the student. Bard said videos of the event show that the officers standing around the undergraduate attempted to speak with the student “for a long period of time.” He said the officers “engaged” with the student for “minutes” before tackling him. After efforts to talk to the undergraduate proved unsuccessful, the officers involved made the determination they needed to take the student “to the ground,” Bard said. “The video also shows that the man wasn’t compliant while he was on the ground,” Bard said. “There’s a lot of
“We had candid conversations behind the issues of racist policing.” Branville G. Bard CPD Commissioner
stuff going on. He was flailing, kicking.” In response to questioning from reporters at the briefing, Bard specifically discussed one CPD officer’s decision to repeatedly punch the student in the stomach. Bard said the student was preventing the officers from placing handcuffs on his arm—and he said CPD officers tried multiple other methods of subduing the student including using their batons. “So they continued other measures, other control holds, other uses of their batons, to try to get the arm leverage from underneath the man’s body,” Bard said. “It’s a very difficult thing to do. If anyone’s ever had to constrain an individual against their will, they’ll know that it’s a very difficult thing to do.” In the wake of the arrest, some Harvard students have questioned wheth-
er University procedures were properly followed during the incident. Eyewitnesses including members of BLSA stated that callers contacted Harvard University Health Services about the student first but that HUHS transferred the callers to CPD. Some undergraduates have questioned why CPD was contacted in lieu of the Harvard University Police Department or other resources. Bard appeared to cast doubt on that version of events Monday. He said CPD received the information about the undergraduate from “emergency communications.” Asked specifically whether CPD spoke to HUHS, Bard said, “I don’t believe we did at that time.” HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano has said that HUPD was “aware” of the call about the student, but that the undergraduate was already under arrest when HUPD officers arrived at the scene. A spokesperson for HUHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bard also addressed a BLSA statement, published over the weekend, that stated CPD officers attempted to prevent bystanders from filming the arrest. CPD’s policies recognize that individuals have the “right under the First Amendment to openly record police activity in public in a peaceful manner,” according to BLSA’s statement. “It was clear to our Harvard BLSA members that CPD officers were not following these procedures,” the statement reads. “But for our members’ persistence in defying police attempts to obstruct videotaping this incident, there would be no record.” Bard said Monday he has seen no evidence to support this statement. “The allegation that officers were stopping anyone from filming, I haven’t seen any evidence of that,” he said. “And if there is some evidence, I would
like to have it. Because it would be a clear violation of policy.” The BLSA statement over the weekend noted that “a pool of blood remained on the pavement” as the ambulance carrying the student departed the scene Friday night. Bard said at the press conference he is unsure whether the blood on the ground stemmed from injuries the student suffered during the altercation. “While it can be inferred that any injury to the mouth occurred during the struggle with police, the male could have had, could have suffered from injuries prior to use getting there,” Bard said. “We don’t really know.” “Once again, the investigation is ongoing,” he added. Bard said had a community coffee chat over the weekend to which “some concerned minority Harvard students” showed up, leading to “frank and open discussions.” He said he also attended a preplanned church event Sunday at which he spoke with many “concerned” Harvard students. “We had candid conversations behind the issues of racist policing,” Bard said. Cambridge Mayor Marc C. McGovern called the events “disturbing” in a statement Sunday. Bard said his department is attempting to operate in an equitable manner. “This agency has gone through great lengths to make sure that we do everything through the lens of procedural justice, and try to make sure that everything we do is fair, transparent, that we providing the community with a voice and that we are impartial,” Bard said. Warnick said the department is planning to announce new units that “are going to address procedural justice and social policing” some time in the coming months and weeks. Warnick noted these announcements had already been in the works “well before” the Friday arrest.
Students Run in Boston Marathon MARATHON FROM PAGE 1 fun than I was expecting. I obviously did it because I thought it would be fun, but it was more fun than I was expecting. I was smiling for a lot of it.” Seevak, along with four other college students, ran as part of the Harvard College Marathon Challenge, which raises money for the Phillips Brooks House Association’s Summer Urban Program. Other students ran the marathon independently. Craig F. Rodgers, a counselor at the Bureau of Study Counsel, said a similar initiative at Tufts inspired him to start the Marathon Challenge. He said he spoke with University president-elect Lawrence S. Bacow, who was president of Tufts at the time, to learn more about starting such a program in 2005. “Prior to 2005, I saw many yellow jerseys on the Boston Marathon route that said Tufts. And I always, when I would see these Tufts jerseys, I thought it would be neat if Harvard had a presence at the Marathon too. So I spoke with the person who was most
familiar with the Tufts program, who was Larry Bacow,” Rodgers said. “So we started a much smaller version of that program here at Harvard.” Brittany A. Petros ’18 said she chose to participate in the Marathon Challenge as a capstone to her college running career. “I started running in college,” Petros said. “And I thought that, having spent four years running along the Charles and in Boston, it’d be such a nice way to conclude my running journey at college.” The rain presented unexpected challenges to student runners—causing some to come up with creative solutions. “I actually wore racquetball glasses to protect from the rain,” said Jacob N. Russell ’19. “Then my headphones broke because of the rain—and that put a damper on things.” Seevak also struggled with the weather. “The worst part during the race was definitely when my fingers were too cold to eat the Welch’s fruit snacks that I’d packed,” Seevak said. “And I
took my gloves off and then they were too wet to get my fingers back inside of them.” Yet despite the physical challenges brought about by the rain, Seevak said the weather actually helped her in the end. “I think the rain ended up psychologically being a really good thing for me,” said Seevak. “I think when I realized how miserable the weather conditions would be, I was like ‘OK, I need to stop thinking so much about what my time will be, and instead just focus on making the best of whatever the situation is.’” Russell, who ran despite a knee condition, said he drew inspiration from the encouraging crowd. “Literally everywhere you go from the very start to the very end there’s people lining the street and just cheering you on trying to give you high fives,” said Russell. “Especially little kids—it’s nice to think that they’re looking up to you, and even though you might be in a world of pain right now, that these kids still idolize you.”
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UNION ELECTION FROM PAGE 1 and dinings halls to solicit support for the effort. The union has also garnered several new endorsements from students groups and faculty. LGBTQ@GSAS, a group for BGLTQ graduate students, released a statement supporting the union Monday afternoon. HGSU-UAW also published endorsements from Harvard professors Cornel R. West ’74 and Virginie Greene as well as MIT professor and author Junot Díaz in support of the effort to unionize. Students opposed to unionization are also making final pushes, posting a draft email outlining arguments against the union on the Against HGSU-UAW Facebook page last Wednesday. “If this union proposal passes, it will have unprecedented and permanent repercussions for Harvard graduate students. We believe that it would not confer a net-benefit on our grad student community,” the email reads. Unionization opponents, who in the past have argued that the union has a disproportionate advantage in com-
municating with eligible voters, appeared in recent weeks to emulate some of the outreach strategies used by HGSU-UAW, such as creating a Facebook filter for their cause and asking students to participate in video testimonials.
We believe that it would not confer a net-benefit on our grad student community Against HSGU-UAW In the past several days, University administrators have sent their own emails to eligible voters, informing students of the election and encouraging them to read up on the issues. In an emailed statement, University spokesperson Anna Cowenhoven wrote that the University is continuing to “focus
on encouraging all eligible students to vote” in the final days of the run-up. “This is an important decision that will impact current and future Harvard students,” Cowenhoven wrote. “It is critical that students make their voices heard by voting this week.” Polling places at the Queen’s Head Pub in Cambridge and Harvard Dental School in Longwood will be open for both days of the election. An additional location at Harvard Business School will be available Thursday morning. At the polling places, an equal number of observers from the union and from the University will stationed to count and check ballots. They will also assist in identifying voters and, if need be, challenging ballots, according to the election notice released by the NLRB. Staff writer Shera S. Avi-Yonah can be reached at shera.avi-yonah@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter at @saviyonah. Staff writer Molly C. McCafferty can be reached at molly.mccafferty@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter at @mollmccaff.
Former White House Chief of Staff to Join IOP as Visiting Fellow PRIEBUS FROM PAGE 1 Director Mark D. Gearan ’78 said in the statement. “His experience and insight fro m years in politics, from the local to national level, as well as his time as Chief of Staff to President Trump, will be of great interest to our community.” Priebus’s fellowship comes at a
time when the IOP is facing scrutiny following a series of controversial fellow appointments. Last fall, the IOP appointed Chelsea Manning, a former Army soldier who went to prison for leaking classified military documents, as a visiting fellow but later rescinded the fellowship offer after backlash from thenCIA Director and secretary of state
nominee Mike Pompeo. At the end of last year, Sean Spicer, the former press secretary for Trump, faced scrutiny for only hosting off-the-record events on campus. Spicer returned to campus last week for another off-the-record meeting. Abigail P. Bloomfield ‘20, a student chair of the IOP’s Fellows and Study Groups program, wrote in an email
that Priebus will provide “guidance” and “advice” to students. “The Institute of Politics has a long tradition of inviting individuals of varied backgrounds, experiences, and political beliefs to participate in a thoughtful and productive dialogue on Harvard’s campus,” Bloomfield wrote. “Not only will Mr. Priebus engage the campus in the most rele-
vant political conversations of today, he will also provide valuable guidance and advice to students.” Other IOP visiting fellows for the school year include former Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, political commentators Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, and former President and CEO of the NAACP Cornell William Brooks.
EDITORIAL THE CRIMSON EDITORIAL BOARD
An Important Duty All eligible students should vote in unionization election
S
everal students eligible to vote tomorrow and Thursday on the unionization effort proposed by Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Auto Workers have expressed discontent at the election’s lack of mail-in ballots. Students are limited to three in-person ballot stations scattered across campus, which they argue restricts their ability to participate in what could be a crucial vote. While the relative scarcity of voting stations is unfortunate, it is unavoidable at this juncture due to an existing agreement between HGSU-UAW and the University. Nevertheless, students’ concern underscores a broadly applicable point about the importance of the election itself. The University and HGSU-UAW reached an agreement in Oct. 2016 to hold an election under the National Labor Relations Board’s most common procedure on the issue—one without mail-in ballots. This decision occurred before the first unionization election, and this agreement will persist for this week’s revote. On one level, any reduction of the electorate is regrettable, and this policy may render off-campus students unable to vote. However, the in-person nature of the election has been public knowledge for over a year, and the NLRB does not permit absentee ballots in these elections. This procedural reality does not necessitate change at this point in time or call into question whatever outcome results from the election. Off-campus students’ disappointment at not being able to vote, and the lengths to which some are going to participate in the election in person, speak to a larger issue: the importance of the election itself. All eligible, available students should feel that it is then necessary for them to participate in this vote. As undergraduates who are not eligible to vote in the election and who would thus not be represented by the proposed union, we have not felt it our place to either endorse or condemn HGSU-UAW’s unionization effort, though we have strongly supported students’ right to unionize if they so choose. In that vein, the upcoming vote is of paramount importance to the lives of students who teach and research at Harvard now and for the foreseeable future. The direction of this vote on unionization will help define the relationship between the faculty members and administrators who direct the University’s research and teaching on a broad scale and the graduate students who are essential parts of that work. In light of this issue’s magnitude, both advocates for and critics of the unionization effort have made compelling arguments with which eligible voters should familiarize themselves. Advocates for unionization point to a variety of benefits that they believe HGSU-UAW provides. They highlight the potential bargaining power that the union would bring towards fairer wages and more effective handling of sexual misconduct cases. They also tout the strength derived from inter-departmental unity that the union would bring. Many economic studies have demonstrated a positive effect on worker wages and welfare for those in unions. Furthermore, op-eds and letters published in The Crimson have presented arguments for the union. In turn, those who oppose unionization have argued that a student union would jeopardize individual bargaining agency, be inaccessible compared to existing resources for graduate students, and complicate the mentorship that students receive from their advisors. They also express concern over having a single union represent the diversity of Harvard’s graduate students. Some economic studies have demonstrated little or no effect on total compensation for those in graduate student unions. Other arguments published in The Crimson’s opinion pages have also outlined further criticisms of unionization. Students eligible to vote in the election must familiarize themselves with arguments on both sides and cast informed votes, not only with an eye to their future at the University but also to the effects that unionization would have on their peers and their successors. We hope that graduate students and the University will work amicably and effectively to address issues facing student employees after the election, regardless of whether HGSU-UAW will represent students in this endeavor. This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.
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Associate Managing Editors Mia C. Karr ’19 Claire E. Parker ’19 Associate Business Managers Dahlia S. Huh ’19 Max W. Sosland ’19 Editorial Chairs Emmanuel R. R. D’Agostino ’19 Cristian D. Pleters ’19 Arts Chairs Mila Gauvini II ’19 Grace Z. Li ’19 Blog Chairs Lydia L. Cawley ’20 Stuti Telidevara ’20 Design Chairs Morgan J. Spaulding ’19 Simon S. Sun ’19
Digital Strategists Caroline S. Engelmayer ’20 Jamie D. Halper ’20 Dianne Lee ’20 FM Chairs Marella A. Gayla ’19 Leah S. Yared ’19 Multimedia Chairs Amy Y. Li ’20 Ellis J. Yeo ’20 Sports Chairs Cade S. Palmer ’20 Jack R. Stockless ’19 Technology Chairs Nenya A. Edjah ’20 Theodore T. Liu ’20
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 16, 2018 | PAGE 10
More Than a Friend Allyship in straight-queer friendship Becina GANTHER THE FEMINIST CLOSET
W
hat do your friends think of your column? Has it caused any problems or changed your friendships?” A student asked me this a few weeks ago during a question and answer session about Crimson columnists. Now, I am a queer woman of color, and my column shows it. Logically (dear God, hopefully), queer friends would have no problem with a column like mine. Straight ones, however, might. To begin, I want to preface this by cautioning the dangers of putting straight allies on a pedestal and letting their efforts eclipse the actual lived experiences of queer people. Allies are great, but the A in “LGBTQIA+” is not for Ally. There is something truly special about having queer friends who share similar experiences with you and “get” it. I can’t fully express how validating it’s been to have meaningful friendships with other queer people. But, queer and trans people shouldn’t feel forced to seek solace in friendships with other queer and trans people because their cis straight friends are missing the mark. So what do my straight friends think of my column? Has it caused any problems? To be honest, I hadn’t really thought about it, so that could be a good sign. My closest friends on campus were the ones who encouraged me to apply for a column and helped me fill out the application at the last minute. And my sister, who I consider one of my best friends, talked me through the decision to accept the columnist position—I was concerned about being publicly out, and she reassured me that she’d support me in any choice I made. Over a year later, she still helps me with brainstorming and editing for every piece I write. All in all, my closest straight friends have been incredibly supportive of my col-
umn and my queerness in general for a very long time. For example, last summer I stayed on campus for work while most of my queer friends traveled elsewhere. Some of my closest friends, most of whom are straight, lived on campus near me. We had frequent movie nights, and during June (Pride month), they encouraged me to choose queer movies to watch together and even made their own recommendations of queer films that they thought I might like. This was my first time celebrating Pride month, and while I enjoyed marching in Pride and attending queer events, it was also great to see queerness integrated into our usual activities. I didn’t feel like I had to compartmentalize my queer identity from the rest of myself—on the contrary, my queerness was embraced and openly brought into our friendship. A few months ago, I was distraught by the HCFA event featuring an “exgay” activist. After mentioning it briefly at dinner, my blockmates immediately canceled their Friday night plans to come with me to the protest, decking themselves out in rainbow clothes. Even after the protest, they spent the rest of the night checking in with me and making sure I was okay. I’m grateful to have found some straight friends who affirm my identity, but I had to spend extra time and effort to find and cultivate these close friendships, as many of my straight acquaintances and classmates only perform allyship and weren’t as supportive once I got to know them better. I’ve lost many friends over the years because I felt uncomfortable being unapologetically queer around them. It’s deeply upsetting that many queer and trans folks don’t feel supported by their cis straight friends, and that my current friendships could be an anomaly. I’m tearing up a bit as I write this because even the idea of the friendships I currently have was unimaginable before I came to college. I used to think that I would have to hide parts of myself to be worthy of anyone’s friendship, that I would need to seem straight to fit in. But, now I see that it would be difficult for me to have a close friendship with someone who didn’t affirm and celebrate every part of my identity.
Queerness is not separate from who I am; I bring all my identities into every friendship. Thus, allyship cannot be separate from friendship. To be a good friend to someone of a marginalized identity, you must strive to be a good ally to all people of that identity. While my sexuality shouldn’t change many of my personal interactions with straight friends, they should be aware that the world does see me differently because I’m queer. Certain situations, like dating or interacting with family members, may look different for me because of my sexuality. Good friends try to understand these nuances and realize that the support I need in these situations may be different than that of a straight person. For straight people who have queer friends, take it upon yourself to learn about BGLTQ issues, both broad and specific to your friends. Show up for issues affecting the BGLTQ community, whether that be through attending protests and rallies or speaking up when you hear a homophobic or transphobic statement. Be mindful of the amount of space you take up in queer spaces. Bring up BGLTQ topics you hear about in the news as a cue to your queer friends that these kinds of discussions are welcome. Ask your queer friends how you can best support them, especially after difficult personal or public experiences of homophobia or transphobia. And to queer people who are in un-affirming friendships, know that you deserve to be wholly seen and embraced by all of your friends. Know that you shouldn’t have to hide who you are or feel bad about expressing queerness within your friendships. Know that it’s not your responsibility to help your friends be better allies. Know that it’s okay to leave friendships that make you feel uncomfortable or less worthy. It’s been a long, difficult journey for me to finally feel more welcomed and supported in my friendships, but I promise, it gets better. Becina J. Ganther ’20, a Crimson editorial editor, is a History and Science concentrator in Leverett House. Her column appears on alternate Tuesdays.
The Ice Queen Cometh: Women Must Rise Up to End Gender Discrimination at Harvard By P.K. NEWBY
T
he story describing the ongoing sexual harassment faced by Terry L. Karl by Government professor Jorge I. Dominguez at Harvard was heartbreaking—particularly because it is by no means unique, and mostly because it was she who suffered so deeply, not he. Karl first noted his behavior in 1981, and it was 37 years and 17 women’s accusations later that Harvard put Dominguez on leave, after which he resigned. Harvard’s “too little, too late” response is stupefying and infuriating. Karl continued the conversation last week by noting Harvard’s insufficient follow-up by either the Provost or current University President—including, I glean, an apology. The #MeToo movement began with overt harassment like that faced by Karl—and, most recently, by women in the Graduate School of Design—but has expanded greatly. Hollywood, for example, has highlighted differences in opportunities resulting from systemic sexism and gender discrimination that also come with dramatic discrepancies in pay, calling #TimesUp. The extension of the conversation beyond overt sexual harassment and assault is thus vital: Gender discrimination is often less visible but far more pervasive. And, of course, the two are often intertwined. As we also reflect on Lean In—a book by Facebook COO Sheryl K. Sandberg ‘91—five years hence, I wonder once again how far my own professional home for so long, the academy, has really come. In addition to stories like Karl’s, the vast majority of which go unheard, substantial differences remain in who’s at the top and who’s not. In 2015, 56 percent of professors were white men, compared to 27 percent white women; black females comprised an additional 2 percent and Hispanic females 1 percent. The average salary was higher for men every year between 1995 and 2015, during which time the wage gap actually increased. Women scientists are cited less frequently than their male counterparts (0.7 to 1), one reason I began my career publishing under my gender-neutral initials. Women faculty also perform more administrative responsibilities than men, among so many other often-unconscious sexist behaviors that compromise productivity and advancement. And, as in countless professional settings, mansplaining is commonplace—so much so that
this blog about the phenomenon in academic settings went viral. I was first introduced to gender anomalies as a new graduate student in 1993, when a male advisor confided that I was known as “Ice Queen.” It was then I first learned that the dispassionate objectivity so prized in science was only okay for men; the same behavior was perceived as cold and unfeeling in women, a liability rather than strength. Alas, the same is true in academia as it is everywhere: Women can’t be too loud, too smart, too challenging, too beautiful, too intense, too fat, too uppity, too… anything. Indeed, pejorative perceptions regarding the same personality characteristics critical for success in men— ambition, assertiveness, and the like— often result in decreased likability and lower evaluations for women. Women are also judged more harshly when measured using student evaluations of teaching (SETs). There is a substantial body of research showing that SETs are biased against women due to role incongruity and other factors. Copious studies show that women score more poorly than men on SETs on average, including in clever experiments where only gender varied. Faculty of color are also hurt by SETs, thus black women are especially disadvantaged. Differences in how students perceive a woman at the front of the classroom are rooted in slow-to-change social mores that, sadly, still need time to evolve. Such efforts go far beyond any single workplace. Nonetheless, there are steps the university can take to help level the playing field. One easy fix is abolishing SETs, which have other biases too, like higher evaluations for easier courses and those in non-quantitative fields, a double whammy for women teaching rigorous science classes. It is, moreover, increasingly evident that SETs do not even measure course and teaching effectiveness at all, regardless of gender. In response, many have called for SETs to be eradicated from use altogether, with The Century Foundation going so far as to state that SETs may even violate a host of federal laws and regulations. A handful of schools thus no longer use SETs as a stand-alone tool, like the University of Connecticut. Yet the majority of universities continue employing SETs as the primary, if not sole, criterion for teaching success, a basis for tenure, promotion, and (re)hiring that tacitly perpetuates gender—and racial—discrimination.
My own stories in the ivory tower span 25 years across time and place. Like most women, I have far too many tales to tell that have gone on far too long. As a professor, I now face the ongoing agony of student evaluations, which have had devastating effects personally as well as professionally; my efforts to discuss the limitations of SETs were repeatedly ignored by administrators and colleagues. Other experiences include exploitation as a student, post-doctorate, and professor; misattribution of intellectual contributions and courses; and denial of equivalent professional titles compared to those who performed less work, over less time. I was also a victim of “misbehavior,” as one advisor euphemized—though what I said was “emotional abuse.” In all of these cases I either confronted the persons responsible—likely enhancing my “Ice Queen” persona—or brought the incidents to the awareness of mentors, department chairs, and ombudspersons. In no cases were my concerns taken seriously, let alone addressed. Thank God for therapy. Yet I consider myself lucky, especially when contemplating the horrors women like Karl faced, as have far too many in the #MeToo movement. In light of the upcoming vote for graduate student unionization, I now find myself contemplating whether such an organization would have made a difference in my myriad encounters. The policies and procedures in place at Harvard are clearly insufficient and, moreover, designed to protect the University, not its employees. There is evidence that unions are helpful in many domains, including responding to sexual harassment and gender discrimination. The academy has come a long way but must do more to stop sexual harassment and assault and gender discrimination alike. Those in positions of power should ask questions, listen and believe our stories, and act promptly and appropriately. Students and post-doctorates are particularly vulnerable: Surely, a union is a step in the right direction. Yet women suffer again and again, across all levels of the academic lifespan. Ice queens, unite! It is we who must give Harvard the much-needed push it needs to lean in. P.K. Newby is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Nutrition at the the School of Public Health and Instructor in the Sustainability Program at the Extension School.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 11
HKS Students Talk Diversity By ALEXANDRA A. CHAIDEZ CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Harvard Kennedy School students handed out information sheets about issues of diversity and inclusion at New Admit Day Friday to raise awareness of their concerns about minority representation at the school. The school has faced internal criticism recently about the lack of minority students, faculty, and staff. Students have been at the forefront of pushing for more diversity at the school, urging administrators to hire and recruit more minority faculty and students. Student activists have met on several occasions with Kennedy School Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf to raise their concerns and offer recommendations about improving the numbers of underrepresented minorities. New Admit Day was a venue for many of these students to voice concerns about the current state of diversity at HKS while also highlighting the school’s recent progress, organizers of the initiative said. The flyer—handed to prospective students as they attended panels and speeches throughout the day—discussed recent Crimson articles about diversity at the Kennedy School, listed “ongoing” diversity initiatives including the engagement of more faculty around these conversations, and invited admitted students to various events centered around this work.
The flyer also included a link to an open letter the students plan to present to new Diversity Dean Robbin Chapman at a meeting of the Kennedy School Student Government Tuesday. Students who organized, designed, and handed out the sheets said they wanted to educate new students about the work they said still needs to be done. “There’s been a lot of momentum building around issues of diversity and inclusion and wanting to keep the conversation going, and wanting to make sure that the first year students who are going to be here next year are part of the conversation,” Meredith Davis-Tavera, a co-chair for the HKS Latinx Caucus, said. Davis-Tavera also said conversations about diversity have not been a part of New Admit Day, adding that the initiative’s organizers wanted to emphasize ongoing student activism around minority recruitment. “Part of it was wanting students to be aware of the fact that we know that HKS isn’t the most diverse place, but also that there’s a big contingent of students that really care about the issue and have devoted a lot of time to the issue,” Davis-Tavera said. Kennedy School spokesperson Thoko Moyo wrote in an emailed statement that the school supports conversations around minority representation and inclusion. “At the Kennedy School we encourage open and honest dialogue on a range of important issues, including
how to enhance diversity, inclusion and belonging at the Kennedy School and in the world,” Moyo said. Some current students at the school expressed their concern about the flyers discouraging students from ultimately attending. “I’m glad that these important issues are getting the attention that they deserve, but not thrilled with some of the tactics used,” Sasha Ramani, a current student ambassador with the HKS admissions office, said. “This instantly created a combative atmosphere, and I don’t think that this would be helpful at recruiting minorities.” Rosi Greenberg, a current student who helped plan the flyers, said organizers “talked a lot” about not wanting to push prospective students away from the school but said she believed they were able “hit the sweet spot.” Newly admitted student Aaron Huang said he was “undecided” before coming to New Admit Day but that the presence of students interested in promoting diversity tipped his decision in favor of the Kennedy School. “I think along with other people interested in policy we’re really looking to see how we can effect positive change in the world, and with this flyer, it was a call to act at the Kennedy School,” Huang said. “I felt like that was one immediate way that I could affect change is to join the Kennedy School and figure out how I could improve diversity at one of our country’s top policy schools.”
OSL Awards Students, Orgs. By KATHERINE E. WANG CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
The Office of Student Life honored undergraduates and student organizations for their achievements and contributions to the College at the second annual Student Leadership Recognition Awards ceremony on Monday. Despite torrential rain, College administrators and undergraduates gathered in the Student Organization Center at Hilles to honor eight individuals and three student organizations. These student leadership awards are part of the OSL’s “leadership development” initiative launched last year. Many students were candidates for the three individual categories— Emerging Leader, Spirit of Harvard College, and Senior Veritas— and six student organizations were nominated for the three group categories—Collaboration, Innovation, and Inclusive Community Awards. A selection committee consisting of Undergraduate Council representatives and College administrators chose the winners. This year, Jackson C. Walker ’21, Maya Jenkins ’21, and Meena Venkataramanan ’21, a Crimson news comper, were awarded the Thomas A. Dingman Emerging Leader Awards—newly named this year in honor of retiring Freshman Dean Thomas A. Dingman
’67— an award specifically for freshmen leaders. “Freshmen are not often in titled positions of leadership and so one of our motivations behind the awards in general was just to recognize people who are not formally recognized as leaders,” Dominique J. Erney ’19, who helped develop the event, said. “It was really important to us to reserve a category for freshmen.” Both Venkataramanan and Jenkins said that they were “surprised” to receive the award. “Being at a ceremony like this and being able to have been nominated for this award and receive this award is something that I never expected,” Venkataramanan said. Jenkins expressed similar sentiments about receiving the award. “I was really excited mostly because I didn’t really think of my impact on campus as being notable or noticeable,” Jenkins said. “I feel really honored and I also feel motivated to continue to do more and to try to expand my reach as semesters go forward.” Gemma Collins ’18, Juliana Rodriguez ’19, Alisha Ukani ’20, and Evan M. Bonsall ’19 received the Spirit of Harvard College Awards, and Nina Srivastava ’18 was awarded the Senior Veritas Award. “It’s really emotional, I was sitting in the back tearing up as other people were receiving their awards, just think-
ing about the different ways that students impact Harvard,” Srivastava said. “It’s so humbling to just think about everything that Harvard has meant to me and thinking about seeing that recognized is really, really rewarding.” Within the three student organization categories, the Harvard College VISION: Global Health Society received the Collaboration Award, the Harvard College South Asian Association received the Inclusivity Award, and MakeHarvard received the Innovation Award. Alexander R. Miller, associate dean of student engagement, first developed this event last year alongside two undergraduates—Erney and Nicholas J. Albert ’20— who work within the OSL in an effort to acknowledge “the many facets of the mission of the College.” “These awards are great ways to really acknowledge our students and student organizations while also acknowledging the work that they do that’s aligned with our mission,” Miller said. Erney, who has been involved in this event since its inception, said that she helped plan the ceremony and was involved in the selection process of the winners. “It’s always just very awe-inspiring to see people talk about their accomplishments and why their involved in what they are involved in, so that’s probably my favorite part,” she said.
HUHS, HUPD Observed Protocol PROCEDURE FROM PAGE 1 indecent exposure, and resisting arrest. An account of events given by the Harvard Black Law Students Association stated that HUHS transferred the call directly to CPD, drawing questions from some students as to why HUHS immediately contacted an outside police department and causing some to
We have confirmed that HUHS’s standard protocol was followed. Michael Perry HUHS Spokesperson
wonder whether officials involved followed proper protocol. But HUPD spokesperson Stephen G. Catalano wrote in an email Monday that HUHS actually contacted HUPD first. Catalano said HUPD then transferred the call to CPD, which he described as the “department with primary jurisdiction.” CPD had jurisdiction because the student—who was arrested at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. and Waterhouse St., feet from Harvard Law School’s campus—was not standing on campus and was thus outside HUPD’s jurisdiction, Catalano wrote. HUPD has to inform other police departments of any incidents that take place outside of Harvard’s campus, according to Catalano. HUHS spokesperson Michael Perry wrote that HUHS has conducted a review of “what occurred on Friday evening.” He wrote that HUHS called HUPD “per standard protocol” and that “jurisdictional requirements” mandated
that HUPD transfer the call to CPD. “We have confirmed that HUHS’s standard protocol was followed,” he wrote. Catalano likewise wrote that HUPD followed proper protocol. “In a case where HUHS calls the HUPD for an incident occurring off campus we would either connect HUHS to the local police department with jurisdiction or HUPD would contact them directly,” Catalano wrote. Catalano wrote in a separate email Monday that, after HUPD initially notified CPD of the situation, CPD then asked HUPD to come to the scene. But by the time HUPD arrived, CPD had already made the arrest, Catalano wrote. “We transferred the call. CPD then called us back to come to scene,” Catalano wrote. “Upon arrival the student was under arrest.” CPD officers arrested the student Friday night after a physical encounter. Officers tackled the student to the ground. Officers from CPD later wrote in a police report that they tackled the student because he was making aggressive movements toward law enforcement. But members of BLSA who witnessed the event have stated CPD’s version of events is “incorrect,” stating that officers tackled the student “without provocation.” While the student was on the ground, at least one CPD officer punched the undergraduate in the stomach five times in an attempt to unpin the student’s arms and handcuff the undergraduate, according to the CPD police report. Some University affiliates have called the arrest an instance of police brutality; students, faculty, and staff held gatherings in the days after the incident to respond, reflect, and organize. Perry wrote in an email that HUHS and HUPD have “long established relationships and protocols” that outline “the role each unit plays in all situa-
tions involving the Harvard community.” “HUHS’s standard protocol is to contact HUPD for any emergency concern related to a Harvard student. In instances when an incident occurs off campus, HUPD is required to involve the police department with jurisdiction over the location,” he wrote. “In cases where a life-threatening emergency is possible, HUHS will recommend the caller contact 911 immediately.” “Any call to 911 will trigger a response by Professional Ambulance and
We would either connect HUHS to the local police department with jurisdiction or HUPD would contact them directly. Steven G. Catalano HUPD Spokesperson
the police department with jurisdiction,” he added. CPD is conducting an internal review in the wake of the arrest given the incident involved a use of force. CPD policy mandates the department must conduct this kind of review any time force is used. Staff writer Caroline S. Engelmayer can be reached at caroline.engelmayer@thecrimson. com. Follow her on Twitter @cengelmayer13. Staff writer Michael E. Xie can be reached at michael.xie@thecrimson.com.
UConn Union Offers Bargaining Model By SHERA S. AVI-YONAH and MOLLY C. MCCAFFERTY CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
Graduate students at the University of Connecticut completed a second round of bargaining last week, wrapping up negotiations for their campus’ bargaining unit that Harvard’s graduate union organizers often point to when arguing for the advantages of unionization. Eligible Harvard graduate and undergraduate students will head to the polls on Wednesday and Thursday to weigh in on whether they want to begin collectively bargaining with the University through Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers. If a majority vote in favor of unionization, the union could form a bargaining committee, which would then distribute surveys to determine the content of a proposed negotiating agenda. For the UConn Graduate Employees Union-UAW, the bargaining process began with surveying members of the bargaining unit and analyzing responses to determine what the union should prioritize, according to Stephen Manicastri, an organizer for GEUUAW. Union leadership then developed an agenda and allowed members to vote on it, Manicastri stated. After several months of negotiations, the University of Connecticut and its graduate student union reached an agreement last week. GEU-UAW’s first round of negotiations with administrators began in the fall of 2014 and finished in mid-April of 2015. Manicastri said that the second round took around the same length of time, though he noted the process was made easier because the union was “more established” and had “basic language” in place to build upon.
“It can take about six months to a year, depending on what kind of mobilization there is among union members,” he added. Though different precedents and regulations govern student unionization at private and public universities, University of Oregon Professor of Labor Education Gordon Lafer wrote in an email that he thinks there is “no great mystery” about how the bargaining at UConn would compare to the process at Harvard. “The processes are essentially the same,” Lafer wrote. In 2014, over 70 percent of graduate students at UConn voted in favor of a union. During Harvard’s first Nov. 2016 unionization election, later overturned on procedural grounds, about 52 percent of students voted against unionization. Manicastri said that he thought the results of GEU-UAW’s negotiations helped convince students on his campus who did not support unionization. According to Manicastri, the contract includes increases to tuition waivers and stipends, interim protections for those who comes forward with sexual harassment allegations, and reduced workloads for research assistants in lab. University spokespeople declined to comment when asked how Harvard’s administration would handle negotiations if this week’s vote is in favor of unionization. In an email sent two weeks ago, University Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 highlighted resources that are already available to graduate students absent collective bargaining, including the University’s Title IX officers and the Harvard International Office. University officials have also repeatedly encouraged students to consider the “potential impact of unionization” and vote in the election.
Facebook, Data Group to Collaborate By CECELIA R. D’ARMS CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Facebook has agreed to give unprecedented access to anonymized user data to a commission founded by Government Professor Gary King and Stanford Law Professor Nathaniel Persily in order to study the platform’s impact on elections and democracies. King and Persily’s commission, composed of academics across the social sciences, will have access to all of Facebook’s user data in an anonymized form. The commission will also have the power to decide what data to give to independent researchers who will, for the first time in Facebook’s history, have the right to publish their findings without review by the company, according to King. King said he and other social scientists have been trying to get access to large-scale social media data “for many years” with little success, but Facebook reached out to him “a few days” after it became public that Cambridge Anayltica—a political firm hired by Donald Trump’s campaign—gained access to millions of Facebook user’s private data and asked King to privately review their data to help them prevent similar mistakes in the future. “I said, that’s noble of you, that’s terrific, and it would involve sharing data, which is a great thing, but there isn’t any way that would work, because I’m an independent academic,” King said. The social media company ultimately agreed to the “two-part” project, which King said will both keep user data anonymized and ensure that the company can’t prevent publication of unfavorable findings. Facebook announced the initiative on April 9 through a press release written by Elliott Schrage, vice president of communications and David Ginsberg,
the company’s director of research. “We think it’s an important new model for partnerships between industry and academia,” Schrage and Ginsberg wrote. “Our goals are to understand Facebook’s impact on upcoming elections — like Brazil, India, Mexico and the US midterms — and to inform our future product and policy decisions.” King said that the project will receive no money from Facebook. Instead, he said the research will be independently funded by grants from a coalition of “ideologically and substantively diverse” foundations, including the Hewlett and Sloan Foundations. Hewlett Foundation Communications Director Vidya Krishnamurthy said the Foundation is focused on “strengthening the values, norms, and institutions of US democracy,” but said that the contributing foundations have a variety of aims. “All of the funders who are involved with this come at this from a slightly different lens, but we all have a shared interest in supporting independent research that helps us get an evidence basis of what’s going on and therefore, what are the problems here, and what are possible solutions,” Krishnamurthy said. King said he and Persily plan to announce the members of the commission in the next few weeks, and Facebook has so far agreed to share its data for one year. King and Nathan Williams, the communications director for the Sloan Foundation, both said they hoped the project would become a long-term collaboration. “Ideally, a year from now, we’d say, let’s keep doing this, and let’s ask more questions. Let’s see how Facebook affects friendships or family relationships,” Williams said.
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THE HARVARD CRIMSON | APRIL 17, 2018 | PAGE 12
Harvard Suffers Third Straight Loss to Ivy Foe Penn MEN’S LACROSSE By GEORGE HU CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
The Harvard and Penn men’s lacrosse teams both entered Saturday’s contest in Philadelphia, Penn., looking to break out of weeks-long funks. The Crimson had dropped two in a row, and the Quakers had lost their past three. Plus, with the calendar inching towards May, when the top four squads in the Ivy League will be invited to New York to participate in the conference tournament, every loss was becoming more and more costly. Accordingly, the two sides came out of the locker rooms with a sense of urgency, putting up a combined nine shots in the first six minutes of action. Senior midfielder Carney Mahon opened the scoring for Harvard at the 11:01 mark of the quarter, but Penn had its chances as well, with sophomore attackman Adam Goldner forcing a good save from Crimson netminder Robert Shaw just two minutes later. By the time the teams reached halftime, they had traded 3-0 runs and were back to square one, knotted at 3-3. In the third quarter, however, the Quakers cranked up the intensity on offense, putting four in a row past Shaw in quick succession to cap a 7-0 run spanning nearly 30 minutes. The home side never looked back, keeping its opponents at bay throughout the rest of the half to secure a 11-7 victory. With the four-goal win, Penn (6-6, 2-3 Ivy) puts itself back in contention for a spot in the Ivy tournament. The Quakers now sit in fifth place in the conference standings, a half-game behind Brown (5-5, 2-2) and Harvard (74, 2-2), each with one fewer loss. The Crimson, meanwhile finds itself with a must-win next week at home against Princeton (6-5, 1-3) before finishing off the season against undefeated No. 6 Yale (9-2, 5-0). “We have a big week in front of us,” said Harvard coach Chris Wojcik ’96. “We’re really going to see what
we’re made of, coming off of a difficult stretch, but we’ll be playing at home again and we need to capitalize on that.” It certainly has been a difficult “road trip” for the Crimson, as the team has been outscored, 40-24, in three consecutive losses away from Cambridge, Mass. The schedule was undoubtedly a factor, with Harvard facing off against Albany and Cornell, which were ranked No. 1 and No. 10 at the time, respectively, before taking on Penn, who beat another former No. 1, Duke, earlier this year. Against the Quakers, perhaps the weakest of the three opponents, however, the Crimson finally had the start it wanted. Harvard raced out to a 3-0 lead on the contributions of Mahon and the team’s two leading goal scorers, senior Morgan Cheek and sophomore Kyle Anderson. The offense then went silent, however, not finding the back of the net between the 2:27 mark of the first quarter and the 0:01 mark of the third. “Penn has a good defense, but it was more a matter of us not executing properly at our own game,” said Crimson captain and midfielder Joe Lang. “We were sloppy with the ball, losing it when we could’ve had good scoring chances, and that’s something we’ll need to work on this week.” If it were not for Anderson’s goal in the final second of the third quarter, Harvard would have gone scoreless in the frame. As is, the troubling trend of poor starts after halftime continues. During its losing streak, the Crimson has now been outscored by its opponents by a total margin of 12-3 in the third quarters, leaving the team to watch as tight games turn into big deficits before even reaching the final period. “We made some costly turnovers there in the third quarter that really put us on the back foot,” Wojcik said. “Our play across the board was better than in past weeks, especially getting ground balls, but when you hand over possession again and again, that’s tough to overcome.”
OL MAN OL MAN Freshman Charlie Olmert turns upfield in a recent contest against Boston University. HENRY ZHU—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
Harvard turned the ball over five times in that frame, compared to nine all game for the Quakers. Converting man-up opportunities was another aspect of the Crimson performance that was lacking on Saturday, as the team went 0-6 in such opportunities. Penn committed seven penalties,
giving their visitors a full 5:30 of manup play. Harvard, however, was not able to capitalize. In terms of individual performances, Goldner and senior attackman Kevin McGeary led the way for the Quakers with four points apiece, while Cheek matched their output in a losing effort.
“We’re disappointed, obviously, but the goal remains the same as it did at the beginning of the season,” Lang said. “Qualify for the Ivy tournament, and win that tournament. Everything is still in our hands.” Staff writer Geroge Hu can be reached at george.hu@thecrimson.com.
Crimson Names Captains for 2018-2019 Campaign
C’S AT HARVARD? The Crimson’s two letter-wearers next season, forwards Michael Floodstrand and Lewis Zerter-Gossage, pose with head coach Ted Donato ’91 after officially receiving the “C”. The two become the 131st and 132nd captains for the Harvard program following its first-ever trio of leaders in 2017-2018. COURTESY OF HARVARD ATHLETICS. MEN’S ICE HOCKEY By STUTI R. TELIDEVARA CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
At its annual banquet, the Harvard men’s hockey program named its captains for the 2018-2019 season while also honoring the accomplishments of players in the past year. Rising seniors and forwards Michael Floodstrand and Lewis Zerter-Gossage will wear the “C” for the Crimson, becoming the 131st and 132nd captains in program history. “I’ve had the privilege of being around...pretty stellar guys and great leaders,” said Zerter-Gossage, alluding to the captains of years past. “But it’s a big responsibility, and now it’s up
to us, the seniors, to be really setting the tone and having the younger guys follow.” Zerter-Gossage (32 GP, 10–19—29) played on Harvard’s productive top line this past season, also chipping in on the premier power play unit and helping out with faceoff duties with linemate and fellow junior Ryan Donato. Floodstrand (33 GP, 4–6—10) spent time on the wing of tri-captain Jake Horton this past year, slotting in on an energetic and shutdown third line. Both Zerter-Gossage and Floodstrand knew, after the 2017-2018 season, that they would have to step up to leadership roles regardless of the election’s results. The Crimson will bid farewell to
its winningest senior class (83), which beat out a twelve-year record to earn that distinction. The class of 2018 also supplied the team with a trio of captains—the program’s first of its kind— in Horton, goaltender Merrick Madsen, and forward Eddie Ellis. “Me and [Zerter-Gossage] are the ones that are going to be wearing the Cs,” Floodstrand acknowledged. “But when you look back at past years that have had a lot of success, the entire senior class and even the junior class are leaders on the team.” Leadership by committee isn’t a new principle for Harvard. Even before this season’s three captains, the class of 2017 graduated as the highest-scoring senior class in the NCAA and was at the helm of the team’s 2017
Frozen Four run. Floodstrand and Zerter-Gossage agree that the entire class of rising seniors will be a part of next year’s leadership core. Floodstrand pointed to net-minder Michael Lackey and defensemen Adam Baughman and Jacob Olson as teammates he will rely on to step up. “All of them have a tremendous amount of respect from guys in the locker room,” Floodstrand said. “Any one of them could have been a captain…. To have extra voices in the locker room that can communicate things, that can really resonate with the guys, is huge.” Current sophomores, too, must rise to the occasion. Zerter-Gossage cited defensemen John Marino and Adam
Fox, as well as his own linemate Ty Pelton-Byce, as critical to upholding the Crimson’s culture. A major aspect of that culture—one that Harvard has emphasized since its resurgence as a program—is establishing goals in advance of the season. Very often, the primary goal is crystal-clear. “Everybody on the team truly believes that next year we can win a national championship, or get really close,” Floodstrand said. “That’s obviously the number one goal. You obviously want to win a Beanpot championship, an ECAC championship, an Ivy League championship...and then there’s day-to-day things to hold yourself to, as a standard.” Any incoming captain must adapt to a more accountable dynamic with his coaching staff. Zerter-Gossage and Floodstrand, however, have unique perspectives in their relationships with Crimson bench boss Ted Donato ’91 due to their concurrent roles as classmates and friends of the coach’s son Ryan. “I was always...seeing [coach Donato] in more of a relaxed setting than most players do with their coaches,” Floodstrand said. “[Zerter-Gossage] is in the same situation as me, where we’re very comfortable talking to him about stuff, and that’s huge…. It’s always good to have that extra bit of transparency.” Any college hockey club must deal with the reality of a rotating cast of personnel. With a locked-in group of rising upperclassmen, the Crimson has its sights firmly set on accomplishing more of its goals in the 2018-2019 season. The squad has already lost its top scorer, Donato, to the NHL’s Boston Bruins, but otherwise returns eight of the next nine names on the points table. That group contains several rookies who enjoyed success in their debut campaign: forwards Jack Badini (10– 7—17) and Henry Bowlby (8–8—16) and puck-moving defenseman Reilly Walsh (7–13—20). Harvard will look for its young, talented sophomore scoring corps to continue doing what it does best alongside Fox, Pelton-Byce, and Zerter-Gossage. “There’s not a doubt in anyone’s mind that we can be a national championship type team next year,” Floodstrand emphasized. “That’s our goal, and everything that we do from here on out has got to be towards that.” Staff writer Stuti R. Telidevara can be reached at stuti.telidevara@thecrimson.com. Staff writer Spencer R. Morris contributed to the reporting for this story. He can be reached at spencer.morris@thecrimson.com.