The Harvard Crimson THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873
VOLUME CXLIX, NO. 51 |
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
| TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022
EDITORIAL PAGE 8
NEWS PAGE 9
SPORTS PAGE 10
HUA, a haphazard constitution, has haphazard results
The Cambridge City Council discussed a proposal for bike lanes on Mass. Ave
Track and Field kicked off its spring season with 4 school records
IT Oversight Leaves Files Vulnerable Again Email Lists Stop Working By CARA J. CHANG and ISABELLA B. CHO CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
Last fall, after The Crimson discovered a large-scale information security oversight at Harvard that left tens of thousands of administrative files available for University affiliates to view and download, school officials said they took quick steps to patch the issue. But Harvard’s IT troubles didn’t end there. A second, similar security oversight left thousands of internal files from units across the University available for anyone with Harvard login credentials to access via the collaborative platform Microsoft SharePoint. Users logged in with their school account could find the files by entering keywords into the platform’s search function. The documents left vulnerable ranged from obsolete files, such as outdated organizational charts and personal memos, to some sensitive material, such as information about University finances, donors, and employees. The vulnerability — discovered by The Crimson earlier this month, less than six months af
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ter the first issue was resolved — was patched by the school after the newspaper raised questions about the issue. In a statement on Monday, Harvard University Information Technology spokesperson Timothy J. Bailey wrote that “HUIT has taken steps to address the potential for confidential information to be accessed by unauthorized individuals.” Many Harvard units use Microsoft 365 software — including SharePoint — to distribute documents internally. SharePoint offers file creators privacy settings ranging from personal use only to a “shared with everyone” option, which led some employees to inadvertently share their work with all Harvard affiliates — not just their teams, as likely intended. “Microsoft 365’s privacy settings allow users of SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams to specify and manage exactly who can access a file or folder, enabling Harvard staff, faculty, and students to securely collaborate,” Bailey wrote. “HUIT is aware that some Microsoft 365 owners have improperly applied
SEE DOCUMENTS PAGE 7
Email lists operated by the Harvard Computer Society malfunctioned. By VIVI E. LU and LEAH J. TEICHHOLTZ CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
the tomahawk. The museum then initiated talks with Chapman and Ponca tribal leaders on a potential repatriation of the relic. According to Jane Pickering, director of the Peabody Museum, Ponca tribal representatives planned to travel to Cambridge and take possession of the tomahawk last October, but ultimately canceled their visit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “When I last heard from them they planned to reschedule their visit for the Spring,” Pickering wrote in an email. “The Peabody stands ready to welcome the delegation and assist in any way we can,” she added. “In the meantime, we continue to care for the pipe tomahawk but do not allow
Club and house email lists managed by the Harvard Computer Society have been down for at least the past week, leaving students frustrated and in the dark. HCS, a student-run computer science organization founded in the 1980s, started offering mailing list services to clubs on campus before Harvard implemented its own system. Though some groups opt for mailing lists on other sites, a number of clubs continue to use the HCS platform to publicize events and contact club members. HCS co-president Will C. Cooper ’23-’24 wrote in an email estimating that “50-75 active club lists and on the scale of 10,000 inactive lists” are on HCS-run servers. Cooper wrote HCS is aware of the issues with the mailing list, which he attributed to an expired SSL certificate — a security measure — and connection issues with the organization’s remote Amazon Web Services server. In late February, club leaders began reporting problems with the email lists to HCS, though the lists were “still largely usable” at that point, Cooper wrote. The problem intensified by April 4, when most undergraduates lost the ability to send or receive emails on lists run by HCS servers. Winthrop House resident Tess C. Kelley ’23 said she noticed an issue with the email
SEE TOMAHAWK PAGE 7
SEE COMPUTER PAGE 7
The Harvard University’s IT Department is located on 784 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Mass. JULIAN J. GIORDANO—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
Peabody to Return Pipe Tomahawk By JORGE O. GUERRA and DAVIN W. SHI CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology removed a pipe tomahawk that once belonged to Ponca chief Standing Bear from its collections last September, after calls for the museum to return the tomahawk to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma garnered international attention. Oklahoma attorney and lineal descendant of Standing Bear Brett A. Chapman called attention to the tomahawk in a viral Twitter thread last May, prompting Nebraska State Senator Tom R. Brewer to sponsor a bipartisan resolution in the Nebraska State Legislature calling upon the University to return
Harvard’s Peabody Museum has agreed to return a to pipe tomahawk that once belonged to Ponca chief Standing Bear to tribal leaders. TRUONG L. NGUYEN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
HOOP Protests Israeli Rep. Ro Khanna Speaks at Institute of Politics Ambassador Herzog By MILES J. HERSZENHORN CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
By MILES J. HERSZENHORN CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Chanting “end the occupation” and “apartheid has got to go,” Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine protesters disrupted an event with Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, at the Harvard Kennedy School on Thursday. The Kennedy School’s Israel Caucus, a student group, organized the event with Herzog. The discussion was moderated by Eric B. Rosenbach, co-director of the Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Shortly after Herzog began speaking, protestors interrupted the ambassador with chants and walked out of the event. Morgan K. Benson, an HKS student who participated in the walkout, said he protested the Kennedy School’s decision to host “perpetrators of apartheid.” “I’m disappointed that I go to a school where we can’t speak plainly about justice for Palestinians and the conditions that they’re living under, and that we are willing to platform war criminals who have directly contributed to those injustices,”
INSIDE THIS Harvard Today 2 ISSUE
Benson said. “It’s just important for students to counteract that normalization of the occupation that’s happening at the school.” Joseph G. Leone, a student at the Kennedy School who also participated in the walkout, said he recognizes the school will invite a range of government officials, but those responsible “for Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism shouldn’t be welcomed at HKS.” “HKS is going to host officials of various countries — that’s true — and we host plenty of odious figures from the United States as well,” Leone said. “But I think there’s a line, and I think that HKS has lines as well.” Elad Strohmayer, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, wrote in a statement that “the Ambassador came with the purpose of engaging in an open and honest dialogue.” “While the Ambassador welcomes criticism, it was a shame that a small group of students only cared to create a provocation,” Strohmayer wrote.
SEE HKS PAGE 9
Arts 3
News 7
United States Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) spoke about the role of technology in the future of the American economy while discussing his new book at a Harvard Institute of Politics forum on Monday evening. Harvard professors Michael J. Sandel and Amartya K. Sen joined Khanna at the event, which was moderated by Anika Bagaria ’24 and IOP Director Mark D. Gearan ’78. Khanna said the decision to offshore a lot of manufacturing jobs, which has “left out lots of people and communities” in the United States, needs to be fixed. “Maybe that helped consumer prices, but the reality is a lot of that led to a loss of income, a loss of jobs,” he said. “And the beneficiaries of it ultimately was a lot of capital, people who owned the capital.” According to Khanna, there now exists a “bipartisan consensus” on returning some production to the United States because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the “hollowing out of the middle class,” and “the rise of China.” The panelists also discussed efforts to regulate social media companies. Sandel gave the
Editorial 8
Sports 10
Monday’s IOP Forum featured Ro Khanna, as well as Professors Amartya Sen and Michael Sandel. MILES J. HERSZENHORN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
audience his definition of social media companies’ business model — “to commandeer our attention and hold it for as long as possible, so that they can capture more personal data about us, so that they can use that data to try to sell us stuff.” “That seems to me a per-
TODAY’S FORECAST
nicious business model that’s deeply corrosive of democracy,” Sandel warned. “Not only because it depends on hooking people with sensationalistic and often false and hateful information and news feeds,” he added, “but the whole idea of capturing our attention
RAINY High: 70 Low: 43
and directing it to the empty, banal, and sensationalistic stuff that draws our attention distracts us from more important things to pay attention to.” Khanna agreed with Sandel that the business model of social
SEE IOP PAGE 9
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THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
APRIL 12, 2022
PAGE 2
HARVARD TODAY
For Lunch Baked Cod with Lemon Mushroom Sauce Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Mindful Chicken Parm Sandwich
For Dinner Japanese Oven Braised Pork Spicy Chicken with Chilies Vegetable Lo Mein with Tofu
TODAY’S EVENTS Himalayan Art: Art of the Divine Abode 32 Quincy St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
IN THE REAL WORLD
Come explore the rich history and art of the Himalayan region, focusing on major cultural centers such as the Kathmandu Valley. The course is taught by Jinah Kim, George P. Bickford Professor of Indian and South Asian Art.
Baby Pademelon Spotted in Chester Zoo
EFoS: Computer Science Advising Fair And Burrito Break 150 Western Ave., 2-3:45 p.m.
Turkish Drones are Now a Symbol of Ukraine Resistance
Come stop by to talk to advisors and concentrators about Computer Science and eat some yummy burritos! Harvard University Softball vs. Providence College Soldiers Field, 4-6 p.m. Come support Harvard softball in the game against Providence College! The game will be streamed on ESPN.
A baby pademelon — born a few months ago in Chester Zoo in Chester, England — was spotted peeking out of its mother’s pouch. The pademelon is a kangaroo-like marsupial originating from Indonesia. The species is considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
One of the Harvard-Radcliffe crews rows towards campus during the warm and clear day Monday. JULIAN J. GIORDANO—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
AROUND THE IVIES YALE: Homeland Security Seizes Stolen South Asian Artifacts at Yale Art Gallery — THE YALE DAILY NEWS
A drone, dubbed “Bayraktar,” has become such a popular symbol that Ukranians are naming their pets after it. Western and Ukraine officials are lauding the drones for their part in fending off Russian attacks.
Philadelphia Brings Back Mask Mandate
Philadelphia’s indoor mask mandate is set to return April 18 — just over a month after it was lifted — public health officials announced Monday. This makes Philadelphia the first major U.S. city to restore its mask mandate this spring as Covid-19 cases rise.
COLUMBIA: Weeks After the Mask Mandate Was Lifted, Masking Once Again Required in Classrooms —THE COLUMBIA SPECTATOR CORNELL: University Reduces Testing Frequency and Suspends Booster Requirement for 2022-23 Academic Year —THE CORNELL DAILY SUN PRINCETON:National Pro-Israel Groups Spend Over $1K on Sponsored Ads Denouncing USG Referendum —THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
COVID UPDATES
LAST 7 DAYS CURRENTLY
CAMPUS
227 In Isolation
399 1.37% Total New Cases
Positivity Rate
LAST 7 DAYS
CAMBRIDGE
608 2.3% 76%
Total New Cases
Positivity Rate
Fully Vaccinated
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY Students to Debate Harvard Divestment
The Institute of Politics hosted a debate regarding divestment in South Africa-related companies. The Southern Africa Solidarity Committee argued that such companies supported the South African regime — “the only racist society left on earth” according to a member — while the Harvard Republican Club president argued that “divestiture holds no moral high ground because it is ineffective.” April 12, 1986
Bias Charged In University Entry Policies
A group of religious, political, and independent organizations argued before the Massachusetts General Court that certain university application fields — such as birthplaces of an applicant’s parents and the applicant’s photograph — were discriminatory. The hearing was part of an effort to pass a bill that would define unfair admissions practices and establish an office to investigate such allegations of bias. April 12, 1949
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873
The Harvard Crimson Raquel Coronell Uribe ’22-’23 Associate Managing Editors Kelsey J. Griffin ’23 President Taylor C. Peterman ’23-’24 Jasper G. Goodman ’23 Associate Business Managers Managing Editor Taia M.Y. Cheng ’23-’24 Isabelle L. Guillaume ’24 Amy X. Zhou ’23 Business Manager Editorial Chairs Guillermo S. Hava ’23-24 Orlee G.S. Marini-Rapoport ’23-24
STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE Arts Chairs Sofia Andrade ’23-’24 Jaden S. Thompson ’23
Design Chairs Yuen Ting Chow ’23 Madison A. Shirazi ’23-’24
Night Editor Simon J. Levien ’23-’24
Magazine Chairs Maliya V. Ellis ’23-’24 Sophia S. Liang ’23
Multimedia Chairs Aiyana G. White ’23 Pei Chao Zhuo ’23
Assistant Night Editors Kenneth Gu ’25 Ariel H. Kim ’24 Meimei Xu ’24
Blog Chairs Ellen S. Deng ’23-’24 Janani Sekar ’23-’24
Technology Chairs Ziyong Cui ’24 Justin Y. Ye ’24
Sports Chairs Alexandra N. Wilson ’23-’24 Griffin H. Wong ’24
Copyright 2022, 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.
Story Editors Jasper G. Goodman ’23 Kelsey J. Griffin ’23 Taylor C. Peterman ’23-’24
Design Editors Camille G. Caldera ’22 Toby R. Ma ’24 Photo Editor Cory K. Gorczycki ’24 Editorial Editor Aurash Z. Vatan ’23 Sports Editor Oscar E. Mercado ’25
CORRECTIONS The April 11 story “DSO Affirms Support for New Student Gov.” incorrectly stated Jason Meier’s title. He is the College’s Associate Dean for Student Engagement.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
APRIL 12, 2022 |
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ARTS BOOKS
THE BEST SPRING READS FOR ALL OCCASIONS: 2022 EDITION
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BOOKS
Spring has sprung! In Boston, it’s more like second winter, but whether you prefer rainy grays or budding blooms, the Crimson has the best book recommendations for all your Spring reading needs.
The Best Spring Reads for All Occasions: 2022 Edition
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED: NEW APP CALLED SIDECHAT TAKES OFF AT HARVARD
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CULTURE
Move aside, Harvard Confessions — there’s a new anonymous posting board that is taking campus by storm. Amongst the social networking sites popular on campus, the
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‘POPS AND THE ISLAND OF MISFIT PROFESSORS’: AN EXHILARATING MUSICAL ADVENTURE STARRING SAINT-SAËNS, A MAGICAL PIANO, AND CAMBRIDGE TURKEYS
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SAM WEBER CONCERT REVIEW: A SOULFUL GLANCE INTO AN ARTIST’S CREATIVE JOURNEY ANNA MOISEIEVA
CAMPUS
MUSIC
SERENA JAMPEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER Spring has sprung! In Boston, it’s more like a second winter, but whether you prefer rainy grays or budding blooms, The Crimson has the best book recommendations for all your spring reading needs. Finals season might be getting you down, but these books are the perfect way to romanticize your life and relax with a good read. Not much of an independent reader? Here are some picks from a variety of genres to satisfy even the most discerning of bibliophiles. For Romanticizing: Every spring reader should start with a romance. Flowers are blooming, the sun is out, and love is in the air. Romance sometimes gets a bad reputation for a lack of substance, but “Act Your Age, Eve Brown” by Talia Hibbert is full of intricate characters who confront complex familial and social issues, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. While this book is the third in a series, it works well as a standalone novel. Plus, it is set at a bed and breakfast in England. Think: flowers, cobblestones, banter, and true love.
In addition to acting and a setlist that includes movie soundtracks, classical pieces, musical theater, and funk rock, Pops shines in its comedic timing.
For When Prose Isn’t Enough: Nothing screams springtime like poetry. While Jericho Brown’s collection “The Tradition” leans heavily on flower motifs and imagery, these beautiful poems articulate the experience of a young, gay, Black man in America. It is a heart-stoppingly gorgeous collection about love, loss, safety, and worship told through a series of pastoral poems. Brown invented his own unique form of poem, the “Duplex,” which is featured heavily in this book. Even for those who don’t normally pick up poetry, this work by a Pulitzer Prize winner is worth a read.
Capturing the dynamic unpredictability of life, Weber’s mellow vocals and descriptive lyrics create a tranquil respite.
ARTIST PROFILE: JOBY HAROLD, WRITER ON ‘OBI-WAN KENOBI’
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For Rainy Days: For spring’s more brooding, gloomy days, consider the spooky classic “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë. This book has romance, but it is a lot more anguished and tortured than “Act Your Age, Eve Brown.” Get ready for rainy moors and high drama in this oldie-but-goodie about two families entwined in a cycle of love and violence. Sometimes spring isn’t just about the sunshine!
For Joby Harold, best know as a writer for “Army of the Dead,” “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum,” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” the Covid-19 pandemic has been a chance to take greater liberties with storytelling.
TV
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‘TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD’ REVIEW: PLAY DEFTLY DELIVERS NEW LOOK ON BELOVED TALE
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‘EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE’ REVIEW: A THRILLING ROLLER-COASTER RIDE THROUGH THE MULTIVERSE
THEATER
FILM
Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird” masterfully delivers a new look on a classic tale.
For Your Inner Child: For whimsy, magic, and a classic cadre of characters, consider reading (or revisiting) Lewis Carroll’s iconic “Alice in Wonderland.” The Disney animated movie is great, but nothing beats the original book in heart and absurd fun. The Audible audiobook narrated by Scarlett Johansson is a great way to read this book on the go: The actress gives each character a different fairy-tale voice that will conjure images of mushrooms, cheshire cats, and tea
parties — a true spring wonderland. For the Thespian: Reading Shakespeare in one’s free time is not for everyone, but anyone looking for a mental challenge and a relatively short play should check out “As You Like It.” The play is set in the forest of Arden (Trees! Plants! Spring!), and features a ton of cross-dressing and more than a few homoerotic undertones. While not typically considered the most complex of the Bard’s plays, it’s a comedic crowd-pleaser featuring one of Shakespeare’s most actualized leading ladies. This is just a fun romp in the woods. For the Intrigued: Someone who prefers to read non-fiction should look no further than Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.” Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, has spent her entire life and career learning from the knowledge of plants and animals. Her powerful book about reciprocity with the environment as a means to heal the climate is a particularly relevant read that outlines how capitalism and acquisitiveness have thrown the natural order out of balance. A spring book that will not only leave you with a wealth of knowledge about plants and their uses, but will change your perspective on giving back to the Earth — “Braiding Sweetgrass” is truly a masterpiece. For Realists: Continuing the plant theme, the best realistic fiction novel for this spring is “The Overstory” by Richard Powers. Often lauded as an epic about trees, in which trees are the protagonists, this book combines history, science, and masterful storytelling to capture the reality of the world’s largest living organisms. Part fable, part paean to the natural world, Powers’ novel is both entertaining and powerful. This is a more dense choice, however, so be prepared to be reading this one into the summer. For Surrealists: “This is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone is a slim novel that packs a significant punch. Written in lyric, almost poetic prose, it tells the story of an epic battle through space and time between two mysterious fighters: Blue and Red. There is a lot of garden imagery, and the plot focuses on the cycle of renewal and destruction that spring symbolizes. Nature is both the message and the medium in this twisty, surreal work of fiction.
Starring on-screen powerhouses Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis, A24’s newest sci-fi action comedy depicts one woman’s epic adventure through the multiverse to save her daughter.
Courtesy of Hester Qiang
WA
12 April 2022 | Vol CXLIX, ISSUE 51 Arts Chairs Sofia Andrade ’23-’24 Jaden S. Thompson ’23
Editors-at-Large Clara V. Nguyen ’23-’24 Sara Komatsu ’23 Chibuike K. Uwakwe ’23
Editor Associates Hannah T. Chew ’23 Isabella B. Cho ’24 Daniel S. de Castro ’24 Nina M. Foster ’23 Anya L. Henry ’24 Ryan S. Kim ’23
Zachary J. Lech ’24 Charles W. McCormick ’24 Jamila R. O’Hara ’23 Harper R. Oreck ’23 Alisa S. Regassa ’24
Executive Designer Nayeli Cardozo ’25
Design Associates Ashley E. Bryant ’23 Rahem D. Hamid ’25 Julia B. Freitag ’25
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
APRIL 12, 2022 |
PAGE 4
CULTURE What the Hell Happened: New App Called Sidechat Takes Off at Harvard JENNIFER Y. GAO CONTRIBUTING WRITER Move aside, Harvard Confessions — there’s a new anonymous posting board that is taking campus by storm. Amongst the social networking sites popular on campus, the latest to emerge is an app called Sidechat. Designed to help college students connect with their classmates, Sidechat allows its users to share memes, jokes, and confessions on a Reddit-style forum with those who attend the same school. Students sign up through their university email, which grants them access to their college specific forum. Once signed on, users can view, react to, and create their own posts. They can also respond to other’s posts and start private messages with other users. The catch? Everyone's identity remains completely anonymous — reminiscent of a previously popular social media application, Yik Yak. Yik Yak was immensely popular among college students back in 2014. Similar to Sidechat, Yik Yak allows users make and view anonymous posts on a forum. However, Yik Yak’s discussion threads are visible to everyone within a five mile radius of each other, regardless of university affiliation. Sidechat, on the other hand, allows students to feel greater privacy and attachment to the space as an exclusively college-oriented one. Harvard’s Sidechat forum has been getting quite a bit of traffic in the past few weeks — a steady stream of new content is added during most hours of the day, with occasionally over 30 new posts per hour. Posts can rack up hundreds of upvotes in a few hours, and users can view filters for the most popular posts under the “Top” and “Hot” tabs of the app.
The forum functions as an extension of social life on campus, or rather, a special corner for students to connect beyond the physical spaces offered. It allows students to stay up to date on jokes and trends as well as contribute to campus culture. Most posts feature memes and jokes unique to Harvard, often making fun of a range of topics from student-athlete quirks to the Quad-Yard commute. Posts also center around discussion of current events happening on campus, such as the dissolution of the UC and Yardfest. Meta posts have also evolved, featuring jokes about the kinds of jokes on the platform. The desire of students to post anonymous messages to their peers is not new. Like Sidechat, Harvard Confessions, a Facebook page, allows students to submit anonymous messages. In contrast with Sidechat, Harvard Confessions must go through a form from which the administrators choose what to post, filtering out confessions which violate community guidelines. The page is public for all to see, and anyone can send in messages. Harvard Confessions clearly shows a demand for an anonymous posting board: The page features more than 11,000 confessions from the past three years. Because the posting on Harvard Confessions is not instantaneous, the confessions tend to be released in large batches at random times. Furthermore, the easiest way to respond to a post is to reply publicly, so only one direction of communication is anonymous. Sidechat resolves both of these issues and has seen much higher levels of engagement among users. If Sidechat manages to take off across the country, it would not be the first time a social media service has found its start
on a college campus. Containing a dense group of interconnected individuals, college campuses are ripe grounds for trends to spread. Most notably, Facebook began as a site for college students to communicate with each other. For now, Sidechat remains a niche platform for college students. Only time will tell if it will manage to expand beyond that, or if it will stay just another fad.
On a stage mere feet from tables of hungry diners and eager listeners, Sam Weber performed at Club Passim on March 27. Featuring songs from his recently released album “Get Free” alongside older works, Weber’s performance was an intimate and multidimensional glance into the artist’s life. Rows of candles adorned the walls and tables of Club Passim while guests were served food and drinks for the show. The soft lighting and energetic chatter created an inviting atmosphere, full of excitement for Weber and his opening act, The Ladles. The Ladles — an acoustic folk pop band composed of Kate Martucci, Lucia Pontoniere, and Caroline Kuhn — first met at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Now, six years later, this concert rekindled the nostalgia of performing in the same city where their career began. Performing several songs off their latest album “Springville Sessions,” The Ladles melodically recounted friendship breakups in “The Friends You Had” and navigated struggling with anxiety and being present with others in “Sunset Pink.” Uniting banjo instrumentals with soulful lyrics, the trio set the stage for Sam Weber’s musical storytelling. Opening with “Everything Comes True” from his 2019 album of the same name, Weber dove into the deep end of trials and tribulations encountered throughout life, from teenage rebellion to illness and relationship troubles. Weary but ending on a hopeful note, “Everything Comes True” showed off his soft vocals and narrative lyrics. Joined by Danny Austin-Manning on the drums and Tejas Leier Heyden on the guitar, Weber went on to play “Truth or Lie,” a tranquil but powerful declaration that honesty will prevail and “it all comes to light, over time.” Referencing struggles in Weber’s life through phrases like “wading through the bullshit really is the hardest thing,” the singer emphasizes his choice to redirect his pain into songwriting. Drawing on his own experiences adds depth to Weber’s lyrics and builds an intimate relationship with his audience. Though the themes of his music are by no means novel, the serene but emotional way with which Weber delivers his ru-
minations on familiar topics allows for open connection between him and his listeners. “Get out of the Game” — a song about returning to your roots and going back to what you love at a new point in your life — was a highlight of the show. Intertwining descriptions of picturesque landscapes with bluegrass instrumentals and varying tempos, Weber tells an engaging tale of his own artistic journey. “Get out of the Game” resonates with anyone who’s ever felt unsure about their path and had a chance to rediscover what it is they truly want to do for themselves. Sharing The Ladles’ sentimentality about being in Boston, Weber invited the opening band to join him on stage towards the end of his set. Trading in their banjo and violin to perform as Weber’s backup singers, the trio added impressive vocal range to the songs “Obligated” and “Here’s to the Future.” Sharing a similar folk core in their music, The Ladles sounded right at home performing with Weber and energetically concluded the show. Circling back to the frustration and obstacles encountered throughout life in “Everything Comes True,” Weber’s finale “Burnout” contemplates the age-old struggle between unapologetically chasing a creative vision and catering to an external audience with the goal of financial security. With existential lyrics like “Everything you love will one day slowly decompose into nothing,” Weber makes this a universal issue and accepts his fate with the lyrics, “Won’t you burn out with me?” Weber’s performance at Club Passim was an inside look into the world of making art and all of the ups and downs that come with it. Capturing the dynamic unpredictability of life, Weber’s mellow vocals and descriptive lyrics create a tranquil respite to acknowledge and give voice to the strife listeners face — making the performance a memorable and relatable one for his listeners.
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Courtesy of Danilo Rios
CAMPUS ‘Pops and the Island of Misfit Professors’: An Exhilitaring Musical Adventure Starring Saint-Saëns, a Magical Piano, and Cambridge Turkeys LARISSA G. BARTH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Courtesy of Jackie Chea
Staff writer Anna Moiseieva can be reached at anna.moiseieva@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AMoiseieva.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
APRIL 12, 2022 |
PAGE 5
MUSIC
O
n a stage mere feet from tables of hungry diners and eager listeners, Sam Weber performed at Club Passim on Mar 27. Featuring songs from his recently released album “Get Free” alongside older works, Weber’s performance was an intimate and multidimensional glance into the artist’s life. Rows of candles adorned the walls and tables of Club Passim while guests were served food and drinks. The soft lighting and energetic chatter created an inviting atmosphere, full of excitement for Weber and his opening act, The Ladles. The Ladles — an acoustic folk pop band composed of Kate Martucci, Lucia Pontoniere, and Caroline Kuhn, — first met at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Now, 6 years later, this concert rekindled the nostalgia of performing in the same city where their career began. Performing several songs off their latest album “Springville Sessions,” The Ladles melodically recounted friendship breakups in “The Friends You Had” and navigated struggling with anxiety and being present with others in “Sunset Pink.” Uniting banjo instrumentals with soulful lyrics, the trio set the stage for Sam Weber’s musical storytelling. Opening with “Everything Comes True” from his 2019 album of the same name, Weber dives into the deep end
of trials and tribulations encountered through life, from teenage rebellion to illness and relationship troubles. Weary but ending on a hopeful note, “Everything Comes True” shows off Weber’s soft vocals and narrative lyrics. Joined by Danny Austin-Manning on the drums and Tejas Leier Heyden on the guitar, Weber went on to play “Truth or Lie,” a tranquil but powerful declaration that honesty will prevail and “it all comes to light, over time.” Referencing struggles in Weber’s life through phrases like “wading through the bulshit really is the hardest thing,” the singer emphasizes his choice to redirect his pain into songwriting. “If it hasn’t given me some real swell lines to sing,” sings Weber in “Truth or Lie” along with the lines “Used to write songs, now we just write cheques” in “Money.” Drawing on his own experiences adds depth to Weber’s lyrics and builds an intimate relationship with his audience. Though the themes of his music are by no means novel, the serene but emotional way with which Weber delivers these topics allowS for open connection between him and his listeners. “Get out of the Game” was a highlight of the show — a song about returning to your roots and going back to what you love at a new point in your life. Intertwining descriptions of picturesque landscapes with blue-grass instrumentals and varying tempos, Weber tells an engaging tale of his own artistic journey. “Get out of the Game” resonates with anyone who’s ever felt unsure about their path and had a chance to rediscover what it is they truly want to do for themselves. Sharing The Ladles’ sentimentality about being in Boston, Weber invited them to join him on stage towards the end of his set. Trading in their banjo and violin to pose as Weber’s backup singers, the trio added vocal range to the songs “Obligated” and “Here’s to the Future.” Sharing a similar folk core in their music, The Ladles sounded at home performing with Weber and energetically concluded the show. Circling back to the frustration and obstacles encountered throughout life from “Everything Comes True,” Weber’s finale “Burnout” contemplates the age-old struggle between unapologetically chasing a creative vision and catering to an external audience with the goal of financial security. With existential lyrics like “Everything you love will one day slowly decompose into nothing,” Weber makes this a universal issue and accepts his fate with the lyrics; “Won’t you burn out with me?” Weber’s performance at Club Passim was an inside look into the world of making art and all of the ups and downs that come with it. Capturing the dynamic unpredictability of life, Weber’s mellow vocals and descriptive lyrics create a tranquil respite to acknowledge and give voice to the strife listeners face — and that is why performances like these are relatable to his listeners. Staff writer Anna Moiseieva can be reached at anna. moiseieva@thecrmson.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ AMoiseieva.
Sam Weber Concert Review: A Soulful Glance Into An Artist’s Creative Journey ANNA MOISEIEVA CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Courtesy of Anna Moiseieva
TV Artist Profile: Joby Harold, Writer on ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ BRADY CONNOLLY CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
I
n a pandemic-era entertainment industry, there’s no knowing what will happen in the process of creating a new television show or film. One day, a film’s release will be delayed several months; the next, the film will be moved to a streaming service; and after that, it might even become a television series for streaming. Such a shift in the status quo is simply unprecedented in the industry, and while it surely has its disadvantages, Joby Harold, for one, appreciates what it’s done for story possibilities. Harold, who has taken on a number of creative roles in the industry, has spent the majority of his career working on films; some of his projects include “Army of the Dead” and “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.” “The world is changing really, really quickly,” HE said in an interview with The Harvard Crimson. “Part of our jobs as producers and my job as a writer is to change with the times and embrace the opportunities therein. That most specifically applies to television and limited series and serialized storytelling, because that allows you more room to get underneath character. In that way it’s really liberating and exciting.” In keeping with the recent TV surge that he describes, Harold’s own pandemic experience has largely been occupied with his work as a writer for “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” a limited television series about the classic “Star Wars” character that premieres on Disney+ this May. And while this project has given Harold the opportunity to inject his own creativity into the galaxy far, far away, his escapist journey into fantasy worlds like “Star Wars”’s dates back to his experience growing up as an only child in London. “I spent a lot of time just kind of disappearing into those worlds,” Harold recalled of his childhood, citing films like “The Magnificent Seven,” and “The Great Escape,” and “Jaws,” and “Star Wars” as influences. Those sort of bedrock movies really, I’d watch them over and over and over again.” Having grown up with a single mom, Harold sees his love for film as one born of hardship. He likened the role of film
and TV in his early life to that of a babysitter; while his mom worked several jobs to put food on the table, he spent his time discovering that the limits of London could not prevent his film-driven imagination from running wild. He soon realized, though, that these London limits could indeed prevent him from following the career path he desired in filmmaking. He decided to apply to UCLA, and from there, his journey to Hollywood was set in motion. As he reflected on his time in film school, Harold considered his early experiences in directing and writing. While he recalled that directing was his preferred gig at first, when asked which role he has most enjoyed throughout his career, Harold exhibited a change of heart. “The only child in me would say writing, because I got to be by myself,” he laughed. He described how the only path to directing in film school was to first write a script that was deemed good enough, and then to be the director attached to the project. While this predetermined route is the one he originally chose, he found himself on a wholly different trajectory from that point forward. “Off the back of that, I just kept writing,” he continued. “Writing sort of overtook everything else, and my family is a family of writers, so that always came fairly naturally to me.” Expanding on how he views his role as a writer, Harold made note of the grandeur that is expected from the actionpacked, “tentpole” type of project he has often worked on in the past. He elaborated on the idea that such projects, at their core, require the same nuance and attention to detail that are central to any good story. “[These projects], to me, are interesting on a character level and thematically, and they resonate for me emotionally because I’ve lived in those worlds,” he said. With the onset of the pandemic, Harold was given an expanded opportunity to immerse himself in the worlds he speaks of. While the industry’s general transition towards longer-length television series meant that there would be more to write about, Harold also simply had more time to
write, which meant he would be spending a lot of time with “Obi-Wan Kenobi” than he originally expected. “I started working on [‘Obi-Wan’] just as the pandemic began,” he recalled, “so it’s very intimately associated in my mind, because for as long as COVID has been a part of our lifestyles, it’s been a part of my life as a writer.” Harold also remembers the experience of being stuck indoors very differently than most. While work was reduced or put on pause for many, his own work days had never been more intense. “Everybody else was complaining that they had nothing left to do and they’d already done all their jigsaws,” he said, “and I hadn’t had any time to do any jigsaws because I was writing 14-hour days trying to get ‘Obi-Wan’ into shape.” This routine was Harold’s reality throughout much of the pandemic, making it abundantly clear that, pandemic or not, the entertainment industry requires a tireless grind. As such, when asked what advice he would give to young people hoping to work in film, he offered a telling anecdote from the days that preceded his career. “My screenwriting professor in film school said you’re not good until your seventh script,” he said. “I would just say work and work and work. That’s what I tell my kids — you’ve got to work harder than the person next to you.” At the end of the day, Harold’s journey is a true testament to this advice, as he has built a successful career crafting the types of stories that inspired him as a child. Offering a final reflection on what is perhaps at the very center of his love for his profession, Harold showed no hesitation in naming his favorite film. “‘Jaws,’” he said. “It’s the perfect marriage of everything I love about film, and also it was a massive part of awakening my imagination when I was a child. One of the great thrills of being a dad is getting to watch ‘Jaws’ with my kids, and watch their eyes widen the way mine did.” Staff writer Brady Connolly can be reached at brady. connolly@thecrimson.com.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
APRIL 12, 2022 |
PAGE 6
THEATER ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Review: Play Deftly Delivers New Look on Beloved Tale JENNIFER Y. GAO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
t’s 1934 in Alabama, and a Black man named Tom Robinson (Yaegel T. Welch) is on trial for a crime he did not commit. He faces a jury of entirely white peers and will face the electric chair if convicted. So begins “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which runs from April 5 to 17 at the Citizens Bank Opera House. The show, after debuting this past November on Broadway, is now embarking on its first national tour. Based on Harper Lee’s 1960 novel of the same name, the play tells the story of the trial and highlights the lives of the defense attorney Atticus Finch (Richard Thomas) and his children, Jim (Justin Mark) and Scout (Melanie Moore). The adaptation manages to capture the very essence of the novel and it skillfully grapples with the age-old question: Who deserves to be treated with respect? The play puts an interesting spin on the source material — the scenes jump around from place to place in a non-linear fashion, often returning to the courthouse. Moreover, it does a wonderful job of reshuffling the most important moments of the novel into a well-paced sequence that highlights the main tensions of respect, innocence, and racial injustice, all the while showcasing the nuances of these issues. The non-linear timeline allows for contrasting scenes to be pitted right up against each other, enabling the audience to see many sides of the complicated narrative. One of the play’s greatest strengths is its ability to showcase a wide variety of emotions by including several humorous and childish moments along with the somber, serious, and sad ones. The jokes, delivered perfectly with the right amount of pause and emphasis, often have the audience roaring with laughter. Dill (Steven Lee Johnson) and Calpurnia (Jacquline Williams) in particular nail their executions, Dill with his boy-
ish energy and Calpurnia with her no-nonsense deadpan eliciting loud chuckles. Aside from the humor, the show also nails its delivery of emotional scenes and pivotal moments convincing enough to move anyone in the audience. These moments are often punctuated by a weighty sentence deftly capturing the essence of the situation at hand. Calpurnia and Tom Robinson, who feature in many of these moments, are welcomed additions to the original storyline which adds greater depth to the situation. While the play overall stays true to the original story, the onstage Atticus Finch is different from the book protagonist people have grown to love and respect. He is not the perfect person he is sometimes made out to be: He is portrayed as a bit naïve with his idea that everyone, no matter what they think or have done, deserves respect. What’s more, he fails to understand the extent of the prejudice Tom Robinson and Calpurnia face. In some aspects this is a welcomed change, which makes for a much more realistic portrayal and adds further color to the issues the play explores. No one in the story is entirely right in their beliefs, illustrating the real-life complexity of such situations. However, some tenderness between him and his children — arguably one of his best and most loved traits — are lost. Visually, the show is incredible. The sets offer phenomenal depth; the scenes set in the house manage to create both an inside and outside world. Alongside lighting and costumes, it perfectly complements the mood of the scenes and transforms the stage into the 1930s Alabama of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The set transitions are very smooth and natural, with the acting seamlessly carried through. The final house scene, which caps off the show flawlessly, is emblematic of the show’s strengths. Despite featuring many characters, it manages to portray their
interactions naturally without overwhelming the audience. The characters are able to move from within the room in the house to the outside, creating an effect where Scout (Melanie Moore) is inside the house explaining certain events to a group but also able to slip out during her story and act out the events for the audience, all the while telling her story without missing a beat. Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird” masterfully delivers a new look on a classic tale. There is never a dull moment in the show and every scene and every character is an integral part of the narrative. The story artfully tackles serious, relevant questions, and the cast delivers brilliantly, making this run of the show a must-watch.
Courtesy of Julieta Cervantes
FILM ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Review: A Thrilling RollerCoaster Ride through the Multiverse Dir. Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
DEBBY DAS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
f chaotic good was a movie, it’d be Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Starring on-screen powerhouses Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis, A24’s newest sci-fi action comedy depicts one woman’s epic adventure through the multiverse to save her daughter from an all-consuming everything bagel. Produced in part by directors Anthony and Joseph Russo, known for their films set in the Marvel multiverse, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” combines the action-packed drama and grand proportions of modern superhero movies with the odd but surprisingly tender surreal comedy that the Daniels (as writer-director duo Kwan and Scheinert like to refer to themselves) have a knack for. Their 2016 film “Swiss Army Man” features Daniel Radcliffe as an overly-flatulent corpse, and their newest title continues in the duo’s tradition of offbeat comedy. The film opens with chaos: Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), an overwhelmed matriarch who runs a laundromat with her sweet, even-tempered husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), is arranging a Chinese New Year Party for her customers on the same day that the laundromat gets audited by the IRS. Adding an extra load to Evelyn’s overfilled washer — it had to be done — Evelyn’s demanding and traditional father Gong Gong (James Hong) arrives from China, and her daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu) wants to introduce her girlfriend to him at the party. During an IRS meeting with the formidably eerie bureaucrat Deirde (Jamie Lee Curtis), Evelyn is initiated into the rules of the multiverse by an alternate reality version of her husband, who urges Evelyn to help defeat the powerful but unstable Jobu Tupaki, creator of a black-hole bagel capable of destroying the multiverse. And so the adventure begins for both Evelyn and the audience in a storyline whose strands are as complex and manifold as the number of alternate realities in the movie. Suffice to say, the Daniels’ multiverse is crazy in a way that only the creators of a sentient flatulent corpse could come up with. It parodies “Ratatouille” in a live-action raccoon version imagined by Evelyn, reverently imitating scenes from Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love.” It features worlds where everyone has hot dogs for fingers, and where Evelyn and her daughter Joy are mute stones in a canyon speaking to each other via Times New Roman typescript. In all respects, the movie lives up to the expectations set by its title. It seems as if every department in the production team was directed to operate with maximalist sensibility. Replete with frenetic cinematography, smartly and comedically choreographed fight scenes, jam-packed set design, and kooky, referential costumes, all of the film’s visual components converge into a dizzying but sensational kaleidoscope that threatens to overstimulate the senses in the best way possible. Son Lux, an American experimental band, is the perfect choice to compose the film’s jarringly primal soundtrack. Watching and listening to “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is the closest a viewer might get to being a kid in Willy Wonka’s candy shop. Michelle Yeoh gives an unsurprisingly dynamic performance as a smartly comedic, realistically hassled, and ulti-
mately loving maternal protagonist. Stephanie Hsu nails both the resigned helplessness of depressed Joy and the terrifying despair of nihilistic Jobu Tupaki. Quan’s Waymond is remarkably resonant despite his character’s tendency to be used as the “Be kind” hippie messenger for the more pessimistic female figures in his life. And let’s not forget the multiverse, which is just as much a character in the movie as its inhabitants. What the Daniels uniquely succeed in doing in their latest film is portraying both the colorful wonders and dismal betrayals of their multiverse. If every decision is a viable possibility manifested by the infinite number of alternate realities, then why does any decision matter? The movie astutely reminds the audience that Jobu Tupaki’s destructive nihilism is just as much a product of the multiverse as the (intentionally misspelled) “Racacouille.” Distill the movie into its purest element, however, and what the audience gets is a very simple, tender family drama. The film’s genius lies in its ability to track one woman’s sense of individual loss — of her dreams, her ambitions, her self — as it morphs into an exploration of her relationships with her family members. The film begins as an exciting, lone-ranger/ chosen-one journey in which Evelyn gets to fulfill her whatif fantasies in alternate realities. It transforms, albeit a tad too slowly, into her reckoning with the fact that the very people who ground her in the tedium of her dismal reality at the laundromat are the ones who enable her fantastical journey through the multiverse. The movie is Evelyn’s psyche visualized, dyed in a million brilliant colors and placed in a million brilliant sets, and it is a truly beautiful moment when her psyche ends up back at the place it started: with Joy and Waymond in the parking lot of their laundromat. The touching end of the rollercoaster ride that is “Everything Everywhere All at Once” persuades viewers that being on the ground isn’t so bad after all.
Courtesy of A24
PAGE 7
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
APRIL 12, 2022
TOMAHAWK FROM PAGE 1
DOCUMENTS FROM PAGE 1
Peabody Ready to Return Ponca Tomahawk to Tribe
IT Oversight Leaves Documents Vulnerable
access to it without permission from the tribal governments.” Chapman said he pushed for the repatriation of the tomahawk to “bring visibility” to the experiences of Native Americans. Standing Bear played a pivotal role in an 1879 landmark federal case that legally defined Native Americans as people under United States law. “In this, what I would call a cultural zeitgeist, that we’re in at the time, with racial justice and things of that nature, I think repatriation is an issue that fits right into that,” Chapman said. Chapman said he would
travel to Cambridge “on [his] own dollar” to retrieve the tomahawk if Ponca tribal representatives ask him to make the trip. He added that he believes the tomahawk should not be shipped across the country through the mail, but acknowledged that tribal representatives may face significant challenges preventing them from traveling to Cambridge, noting they would have to make “a decent drive to an airport.” The trip from Niobrara, Nebraska – the headquarters of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska – to the airport in Omaha would take approximately three hours by car.
“It is a hardship, in a way, for these tribal leaders to travel,” Chapman said. Larry D. Wright, a former chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, said in an interview last May he hoped to work with the museum to take back the tomahawk. “While we appreciate the museum’s mission and efforts, those items we feel are best repatriated back to the Ponca for what they represent, who they belonged to originally, and what that history means to us,” he said. jorge.guerra@thecrimson.com davin.shi@thecrimson.com
COMPUTER FROM PAGE 1
HCS Email Lists Malfunction, Leave Students Frustrated server when she tried to forward a message publicizing a student musical production to her house email list. “I didn’t really notice I wasn’t getting forwarded emails anymore — I wasn’t getting list-serv emails — until that happened,” said Kelley, a Crimson magazine editor. Lauren L. Zhang ’24, co-director of Harvard Minuet, said she first realized she was unable to send or receive emails last week. “It’s just been a massive headache for coordinating meetings and trips, and the thing is, we didn’t get an error message straightaway,” said Zhang, an inactive Crimson news editor. “The error message probably came in two days later.” Kristin B. King ’23-’24, pres-
ident of the Harvard Curling Club, said they first noticed problems with the club’s email list mid-February but did not receive any error messages. “People have been experiencing it on different timelines, but no one’s had any sort of resolution,” King said. “The HCS website is down, so I have no idea how to contact them.” “At this point, we’re probably just gonna have to make a new email list, which is really unfortunate because our previous email list had all of our alumni donors,” King added. In 2017, HCS’s email list system faced scrutiny when The Crimson reported that over 1.4 million emails, including financial information and grades, stored on their servers were publically available. Over the
past few years, maintaining email lists has been the “largest source of stress” for HCS leadership and tech teams, Cooper wrote. He added HCS does not know when the issue will be fixed, though they hope to provide club leaders with “an alternative method of communication” if it is not resolved within two weeks. He added that HCS may transfer mailing list responsibilities to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences or Harvard University Information Technology. “We apologize for the inconveniences that this issue has caused for the greater community, and we appreciate everyone’s patience,” he wrote.
privacy settings, enabling others within the Harvard community to access information that was not intended for them.” Since the issue was raised by The Crimson, the school has set most publicly accessible files to private, restricted document sharing settings across the University, and begun to examine whether there was unauthorized access to confidential information, Bailey wrote. A Microsoft spokesperson wrote that the company is “aware of the issue and supporting our customer.” The second security oversight differs slightly from the one discovered in October, when users were able to access files through the search engine Bing. Before the issue was resolved in the fall, Bing users who logged in with Harvard email accounts could view and download at least tens of thousands of files that were stored on the Microsoft-owned platforms OneDrive and SharePoint. After The Crimson alerted University officials to the issue, the school disabled the function that created the Bing oversight
and shut down a similar collaboration tool within Microsoft 365 called Delve. Kennesaw State University Information Security professor Andrew Green said Harvard is grappling with the challenge of keeping files available for affiliates who need access to them while ensuring there are enough security measures to limit access to unauthorized users. “The complexity with which we’re trying to manage these situations, via the controls that are built into services like SharePoint, is just becoming more and more difficult,” Green said. “The needs of people to share these assets and have access to them, almost regardless of location, is a complex problem to tackle. There’s no easy solution here.” Chris J. Hoofnagle, a faculty director of the UC Berkeley’s Center for Law and Technology, said Harvard could take “triage steps” to resolve the issue, such as utilizing a service that identifies whether documents on shared internal networks contain sensitive information, such
as credit card and social security numbers. “You want a tripwire system so that you can instantly know whether particularly sensitive data are in your services,” he said. “Those are widely available now,” he added. Green said the most effective way to patch the issue would be to control access by grouping University affiliates into specific categories and administering certain sharing privileges to each. “The cleanest way, but definitely not the simplest — and definitely work-intensive and labor-intensive — is tailoring access controls to groups,” he said. But creating such groups at a large, decentralized institution like Harvard can be difficult, Hoofnagle said — especially when University affiliates hold multiple positions concurrently. “The lines between our roles and our authorities are so blurry,” he said. cara.chang@thecrimson.com isabella.cho@thecrimson.com
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THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
APRIL 12, 2022
PAGE 8
EDITORIAL THE CRIMSON EDITORIAL BOARD
COLUMN
Crisis Control at the HUA The HUA is still finding its sea legs.
Q
uelle surprise. A haphazard, shockingly disorganized new constitution has had haphazard, shockingly disorganized results. Club funding will continue only because of the unusual efforts of a handful of students, and the Undergraduate Council’s summer storage program may remain underfunded. We wish that our student leaders cared more about their most basic responsibility to distribute funding, and we reluctantly call for some adults in the room to help them do so. As we said ahead of the student body referendum, the Harvard Undergraduate Association was not a sufficiently thought-out replacement for the flawed organization it has superseded. Perhaps the single most predictable requirement for the HUA was always going to be providing for the transition period, and its founding document was astonishingly light on this issue. We are grateful for the student leaders who stepped up to keep the lights on despite this poor planning. There are, it seems, exceptions to the general cultural problems of student government. But those people, working overtime to keep the student ship of state afloat, are few and far between. Showboating and self-aggrandizement are all too common. The resulting culture of dysfunctionality
was apparent in the UC, but seems not to have gone far. A broadly chaotic transition period has shown us just how far the HUA has to go to improve over its predecessor. This transitional neglect is emblematic of a brand of student government that burnishes LinkedIn profiles better than it takes care of basic responsibilities. Student government at Harvard suffers from an egotism that prioritizes self-important political machinations over the sometimes boring but always necessary work which we elect our peers to do.
Too often at our school, “anyone can do that” means “nobody does.” We are left ever more confident that any effective student government at Harvard will require a drastic cultural shift. We need structures that disincentivize attention-seeking and attract students who are willing to focus on the unglamorous work of good governance. To take just one example, incorporations of House Committees would be a step in the right direction. Genuine caretakers of the Houses and their communities,
House Committees provide a model of student governance sans opportunism and theatrics. In a more radical departure, the HUA’s transition period ought to be more closely supervised by administrators. Frankly, the lack of transition guidance addressed to critical issues like summer storage represents a serious dereliction. The unusually student-driven distribution of funds at Harvard must be justified by unusually responsible students. To mitigate the fallout of this transition, some small increase in adult supervision seems an acceptable concession. For now, it’s time to put out fires. It seems, through the unusual efforts of a handful of students, that this may well be achieved. Next, the longer task of fixing student government at Harvard begins. Too often at our school, “anyone can do that” means “nobody does.” At a school where everyone wants to be president, we will have to train some functionaries. 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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LETTER
To the Editor: Harvard Students Are Not Alone By WENDY FISCHMAN
I
was disappointed, but not surprised to read Libby E. Tseng’s op-ed (April 9) “ To the class of 2026.” Her description of the student experience elucidates findings of our national study of higher education, in which nearly half of one thousand students across 10 disparate campuses view college principally as a means to build a resume and get a (first) job. Consequently, like Tseng, many students face disappointment and sadness with the college experience—a third of these students feel alienated from their institution and nearly all of the students report mental health as the biggest problem. It is no wonder students have grievances at Harvard and elsewhere — colleges overpromise and underdeliver. In an effort to please all of customers, colleges offer a multiplicity of missions fo-
cused on everything from career development to citizenship to innovation— which not only becomes confusing to students, but also self-defeating. Students, like those at Harvard, feel that they should be involved in everything— and sometimes lead everything—in order to be a “successful” college student, one that will be attractive to employers. Rather than bringing students together in a common pursuit, colleges foster students who become overwhelmed, divided, and splintered.
Colleges overpromise and underdeliver. In our research we learned that campuses with a strong mission (optimally, one focused on intellectual development) that is promulgated from day one
and reinforced until graduation, constitute healthier environments. Indeed, these campuses offer a transformative culture focused on learning and growing personally, and not primarily on earning.
Colleges foster students who become...splintered. As a long time member of the Harvard community, I admire much about the institution, but its challenges and problems resemble those observed on quite diverse campuses. —Wendy Fischman is a project director at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. With Howard Gardner, she has co-authored The Real World of College: What Higher Education Is and What It Can Be (MIT Press, 2022).
Broken Mirror, A Million Shades of Light Ben T. Elwy LIVING A DISABLED LIFE
F
alling is a strange phenomenon. One instant I’m going about my day, and the next instant, without any notice, without any intervening time, I find myself face down on cold tile or rough concrete. Falling is a strange phenomenon. One instant I’m functioning normally, and the next, because I tripped over Harvard’s broken sidewalks or fell down stairs that I hadn’t seen, everything screeches to a halt; because I can’t get up, I brace for the panic of the people helping me stand, take stock of my scrapes and bruises, and sheepishly walk away, my eyes locked on my feet to prevent another tumble. Falling, in short, is a mirror that reflects the extremes of my life, forcing me to acknowledge that I’m disabled. Every day I encounter mirrors like these, reflections that pull me out of whatever I’m doing to remind me of the impassable obstacles I face. I’ll be blunt: being disabled kind of sucks. So why, then, despite all my falls, despite everything, am I glad that I’m disabled? Why am I proud? Like many disabled people, I have a complicated relationship with disabled identity. That I’m glad to be disabled doesn’t mean I enjoy it, and as with all preferences, it’s valid for someone to choose not to be glad; in fact, I hated my disability until a few years ago, and I’d never blame myself for that. Nor am I proud of my disability in the way that someone might be proud of their scars, as signs of the adversity they’ve overcome. I’m proud of my disability because disabled is what I am. It’s definitely not all of me — “video game nerd,” “multicultural family,” and “amazing sense of humor” also come to mind — but it’s what I am nevertheless. “Disabled” is a fact, an identity, and a community, and sugarcoating it is only an act of denial and erasure that helps nobody. Because “disabled” is a fact. “Disabled” isn’t a bad word, contrary to the ever-growing list of euphemisms. No, I’m not “special needs.” I won’t be defined by society’s failure to implement universal design. No, I’m not “differently abled.” It’s patronizing, unless I’ve missed a superpower I got in exchange for being disabled. And no, I’m not “handicapped” or “dis-Abled” either. I’m not calling myself lesser, I’m stating a fact. Don’t tiptoe around it for your own comfort, just say it: I have a disability, so I’m disabled. Some disabled people have even reclaimed the historically derogatory term “crip” to describe themselves, which now sees standard usage in disability studies. Nothing will change while people avoid seeing us as we are. Because “disabled” is an identity. I sometimes think about Other Ben, the Ben in some parallel universe who doesn’t possess the 150-in-8 billion gene mutation that I do, who didn’t win the lottery that he never entered. Does Other Ben walk up stairs without a second thought? Can he recite all of Mario’s power-ups? What’s it feel like being taller than five feet? Does he go to Harvard? Would my friends like him more than they like me? I don’t know, and ultimately, I don’t care. I’ve realized that we’re different people. Of course, we’d share some similarities; but we couldn’t pick each other out of a crowd, read the other’s feelings, or even name their hobbies. We live different lives in different bodies and minds. So if I were offered a magic cure for my disability, I think I’d turn it down. I’d rather stay disabled. I’d be tempted, sure. But losing my disability would be losing part of myself, an aspect of my experiences that helps shape all my actions, beliefs, and dreams. As disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann said, exemplifying the social model of disability, “Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things we need to live our lives.” So what is disability before our built environment transforms it into the tragedy the world sees it as? It’s an identity. Yet it’s so much more than that, too. Because “disabled” is a community. I rarely feel as at home as I do among disabled people. My best friend since third grade, who passed away two years ago but still teaches me whatever I know about kindness, strength, and sarcasm; my stay at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp for disabled children, where I discovered what true happiness and belonging feels like; my friends in the Harvard Undergraduate Disability Justice Club, where we support each other after hard days and argue over whether King Princess is objectively hot. Disabled people aren’t a monolith, but we have a distinct culture: one of listening, empathy, and never leaving anyone behind, a perspective I bring with me through each day. Because “disabled” is a life, and I’m proud to be part of it. One night at Hole in the Wall, I was trying to identify constellations in the sky. I realized I’d never truly looked up at the sky before. “Remember to look up at the stars,” my counselor responded. Living a disabled life means that I fall, and as I lie stunned, I see my reality of existing in this world reflected on a mirror of concrete or tile. But it’s a broken mirror, cracked by many falls; and in its brokenness, it refracts light into a million component shades, revealing not only my struggles, but — if I focus beyond my newly-acquired scrapes and bruises — all the smiles and tears of my life. And so, even while I keep my gaze trained on my feet, I witness the starlight above, and I’m proud.
—Ben T. Elwy ’23, lives in Quincy House. His column “Living a Disabled Life” appears on alternate Tuesdays.
PAGE 9
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
City Debates Bike Lane Proposal By ELIAS J. SCHISGALL CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
On Monday, the Cambridge City Council discussed a proposal to construct bike lanes on parts of Massachusetts Avenue between Harvard Square and North Cambridge, ultimately delaying a vote until later in the month. Councilors discussed a report from city staff detailing a proposal and timeline to construct bike lanes on four segments of Mass. Ave. The four segments, referred to collectively as “MassAve4,” share “unique complicating factors,” such as overhead bus wires and concrete medians, that make bike lane construction challenging, per the report. Under the Cycling Safety Ordinance, a law passed by the Council in 2019 and amended in 2020, the city must approve a plan to construct bike lanes on the MassAve4 segments by
April 30, 2022. The report proposes building “partial construction” bike lanes — sitting at street level and separated from traffic by posts or a curb — on segments of Mass. Ave. between Dudley Street and Beech Street and between Roseland Street and Waterhouse Street. The report also considers “full construction” bike lanes — at sidewalk level — alongside the Mass. Ave. bus stops in Harvard Square. According to the report, the installations would be completed by 2026 for an overall price of approximately $55 million. During the meeting, Councilor Patricia M. “Patty” Nolan ’80 said the Council has received “hundreds of emails” from residents concerned about the economic impact the bike lanes might have on local businesses. Ruth Ryals, president of the Porter Square Neighbors As-
sociation, called on the city to “work very hard with other property owners in the area to identify additional parking sources” during the meeting’s public comment period.
We’re the one who made this policy and put this timeline on ourselves. Paul F. Toner Cambridge City Councilor
An economic analysis of the ordinance commissioned by the Council is currently underway. Cambridge City Council also recently convened an advisory committee to propose improvements to the implementation of the CSO. City Councilor Paul F. Toner called for the deadlines in
the Cycling Safety Ordinance to be revised, giving Cambridge more time to deliberate with residents and local businesses before committing to a plan. “We’re the one who made this policy and put this timeline on ourselves,” Toner said. Last month, Cambridge announced it would fail to meet a separate CSO deadline requiring the construction of quick-build bike lanes in Porter Square by May 1, 2022. At that time, Cambridge City Council accepted the delay in construction to allow for further study and “meaningful engagement” with area stakeholders. At the end of the discussion, Councilor Dennis J. Carlone tabled discussion on the bike lane proposal. Cambridge City Council will reconsider it at the next full meeting on April 25. elias.schisgall@thecrimson.com
IOP FROM PAGE 1
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna Talks Technology at IOP Forum media companies is a problem. “The attention economy is universal,” he said. “The television competes for attention, newspapers compete for attention, but the difference — as you point out — is here the monetization of data from attention is what makes it so much worse.” “Yeah, they want you to keep reading the New York Times or The Harvard Crimson, but they’re not taking more and more of your data, the more time you spend,” Khanna added. Khanna also addressed the racial wealth gap in Silicon Valley tech companies. “You have this situation in Silicon Valley where some of the platforms are popularized by African Americans, Latino Americans, but they’re not on the boards,” he said. “They’re not the recipients of venture capital, 0.32 percent of venture
capital is going to Black women entrepreneurs.” Khanna said that the lack of representation of minority communities in “the people who are writing the checks” is an “enormous issue.”
It’s much harder to march about greater inclusion, about practices within these tech companies in the generation of wealth. Ro Khanna U.S. Representative
“It was easy for people in Silicon Valley to march against the brutality of George Floyd,
which was thousands of miles away,” Khanna said. “It’s much harder to march about greater inclusion, about practices within these tech companies in the generation of wealth.” In an interview prior to the forum, Khanna said he thinks student debt will be canceled and a climate deal can be reached before the end of the year. “On the student debt, we just need to do it,” he said. “The president needs to do it. At least, $10,000, which he campaigned on.” To get climate legislation done, Khanna said he has advocated for letting Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) “have the pen.” “We’ve got to cut a deal with Machin and get that done,” he said. “This is our chance.” miles.herszenhorn@thecrimson.com
Harvard, 24/7.
The Crimson thecrimson.com
APRIL 12, 2022
HKS FROM PAGE 1
Students Protest Israeli Diplomat “Change can be achieved by listening to one another and the Ambassador came with this purpose: to listen to and to have a productive conversation with the students.” HKS spokesperson James F. Smith wrote that HKS is “committed to open debate.” “The School recognizes students’ rights to non-disruptive protest and dissent as well as students’ rights to organize events and ensure that invited speakers can present their views and be asked questions,” Smith said. Leone said HOOP has “no plans to let up” its protests of Israeli officials at HKS. The HKS Israel Caucus condemned the protest. The group wrote the protestors “chose to fuel this destruc-
tive stance by telling the Israeli ambassador that we at Harvard are unwilling to speak to him.” “Instead of pressing Israel’s most powerful diplomat on Israeli policy they disagree with, they shouted and left the room,” a statement said. “This kind of action may make American graduate students feel good about themselves, but it will neither promote justice nor peace for those actually living the conflict.” Thursday’s walkout was the second time that week Leone protested an Israeli official. “The frequency of these events is just shocking,” Leone said. “I have classes that meet less frequently than there is an IDF general speaking at HKS.” miles.herszenhorn@thecrimson.com
SPORTS
WEEKLY RECAP
SCORES
BASEBALL VS. PENN L, 2-6 ___________________________________________________________
WOMEN’S LACROSSE VS. YALE L, 12-13 ___________________________________________________________
SOFTBALL VS. PENN W, 8-0 ___________________________________________________________
WOMEN’S GOLF HOYA INVITATIONAL 2ND ___________________________________________________________
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS. CHARLESTON L, 2-3 ___________________________________________________________
MEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT ROWING VS. BROWN W ___________________________________________________________
MEN’S LACROSSE VS. CORNELL L, 9-17 ___________________________________________________________
TRACK & FIELD
Harvard Continues to Make History vs. Ivy Rivals By WILLIAM CONNAUGHTON CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
O ver the past two weeks, Harvard track and field has kicked off its spring season with four school records, a strong performance at the Duke Invitational, and a sweep of Yale in their dual meet. The early-season success sets a strong tone for the rest of the campaign. “The turn around from winter to spring season is very quick. A lot of us only get a couple days off before we are right back training, so the bumps and bruises of a long season can really start to show,” commented senior co-captain Kylie Hilton on the differences between the winter and spring season. “With indoor track and field, we not only have an entire preseason to train and prepare, but also many more competitions. It’s also nice to have the whole team out there competing. Some events, like the javelin, are only outdoors, which means those athletes do not get to compete until the spring. It’s nice to watch all their hard work finally show in competition.” On March 24-26, Harvard’s distance teams traveled down to N.C. for the Raleigh Relays. For the men, senior standout Matthew Pereira finished 15th in the 5k, good enough for fourth best in school history. In the 10k, sophomore Acer Iverson set a new Crimson record, placing sixth in the event with a time of 28:24.56, which bested the previous record set by Olympian Kieran Tuntivate ‘20. Not far behind, senior David Melville set the third-best time in Harvard history, cross
ing the line in 29:13.44. For the women, senior Judy Pendergast also set a school record in the 5k, finishing in tenth with a time of 15:58.54. Later, first-year Maia Ramsden put up the second-best time in Harvard history in the 1500m, placing ninth in four minutes, 18.06 seconds. Finally, in the 10k, junior Iz Sagar finished 20th and first-year Eloise Freitag finished 30th, good enough for fifth and eighth alltime for the Crimson, respectively. The same weekend, the short distance and field athletes split between the Hurricane Invitational at UMiami and Riverhawk Invitational at UMass Lowell. In Fla., junior Tina Martin, first-year Egbe Ndip-Agbor, senior Jada Jones, and first-year Eden Finkelstein captured a win in the 4x100m relay with a time of 45.36. Continuing her strong day, Finkelstein came in first in the 100m with a time of 11.61.Senior Sharelle Samuel and first-year Izzy Goudros added two more wins to the Harvard tally, taking first place in the 400m hurdles and javelin respectively. Finally, despite not winning the event, freshman Anastasia Retsa set a Harvard record in the women’s pole vault with a mark of 4.15m in a third-place effort. For the men, the 4x100m team of senior DeMarkes Stradford, sophomore Lance Ward, first-year Oliver Murcko, and sophomore Jaeschel Acheampong broke the Crimson record with a time of 40.28. Sophomore short-distance sprinter Greg Lapit also captured a victory in the 400m,
crossing the finish line in 47.63 seconds. Junior Simon Park, sophomore Alexander Kolesnikoff, and senior Sam Welsh, finished first in the pole vault, shot put, and discus respectively. In Mass., the smaller Crimson squad achieved similar results, with first-year Jack McDonough, sophomore Marcus Miller, and sophomore Codi-Ann Reid winning the 1500m, 200m, and triple jump. This past weekend, three Harvard athletes posted strong performances in multievents at the Duke Invitational. Goudros continued her stellar season, placing second in the heptathlon with a total of 5,444 points. This mark was the second highest in school history at the meet. Sophomore Jada Johnson also had a strong day in the heptathlon, finishing seventh. Finally, junior John Minicus placed third in the decathlon with 6,532 points, setting a new personal best and tallying the third-highest score in program history. To round out the week, in the first spring Havard-Yale dual meet since 2019, the Crimson men and women swept the Bulldogs 87-62 and 75-70 respectively. On the track, the same record-setting 4x100m team from late March repeated their success in New Haven, winning the event by 0.06 seconds. Melville ran a personal best of 9:10.05 in the 3k, good enough to win and notch the eighth-fastest time in Harvard history. In addition, Ward won the 400m with a time of 47.50, the ninth-fastest by a Crimson athlete, and Stradford won the
DASHING TO THE FINISH LINE Harvard dominated in its final home meet of the 2022 indoor season at the Crimson Elite meet with both teams finishing in first place. ZING GEE—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
100m, third best in school history. First-year Peter Fischer won in the 400m hurdles, while Pereira continued his dominance in the 5k, winning the event with a time of 13:50.17. Pereira’s performance was good enough for fourth all time for Harvard. The Crimson continued its success in the field events, with junior Kyle Murphy, first-year John Chilson, and fellow first-year Kenneth Ikeji winning the long jump, javelin, and hammer throw, respectively. For the Harvard women, first year Shaked Leibovitz set a personal best in the 3k steeplechase, the eighth-fastest time in school history. In the 800m, senior Anna Juul set
a personal best, winning the event in 2:09.13. Finkelstein captured two event wins on the day, setting the sixth-best mark by a Crimson athlete in the long jump and later winning the 200m. Junior Estel Valeanu, junior Hannah McLaughlin, and junior Cammy Garabian won the discus, the javelin, and the hammer throw. Garabian’s hammer throw landed her in fifth in the Crimson record books. “Our training cycles vary across all the event groups, but generally speaking we will start easing off around midApril to give our bodies time to relax and prepare for championship season,” noted junior co-captain Max Serrano-Wu
on the training strategy going forward. “We have a couple of two days meets coming up at Auburn, [Virginia], and Baylor, so we’ll decrease the practice intensity going into those meets to ensure we perform at the highest level. We have to make sure we take care of our bodies on the ‘other side’ of the river, like sleeping and eating properly, and staying on top of academics.” Following the strong start to the spring track and field season, Harvard will compete in two meets next weekend, at Auburn on April 15-16 and at UMass again on April 16. william.connaughton@thecrimson.com
TENNIS
Harvard Completes Successful Weekend vs. Ivies By DAVID ALEY and CAROLINE GAGE CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
“One thing that our team has really come a long way in this semester is with our confidence and belief in ourselves,” said first-year Holly Fischer. “So I think that even though we were down, everyone who was playing was fighting so hard and really leaving everything out on the court.” The Harvard women’s and men’s tennis teams had grueling weekends against Ivy League opponents Columbia and Cornell, with the men on the road in New York and the women holding down home court in Cambridge. After long, hard-fought matches from both squads on Saturday and Sunday, the Crimson women and men walked away with two more victories each, wellpoised for a strong end to regular season competitions.
WOMEN’S TENNIS On Saturday, Harvard (12-7, 3-0 Ivy League) set the tone for a successful weekend with a decisive 4-1 victory over No. 56 Columbia at the Murr Center in Cambridge, M.A., securing the Crimson’s fifth consecutive victory. “Going into this weekend our team was focused and we were definitely all super motivated,” Fischer said. “We knew these would be two tough matches coming up.” The preparation paid off instantly, as Harvard got off to a scorching start in doubles play, with the duo of first-year Angel You and sophomore Iveta Daujotaite finishing first with a 7-5 victory, followed by Fischer and first-year Maxi Duncan securing the point with a 6-4 victory. “I really like playing with [Duncan] and I think our games compliment each other really well,” Fischer said. “We both
like to play very aggressively so we had a clear idea of how we wanted to play against Columbia and what we wanted to do on the court.” The Crimson found continued success against the Lions in singles play, with You and sophomore Sany Gawande taking down their Columbia opponents by scores of 6-0, 6-0, and 6-2, 6-2, respectively. On the fourth court, junior Mihaela Marculescu was defeated in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, tightening up the match, leaving it up to Fischer, Duncan, and junior Sophia Ho to finish it off. After a 6-4 victory in the first set, Fischer was challenged in the second set, bringing the set to a score of 6-5 before the final few serves. Eventually, Fischer broke through and secured a 7-5 win, clinching the match for Harvard. “Everyone on our team was really fighting for every point because we knew that the matches could go either
FRIGHTENINGLY GOOD Men’s Tennis racked up another tournament win at the Crimson Halloween Invite to close out its fall home slate. OWEN A. BERGER—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
way,” said Fischer. “After the final point I think we all kind of breathed a sigh of relief because the whole day was very intense.” The Crimson saw continued success on Sunday against Cornell, finishing the day against the Big Red with their sixth consecutive victory by a 4-2 margin. Fischer and Duncan carried their momentum from the day before in doubles play with a dominating 6-0 performance against a duo from Columbia. Senior Rachel Lim and Marculescu followed up with a similarly convincing 6-2 win to capture the doubles point, once again putting the team up early. In singles play, Harvard found themselves in a bit more trouble. Gawande secured a victory on the sixth court, 6-3, 6-2, but Ho and Fischer dropped their games by scores of 6-2, 6-0, and 6-2, 6-1, respectively. Fischer noted that despite these losses that tied up the match at 2-2, the Crimson women have learned over the course of the season to stay resilient and stick together until the end. “Cornell is definitely a tricky team, and I think that even though the conditions were tough yesterday everyone was doing what they could do to find a way to get through their match which I think was ultimately reflected in the team’s win,” said Fischer. Duncan followed Fischer’s tough defeat with a huge 6-2, 6-1 win on the second court, leaving first-year Rachel Arbitman and senior Rachel Eason to secure the win. Arbitman went the distance in a tense 7-6(7-1) first set, but came out firing in the second set with a statement 6-0 performance to clinch the match. To close off the regular season, four more Ivy League opponents await Harvard, including No. 48 Princeton this Saturday and No. 62 Yale at the end of April. The Crimson will look to maintain their success against
its biggest rivals as it nears the end of the regular season. MEN’S TENNIS No. 16 Harvard started off the weekend with a decisive 4-1 win against No. 23 Columbia, their second win in the Ivy League this spring. This also marks the Crimson’s second victory over the Lions this season. Senior captain Brian Shi recognized the importance of this win for the team. “It’s always tough going up against Columbia, they’re such a great team,” he said. “In the past few years they’ve pretty much been our biggest rival, and the team to beat in the Ivy League.” Harvard took the doubles point by securing wins in the top two matches. Shi and firstyear Daniel Milavsky took on Columbia’s Theo Winegar and Max Westphal on Court 1, eventually winning the set 6-1. Meanwhile, sophomore Ronan Jachuck and junior Harris Walker fought Alex Kotzen and Henry Ruger of the Lions in a close 7-5 set. Both duos struggled to get the necessary break, going back and forth to the very end. “It came down to just a couple of points at the end to get one break at 6-5 to close out the set and clinch the doubles point,” Jachuck explained. “We executed really well, and committed to playing our aggressive tennis.” Singles play was similarly successful for the Crimson, with three straight-set victories. Walker defeated Max Westphal 6-2, 6-3 on Court 3, while Jachuck secured a 6-3, 6-4 win over Austen Huang. Shi fought to a tie-break in his first set, but came back with a vengeance in the second to win 7-6 (6), 6-0. A combination of momentum from the first set and support from his teammates helped Shi maintain his lead. “I saw my team getting hyped and
I used that to get over the finish line,” Shi recalled. Following their win at Columbia, Harvard was back on the road to face Cornell. In a slightly closer matchup, the Crimson emerged victorious at 4-2, continuing their 3-0 Ivy League winning streak and bringing their record for the season to 13-4. Once again, Harvard took the lead over their opponent in doubles, clinching the doubles point. Jachuck and Walker had an effective match on court two against Cornell’s Adit Sinha and Nathan Mao, serving out the set for a 6-3 win. On the third court, sophomore Henry von der Schulenburg and junior Steven Sun got a break and took the set 6-4 against Radu Papoe and Pietro Rimondini. “[Walker] and I always want to play our matches on our terms,” Jachuck said. “We got an early break, and gave the break back, but we did feel that we were the ones making the plays.” Singles play proved challenging, with the top half of Cornell’s lineup coming out swinging. Shi fell to Vladislav Melnic in straight sets, 4-6, 4-6, marking the end of his 13-match winning streak. Despite the loss, Shi wasn’t discouraged. “I didn’t play as good of a level as I hoped I would and I know I can, but I’m not too upset about the match, because as a team we were able to come out with the win,” he shared. Although Harvard lost in the top two matches, number three seed Walker defeated Cornell’s Radu Papoe 6-2, 7-6 (3), and Jachuck quickly beat Evan Bynoe 6-0, 6-1 in the fourth spot. This win over the Big Red leads the Crimson into the next phase of Ivy League competition as Harvard faces off against Princeton and Penn at home next weekend. david.aley@thecrimson.com caroline.gage@thecrimson.com