The Harvard Crimson - Volume CLI, No. 29

THE HARVARD CRIMSON

How Harvard Botched Its Response to Oct. 7 Attack

BY CAM E. KETTLES AND EMMA H. HAIDAR CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

MATT SAYS YES. The Harvard dropout and Good Will Hunting star endorsed a “yes” vote on Question 2, which would remove the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System as a high school graduation requirement. The referendum is the most controversial of the five ballot propositions. SEE PAGE 11

Concert Review:

Billie Eilish Hits Boston ARTS

LOCAL CONCERT. The arena erupted with ear-splitting screams when the big cube sitting on stage lit up to reveal Eilish’s shadow, and the multi-talented artist began her set with “Chihiro” from her latest album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft.”

SEE PAGE 15

n a tense exchange of emails and text messages two days after Hamas attacked Israel, 18 top Harvard administrators collectively drafted — and watered down — a public statement that backfired, drawing wide condemnation and ultimately contributing to Claudine Gay’s resignation as president. While much of the world reacted with horror and outrage at the murder of more than 1,000 Israelis, the administrators debated whether to disavow a social media post signed by more than 30 student groups that held Israel “entirely responsible for all the unfolding violence.” Ultimately, their statement said nothing about it.

Instead, as the student groups made national headlines, Gay, then-Provost Alan M. Garber ’76, and their top deans agonized over minute wording. Harvard Medical School Dean George Q. Daley ’82 objected to using the word “violent” to describe Hamas’ attack. After further debate, it was eventually removed from the final version.

The internal deliberations were revealed in a 325-page report released on Thursday by the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce, the latest update from its nearly yearlong investigation into campus antisemitism at Harvard.

The documents published in the report offer a remarkable, behind-thescenes view into how Harvard officials repeatedly struggled for weeks to strike the right tone as they attempted to placate students, faculty members, and donors who were sharply divided over the war in Gaza.

The report also showed how Gay’s administration was increasingly under pressure from alumni and members of the University’s governing boards months before Gay’s hold on the presidency became increasingly precarious after her disastrous congressional testimony.

For Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), who chairs the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the report demonstrated that universities like Harvard failed to protect Jewish students on campus and were reluctant to condemn antisemitism.

“Our investigation has shown that these ‘leaders’ bear the responsibility

for the chaos likely violating Title VI and threatening public safety,” she said in a press release.

“It is time for the executive branch to enforce the laws and ensure colleges and universities restore order and guarantee that all students have a safe learning environment,” Foxx said.

Though most of the material published by the committee is several months old, the report dealt Harvard its most crushing public relations blow to date since the committee began its drip-drip release of documents earlier this year.

In a statement to The Crimson, Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow Penny S. Pritzker ’81 expressed confidence in Garber and the current direction of the University.

“I have every confidence that President Garber and his administration, working with the Provost, Deans and Faculty, will continue to help Harvard learn and grow from the challenges it has faced, recognizing that our work is not done and that Harvard will continue to address these issues with the dedication and humility they require,” Pritzker wrote.

Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton wrote in a statement that “antisemitism has no place on our campus, and

across the university we have intensified our efforts to listen to, learn from, support, and uplift our Jewish community, affirming their vital place at Harvard.”

“At the same time, the university has taken steps to strengthen and clarify rules for use of campus spaces and disciplinary policies and procedures, as well as engage our community around civil dialogue to bridge divides,” Newton added. “This work is ongoing, and Harvard is fully committed to it and confident we are moving in the right direction.”

The report, however, revealed how the University struggled to respond to campus protests and determine when rhetoric from pro-Palestine activists crossed a line when it had not clarified its policies and rules around campus spaces.

In particular, the committee published emails showing how Gay and Garber advised Pritzker to avoid labeling the phrase “from the river to the sea” as antisemitic because it would raise questions about why student protesters had not been disciplined for using it in chants.

Pritzker, who had been fielding questions from alumni in the weeks following Oct. 7, said she understood the phrase,

BY MICHELLE N. AMPONSAH, CAM E. KETTLES, AND JOYCE E. KIM CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

University President Alan M. Garber

’76 said he will not direct the Harvard Management Company to review its investments for ties to human rights violations, rejecting a proposal that a group of pro-Palestine activists presented to administrators during a meeting last month.

Garber wrote in an Oct. 3 email to members of Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine, an unrecognized coalition of activist groups, that the University “will not use its endowment funds to endorse a contested view on a complex issue that deeply divides our community.”

During a meeting on Sept. 6 with Garber and Harvard Corporation member Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar ’93, HOOP representatives presented a two-part proposal — a “human rights investment policy statement” and a task force to audit HMC’s investments. Garber dismissed HOOP’s proposal

in his email response, arguing that the human rights policy statement and task force would effectively require the University to divest from Israel — a suggestion Garber and fellow senior Harvard officials have repeatedly refused to consider.

“Although it references a broader framework, in practice it does not differ substantially from prior demands: the proposal declares that Israel is engaged in both apartheid and genocide, that its territorial holdings are illegal, and that Harvard Management Company should undertake a process to reduce its investment exposure accordingly,” Garber wrote in his email.

HOOP blasted Garber’s response in an Instagram post on Monday, writing that “his unwillingness to engage confirms he welcomes profits from any human rights abuses Harvard is complicit in.”

“Garber’s definition of human rights stops at Palestine,” HOOP wrote.

In the post, HOOP wrote that “the time to act is now” and announced that details would be released about a “week

Student protesters received another ban from Harvard Law School’s Langdell Library for participating in a study-in last week, Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine organizers said during a Thursday rally in the Science Center Plaza. The ban marks the third such consequence for pro-Palestine study-ins since the start of the academic year. HOOP has previously held several study-ins at Widener and Harvard Law School’s Langdell Library that have resulted in students being temporarily banned from the spaces. Harvard faculty also received a two-week bar from Widener after holding a similar study-in to protest the disciplinary action against students.

The Thursday rally — which drew more than 80 people to the Science Center Plaza — was a part of a “week of action,” which also included a nearly four-hour study-in at Widener Library on Tuesday. During the event, protesters called for Harvard to divest from Israel and condemned Israel’s

continued attacks in Northern Gaza.

The rally opened with chants calling for a “free Palestine” and demanding the University “disclose” and “divest” from investments in Israel. In early September, HOOP representatives met with University President Alan M. Garber ’76 and representatives of the Harvard Corporation — the University’s highest governing body — and Harvard Management Company to discuss the University’s endowment. At the meeting, student activists asked Garber to consider divesting from ties to any human rights violations, rather than only divesting from Israel. In an Oct. 3 email to members of HOOP, Garber wrote that the University “will not use its endowment funds to endorse a contested view on a complex issue that deeply divides our community,” rejecting HOOP’s proposal to audit the endowment. During the Thursday rally, HOOP organizer Tamar Sella ’25 said “increased attention to the defense of human rights is more vital than ever” after Israel moved to ban a United Nations aid agency from

ment open — with construction slated to begin mid-2025 at the earliest, according to the developer. Noah Maslan, principal at the developer Eden Properties, said in an interview with The Crimson this week that they were still finalizing its lease agreement with USPS this month. The six-story building will be built on the site of the old post office, which is slated to be demolished. The project received approval in December from the Boston Planning Department BY AMANN S. MAHAJAN AND KEVIN ZHONG — CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

AROUND THE IVIES

Photos: A Bewitching

BY JOHN S. KIM —

Yale University President Maurie McInnis accept-

ed a report published on Oct. 27 recommending that Yale leaders, including academic department heads, deans, and administrators abstain from issuing statements on topics of public significance, the Yale Daily News reported. McInnis said she believes the report’s recommendations will help Yale “uphold and defend academic freedom and the academic enterprise.”

THE YALE DAILY NEWS

More than 73 percent of undergradaute respondents to a Daily Princetonian poll indicated they already voted for or were planning on voting for Kamala Harris. The study also found more than 88 percent of the student body is “unsure or pessimistic about the future of the nation,” and more than half of the student body said “the nation is on the wrong track.”

THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN

YALE LATEST IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY TO ADOPT POLICY OF INSTITUTIONAL NEUTRALITY NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF PRINCETON UNDERGRADS VOTING FOR HARRIS, POLL SAYS MUSIC PROFESSOR NAMED INAUGURAL PENN VICE PROVOST FOR THE ARTS

University of Pennsylvania professor Timothy Rommen was named Penn’s inaugural vice provost for the arts on Oct. 29, the Daily Pennsylvanian reported. Rommen, who, has previously served as the director of undergraduate as well as graduate studies in the Department of Music, will assume the new position on Jan 1. 2025. Penn’s provost called Rommen the “ideal colleague” to take on the new role.

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

Columbia administrators revealed the medical plan contribution would increase 9.5 percent for 2025 at a University Senate meeting Oct. 25, the Columbia Daily Spectator reported. The new plan was met with concern from university senators, who questioned why it was higher than inflation rates and the contributions of other neighboring universities. The update increases deductible and out-of-pocket maximums to the High Deductibles Healthcare Plan.

THE COLUMBIA

COLUMBIA MEDICAL PLAN COSTS RISE 9.5 PERCENT, SPARKING CONCERN FROM FACULTY BEN SHAPIRO MAKES CASE AGAINST HARRIS AT CORNELL REPUBLICANS EVENT

and argued that “intersectional wokeness must die.” He also expressed support for Donald Trump’s foreign policy and fielded questions about LGBTQ+ politics, per the Cornell Daily Sun. THE CORNELL DAILY SUN

JULIAN J. GIORDANO — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

COURTESY OF MIRANDA DANILOFF MANCUSI

JULIAN J. GIORDANO — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

What’s Next

Start every week with a preview of what’s on the agenda around Harvard University

Flash floods starting Oct. 28 submerged villages and, as of Oct. 30, have killed about 100 people in eastern and southern Spain. According to the New York Times, these floods are “some of the country’s worst in decades.” Impacted areas include the popular tourist destination Valencia. Scientists cite the floods to a sudden cold drop, which occurs when air warmed by the Mediterranean Sea surges upward and creates heavy rain clouds, attribute to the effects of global warming.

CELEBRITIES REACT TO COMEDIAN’S ‘GARBAGE’ COMMENTS AT TRUMP RALLY DEVASTATING FLOODS

After comments from comic Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico “garbage” at a rally for Donald Trump, Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Nicky Jam has withdrawn his endorsement for the former president. According to the Associated Press, Jam said in a video statement on his Instagram page that his initial support for Trump stemmed from a belief that Trump’s economic policies would benefit many Latino immigrants, but Hinchcliffe’s criticism led him to “renounce any support for Donald Trump.”

US ECONOMY EXTENDS ITS TRENDS OF GROWTH, GDP RISES 2.8 PERCENT

At the conclusion of the third quarter, the U.S. economy observed an increase of 2.8 percent in its growth domestic product, according to the Wall Street Journal. While lower than the second quarter’s 3 percent rate and below economists’ 3.1 percent expectation, the growth taking place from July to September extended a two-year streak. The economy, boosted by consumer and government spending, has exceeded predictions.

CHINA WARY OF SUBVERSIVE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES, INITIATES CRACK DOWN

As Halloween becomes increasingly popular in China, police are cracking down on celebrations by clearing the streets and interrogating celebrators about costume choices. The Washington Post reports the Chinese Communist Party has become more wary of “Western” ideals undermining or eroding political loyalty among young people, particularly as Halloween has become an opportunity to demonstrate dissatisfaction.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE REQUESTS ANDREW CUOMO INVESTIGATION

A Republican-led House subcommittee has accused former Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York of lying to Congress about manipulating Covid-19 reports on nursing home deaths. According to the New York Times, the referral, signed by subcommittee chairman Representative Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, was sent to the Justice Department to open an investigation into Cuomo.

Friday 11/1

POLITICS WAR ROOM

Harvard Kennedy School, 4-5 p.m.

Watch James Carville and Al Hunt, the co-hosts of “Politics War Room” podcast, chat with Institute of Politics Director Setti Warren and student moderator Cynthia Garcia talk about their experiences in politics — a few days before the 2024 presidential election.

Saturday 11/2

HARVARD UNIVERSITY FIELD

HOCKEY VS CORNELL

Berylson Family Field Hockey Field, 12-3 p.m.

Watch the Harvard Crimson’s Field Hockey team take on the Cornell Big Red. Show out to support the Harvard team on their Senior Day, when they’ll be celebrating their graduating seniors.

Sunday 11/3

HARVARD DHARMA DIWALI 2024

Mather Faculty Dean’s Residence, 6-8 p.m.

Join Harvard Dharma, Harvard College’s Hindu students association, to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights. Dharma’s Diwali celebration is an annual event that starts with a puja, an act of worship in Indian religions. The celebration will also be followed by dinner.

Monday 11/4

THE ARCHITECTS OF DIGNITY: VIETNAMESE VISIONS OF DECOLONIZATION

Edmond & Lily Safra Center, 12-1 p.m.

Kevin Pham and Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics Director Eric Beerbohm will discuss his book, which explores Vietnam as a crossroad of empires.

Tuesday 11/5

JFK JR. FORUM: ELECTION NIGHT

JFK Jr. Forum, 7 p.m.

IOP Resident Fellow Eugene Scott will speak with a panel of experts from both sides of the political aisle who will share their insights in the final moments of election night. Live coverage of the election results will be aired immediately following the panel discussion.

Wednesday 11/6

DEMOCRACY 2024: THE DAY AFTER JFK Jr. Forum, 1 p.m. Archon Fung, Nancy Gibbs, Setti Warren, Meghan O’Sullivan, and Erica Chenoweth from the IOP; Ash, Shorenstein, and Belfer Centers at Harvard will gather at the IOP the day after election night to discuss the immediate aftermaths of Nov. 5.

Thursday 11/7

PSYCHEDELIC CINEMA SERIES:’ ‘HEAD’ AND ‘LAPIS’ Harvard Film Archives, 7-9 p.m. The Psychedelic Cinema Series ends with Director Bob Rafelson’s “Head” featuring the cast of the Monkees and short film “Lapis,” which features a soundtrack from Ravi Shankar to accompany a mandala.

Friday 11/8

A PRESENTATION OF NOTEBOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF MEXICO CGIS South S216, 12 – 1 p.m.

Rafael Fernández de Castro, Tanalis Padilla, and John Womack discuss the English publication Notebooks on the History of Mexico, a commentary on his course of the History of Mexico at Harvard.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

GARVIN KIM — CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

More Than 70 Pro-Palestine Students Stage StudyIn at Widener

More than 70 pro-Palestine activists staged a silent study-in at Widener Library on Tuesday to protest the University’s refusal to conduct a review of its investments for ties to human rights violations.

The study-in, which lasted for three-and-a-half hours in Widener’s Loker Reading Room, came one day after Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine announced that University President Alan M. Garber ’76 had rejected their proposal for conducting a review of the University’s endowment.

HOOP wrote in an Instagram post on Monday that Garber’s decision would result in a “week of action” from pro-Palestine groups on campus. During the study-in, organizers taped signs labeled “Free Palestine,” “You Cannot Suspend My Solidarity,” “Israel is Burning People Alive,” and “Harvard Divest from Death” to their laptops and quietly read and studied. Some protesters also read copies of the Harvard Crimeson and the New York War Crimes, two pro-Palestine publications modeled after established newspapers.

The protest Tuesday afternoon marked the third study-in at Widener this semester. Pro-Palestine protesters at Harvard Law School led similar protests in the Law School’s library in Langdell Hall this month. Participants at all the past study-in protests faced disciplinary action from library ad-

ministrators, receiving two-week suspensions from entering the library where they had protested. While their ability to physically enter the library was restricted, they maintained full access to

Lieber Gets Approval to Visit Beijing

BY TILLY R. ROBINSON AND NEIL H. SHAH CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

A federal judge gave former Harvard Chemistry professor Charles M. Lieber permission to visit China for “employment networking” and give a lecture in Beijing — nearly three years after Lieber was convicted for lying to federal investigators about his relationship to China.

Lieber is currently serving a 18-month term of supervised release after completing six months of house arrest. Lieber has been actively searching for employment in China since at least June, when he asked a judge if he could visit the University of Hong Kong the next month “to discuss potential faculty appointment and employment opportunities.”

In July, Lieber requested to attend the International Beijing Brain Conference in August to deliver a keynote speech and “discuss research and potential collaborations with local students.”

All three of Lieber’s requests were approved by U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper. The most recent request, which Casper signed off on last week, did not specify Lieber’s planned dates of travel.

In the requests, Lieber’s attorneys wrote that they had sought approval for Lieber’s travel from the Chinese consulate but had not heard back. The Crimson could not determine whether Lieber has visit-

ed China yet, and neither Lieber nor his attorneys responded to requests for comment. In August, he told the South China Morning Post via email that he had “not yet visited Hong Kong, but may do so this fall.”

Lieber was convicted in December 2021 for making false statements to investigators about his involvement in the Chinese government’s Thousand Talents Program — which seeks to recruit foreign researchers to Chinese universities — and his ties to the Wuhan University of Technology. Prior to his conviction, Lieber was one of the most celebrated chemists in the world and, as a University Professor, held Harvard’s highest faculty rank. Until his arrest in 2020, Lieber served as chair of Harvard’s Chemistry and Chemical Biology department. In 2012, he was awarded the Israeli government’s Wolf Prize in Chemistry. Lieber’s arrest came under fire from many prominent scientists — several dozen of whom circulated an open letter calling the decision to prosecute Lieber “unjust.” The letter, signed by seven Nobel laureates and more than two dozen Harvard professors, warned that similar prosecutions could have a “chilling effect” on international scientific collaboration. Lieber left Harvard in 2023 after spending three years on paid administrative leave.

tilly.robinson@thecrimson.com neil.shah@thecrimson.com

Faculty members who were temporarily banned from Widener Library for participating in a study-in protest appealed their sanctions to Harvard Library, calling their suspensions “unlawful violations” of their contracts.

In a Monday email to Martha J. Whitehead, who heads Harvard Library, 18 of the roughly 25 suspended faculty members called the library suspensions “inconsistent” with Harvard’s rules and disputed that they had even “engaged in a ‘demonstration’ or ‘protest’” in the

Harvard Library resources and could request to pick up materials at other campus libraries.

Most notably, roughly 25 faculty members were banned from entering Widener — the University’s flagship library — after they organized a study-in to show solidarity with students who were previously disciplined for conducting a similar action.

Though administrators swiftly checked participants’ IDs at earlier study-in actions, library staff did not appear to have advanced notice of the protest on Tuesday. Administrators only started to ask protesters to show their Harvard University IDs more than 30 minutes after the demonstration first started.

A handful of protesters left the Loker Reading Room before the ID checks started, but it was unclear if they were concerned about disciplinary action or rushing to attend their 1:30 p.m. class.

Unlike other study-ins, HOOP — an unrecognized coalition of pro-Palestine groups — did not publicize the protest on their social media channels until after the action had started.

As library security staff noted

first place.

The faculty were suspended for two weeks beginning Oct. 25, one week after they conducted their study-in in Widener’s main reading room. The action was in protest of a set of similar suspensions against students who participated in a pro-Palestine study-in a few weeks earlier.

The joint letter asked Harvard Library to hold a hearing to reconsider the faculty members’ cases and immediately reinstate their access to Widener in the interim.

“As multiple members of the Harvard faculty who did not participate in these study sessions have publicly written, the University’s policies are ambiguous and, more

down the HUIDs of participants, some student protesters requested to see the ID of the security guard noting down the student’s information. He complied and allowed protesters to photograph his ID.

University spokesperson Jason A. Newton wrote in a statement Tuesday the University and library administration “will continue to gather information about the action that took place in Widener Library’s Loker Reading Room today before determining next steps.”

HOOP wrote in a press release that the protest was a direct response to Garber’s refusal “to investigate Harvard’s endowment for ties to human rights violations.”

“President Garber’s inaction endorses Israel’s occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine,” a HOOP organizer wrote in the press release. “After over a year of genocide and 76 years of illegal occupation, we will continue to protest the investment of our endowment in companies that aid in the annihilation of Palestinian land and livelihood.”

HOOP also wrote in the release that Harvard administrators checked the HUIDs of only 60 par-

ticipants before departing around 1 p.m. The study-in continued for another three hours.

Kojo Acheampong ’26, co-founder of the African and African American Resistance Organization, said in an interview that “we can’t be afraid of

“We know that

only breeds more numbers in our movement. It only means that more people are going to be coming in,” Acheampong added. “Harvard can act as irrational as they want.”

importantly, wrong,” Harvard Law School professor Andrew M. Crespo ’05 said.

Crespo, who participated in the study-in and signed the joint appeal, added: “They invite content-based and viewpoint-based discrimination and dramatically curtail academic freedom.”

Government professor Ryan D. Enos, who also signed the joint letter to Whitehead, said he thought Harvard’s response to the study-ins seemed improvised.

“There seems to be no actual procedure or set of principles that the library is — or the administration more largely — is following on this,” Enos said. “It’s something that they very much seem to be making up as they go along.”

University spokesperson Jason A. Newton declined to comment on the appeal process or any of the criticisms presented by faculty members, saying the library system would not comment on “individual matters related to library access or privileges.”

Despite the suspensions, the string of study-ins has continued. On Tuesday, more than 70 students held a pro-Palestine studyin at Widener following two similar actions in Harvard Law School’s Langdell Library. At the same time, library officials have shown no signs of relenting, continuing to note down protesters’ names and ID numbers and reliably doling out two-week suspensions. (The participants in Tuesday’s study-in had not received

suspensions as of Wednesday evening.)

The email notifying faculty of their suspensions — sent from an unsigned “Widener Library Administration” account — added that they were “not intended to supplant any potential discipline by your School for violations of the University Statement on Rights and Responsibilities or other Harvard policies.”

But faculty members from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Law School said they had not been notified of any school-level disciplinary proceedings. In a statement posted to the Harvard Library website, Whitehead argued that the study-ins posed a distraction from the library system’s purpose.

“An assembly of people displaying signs changes a reading room from a place for individual learning and reflection to a forum for public statements,” she wrote. But HLS professor Christine A. Desan, who joined the joint appeal, argued in a separate email to Whitehead that the sanctions were hypocritical.

“Libraries are sacred spaces for the use of words,” Desan wrote. “We undermine that mission when we protect authors on the page and prohibit individuals communicating just as silently and nondisruptively in real-time.”

anything.”

repression

Pro-Palestine

Ivies Consider Postseason Football

PLAYOFFS. A new proposal would allow Ivy League football teams to play in the postseason for the first time since 1945.

BY JO B. LEMANN AND TYLER J.H. ORY CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

he Ivy League is consid-

Tering a proposal to allow the Ancient Eight’s football teams to play in the Football Championship Subdivision postseason, according to Harvard Athletic Director Erin McDermott.

The proposal, which comes from the Ivy League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, would need final approval from all of the Ivy League presidents and put an end to a ban on Ivy League football teams in the playoffs that has stood since 1945.

Approval would allow Ivy teams to compete for a national title in the FCS, the second-highest level of college football.

In an October interview with The Crimson, McDermott said there “was some talk” regarding the proposal within the Ivy League.

“We’ll see,” McDermott said.

Ultimately, the final decision would be made by the Ivy League presidents — though it would also need the approval of the athletic directors, including McDermott.

“That’s really up to President

CONGRESS FROM PAGE 1

Garber, so we haven’t had that conversation yet,” McDermott said. McDermott has consistently emphasized the academic priorities of Ivy League sports — often discussing Harvard Athletics as a “40-year decision versus a fouryear decision.” However, she said, it is a “bonus” when teams do make it to playoffs, particularly because there is no need to “sac-

rifice your academic experience.”

“It’s not that we are against winning National Champions, for sure,” McDermott said. “We’ve had them. It’s amazing.”

Sam K. Bjarnason ’25, a member of the Ivy League SAAC that initiated the proposal, shared that proposals predominantly originate from coach suggestions, but can also be brought by

individual committees. Proposals then work through a threestage process.

“It starts with the athletic directors, and then it moves to a policy committee, and then it goes to the university presidents,” Bjarnason said. “It has to gain approval at each of those three stages.”

The current proposal has not yet made it to the university presi-

dents stage, according to a person familiar with the process.

The Ivy League did not respond to a request for comment on the proposal.

Bjarnason said he is aware of the proposal, but it originated in the Ivy SAAC before he joined as a representative.

In 1945, the Ivy League presidents signed the Ivy Group Agreement, which prohibited postseason play, alongside athletic scholarships and extended absences to play in games.

At the time, the rules only applied to football — though they were expanded to all sports in 1954. Still, all other teams at Harvard are eligible for postseason play — including basketball, which can participate in March Madness.

Through the years, academic concerns and preserving tradition have both been cited as reasons to keep Ivy League football out of the playoffs. Additional games in the football season would come after Thanksgiving — bleeding into reading period and potentially causing an academic burden for players.

The tradition of The Game — the much-anticipated faceoff between Harvard and Yale — could also be affected as the rivalry matchup always comes as the season’s last game.

jo.lemann@thecrimson.com tyler.ory@thecrimson.com

House Committee Reveals Private Deliberations Behind Harvard’s Disastrous October 9 Statement

“from the river to the sea” as antisemitic because it would raise questions about why student protesters had not been disciplined for using it in chants.

Pritzker, who had been fielding questions from alumni in the weeks following Oct. 7, said she understood the phrase, featured in signs at student protests, as “clearly an anti-semitic sign which calls for the annihilation of the Jewish state and Jews.”

“Can you please help me understand and explain how we handled the situation and our posture toward such signage on campus?” she asked. “I am being asked by some why we would tolerate that and not signage calling for Lynchings by the KKK. Would we do something different now?”

In response, Garber said the determination was “not as simple as some of our friends would have it” and argued that it depended on the speaker’s intention.

claim,” Garber wrote. Pritzker, who is Jewish and used her tenure as Barack Obama’s Commerce secretary to support Jewish causes, pushed back against Garber in a reply. “I must confess that it feels very anti-Semitic to me, especially since it is used by the anti-Israel terrorist groups Hamas and PFLP,” Pritzker wrote. “SO I am struggling with why it isn’t hate speech and why that is acceptable on our campus and why we don’t condemn it.” Gay later responded, urging Pritzker to characterize the phrase as “offensive” but not antisemitic.

Less than three weeks later, as Gay faced pressure from members of her antisemitism advisory group to condemn the phrase, she denounced the use of “from the river to the sea” in a University-wide message but stopped short of directly labeling it as antisemitic.

tisemitic, and — now that the University had clarified its anti-bullying and protest policies — use of the phrase would result in disciplinary action.

A University spokesperson did not answer whether chants of “from the river to the sea” would currently result in disciplinary action.

“I am fully committed to helping Harvard continue to foster a safe and inclusive community free from antisemitism and hate of any kind,” Pritzker wrote in a statement to The Crimson on Thursday. “And as a Jewish person whose ancestors fled antisemitic pogroms in Ukraine to come to this country, these issues have a deep personal meaning for me.”

ine G. O’Dair, who also served as Gay’s chief of staff, suggested the statement should denounce Hamas’ attack explicitly, but the phrase was ultimately omitted from the final draft, as was language proposed by University Secretary Marc L. Goodheart ’81 that distanced the University from the student groups’ social media post.

Daley, the HMS dean, also asked to cut the word “violent” from the statement, expressing concern that it could be interpreted as the University picking sides in the conflict.

“On my first read it sounded like assigning blame when it’s best we express horror at the carnage that is unfolding,” Daley wrote.

with the change,” Garber wrote. “Frankly I’m more disturbed by his logic than the wording change.”

When Harvard finally released the statement shortly before 8 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2023, the blowback was swift.

“Instead of moral clarity and courage, they offer word salad approved by committee,” wrote Rep. Jake D. Auchincloss ’10 (D-Mass.). Under pressure, Gay released another message the next day in which she condemned “the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas” and distanced the University from the student groups’ statement.

But the damage had been done.

HLS Students Banned From Library Over Study-In, HOOP Says at Rally

providing humanitarian aid in Gaza earlier this week.

“We are in a time of global anti-imperialist struggle and Palestine is at the center of it, which is why we asked President Alan Garber and the Harvard Management Company to adopt a policy that stops the endowment from funding human rights violations,” Sella said. “Still, Garber doubled down, confirming Harvard’s consistent position that it has no intention of divesting from Israel.” At Thursday’s rally, speakers also called on attendees to continue the spring’s momentum. Last semester, HOOP organized a 20-day encampment in Harvard Yard and staged a walkout at Commencement.

“This email is our red line,” Sella added. “Garber will soon see, like we showed him before with our encampment last spring and the mass walkout at Commencement, that ignoring our mass movement and global consensus will not be the easiest path forward.” In response to a request for comment, University spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain referred to Garber’s Oct. 3 email to HOOP organizers, in which he wrote that the group’s new proposal for divestment “does not differ substantially from prior demands.”

“We make the most of Harvard’s distinctive capabilities to help resolve the world’s most vexing challenges by pursuing opportunities for intellectual engagement, not by curtailing HMC’s investment options,” Garber wrote in the emailed message.

Near the end of the rally, organizers handed out copies of the Harvard Crimeson, a pro-Palestine publication modeled after The Crimson. Despite Harvard’s move to ban student protesters from Widener and Langdell libraries, Alexandra D. Potter, a Harvard Divinity School student, said at the rally that student activism on campus has only continued to gain momentum and grow in numbers since the start of the academic year.

“The bottom line is that the phrase can be antisemitic, but if we don’t explain it in a nuanced way many members of the Harvard community will contest the

More recently, Pritzker said in a transcribed interview with the committee that she believed “from the river to the sea” was an-

The most damning episode from the committee’s report, however, remained the process of drafting the University’s initial response to the Hamas attack on Israel. As the administrators became entangled in a wording debate, Gay described her goal as simply “getting to a yes,” in an email to Garber.

Harvard Graduate School of Design Dean Sarah M. Whiting concurred with Daley, but both Harvard Kennedy School Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf and interim Harvard Divinity School Dean David F. Holland disagreed.

In a private conversation with Gay, Garber took aim at Daley over his suggestion.

In an interview with The Crimson in November 2023, Garber expressed regret over the initial statement.

“Our goal is to ensure that our community is safe, secure, and feels well supported — and that first statement did not succeed in that regard,” he said.

emma.haidar@thecrimson.com cam.kettles@thecrimson.com

“They think they can continue their tirade of disciplinary actions and that it will silence the movement, that we will get scared and back off,” Potter said. “But that’s not true, is it?” “I can say with confidence that new people are joining this campus and this movement all the time,” she added. “This movement and the push for divestment will never go away until we win.”

madeleine.hung@thecrimson.com azusa.lippit@thecrimson.com HARVARD ATHLETICS

University Marshal Kather-

“I don’t love it but can live

FAS to Review Student Disciplinary Processes After Faculty Backlash

BY TILLY R. ROBINSON AND NEIL H. SHAH CRIMSON

WRITERS

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is reviewing the disciplinary processes of both Harvard College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, months after many professors criticized the schools’ sanctions against pro-Palestine protesters as inconsistent and excessive.

Faculty frustration with the schools’ disciplinary bodies boiled over last semester when the Harvard College Administrative Board sanctioned student protesters who participated in the Harvard Yard encampment — blocking 15 of them from graduating. In an unprecedented move, the FAS voted to sidestep the Ad Board and add the students back to the list of graduates. The review, by a committee of faculty and administrators, is the clearest indication yet that

FAS Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra is not ignoring their complaints.

“The events of last year yielded important lessons that the Committee will consider as part of the review process,” FAS spokesperson James M. Chisholm wrote in a statement.

The review will be conducted by a group of eight professors and administrators, who will review the composition of the administrative boards, their frameworks for deciding punishments for students who violate school policies, and the processes for appealing the boards’ decisions.

The committee’s far-reaching mandate suggests Hoekstra is willing to entertain major changes after a year in which Harvard’s disciplinary practices have come under scrutiny like never before.

That scrutiny has extended even to Congress. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which is leading an investigation into antisemi-

tism at Harvard, released a trove of student disciplinary records last month and said the University “failed to enforce its own rules and impose meaningful discipline.”

But the faculty-led review of the two ad boards, whose authority is delegated by the FAS, seems likelier to respond to concerns from professors in Cambridge than politicians in Washington.

“As bodies empowered by the Faculty to take on the day-to-day enforcement of Faculty regulations regarding education and conduct, periodic reviews play an important role in ensuring that our practices evolve to accommodate changes in policy and our society,” Hoekstra wrote in an email to FAS faculty.

The review process could open the door to significant changes to the membership of the Harvard College Ad Board, whose disciplinary committee is primarily composed of non-ten-

ure-track faculty and chaired by College Dean Rakesh Khurana.

Disciplinary processes have been a recent point of focus for Hoekstra, who personally attempted to convince tenured faculty members to join the College’s Ad Board. Two tenured professors joined the Ad Board at the start of the fall semester, breaking a three-year drought.

Half of the GSAS Ad Board, in contrast, is composed of tenured faculty.

The review committee, chaired by University Professor Ann M. Blair ’84, will share its recommendations with the FAS’ Faculty Council in the spring. Any proposed changes must be approved by a vote of the full FAS to take effect.

The FAS hopes to implement recommended changes for the fall 2025 semester, Chisholm said.

How Libraries Became the New Campus Activism Frontier

S. ZHOU

STUDY-IN. Harvard’s pro-Palestine students have made studying a form of activism. It’s got administrators in a bind.

BY JOYCE E. KIM, TILLY R. ROBINSON, AND NEIL H. SHAH CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

At 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, more than 70 Harvard students huddled together at the bottom of the Widener Library steps. Kojo Acheampong ’26, addressing the others, condemned Israel’s ongoing military actions in northern Gaza.

“Are we ready?” Acheampong asked.

“Yeah!” the crowd chanted back.

Then, they all lined up, filed into the library’s main reading room, affixed signs to their laptops condemning Israel, and quietly began to study.

These silent library demonstrations, or study-ins, have become increasingly popular among pro-Palestine campus activists who want to denounce Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and what they call a selective approach to upholding free speech principles at Harvard.

Many of the study-ins were led by Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine, the same coalition of unrecognized groups that organized the 20-day encampment in Harvard Yard. Members of the encampment — which featured loud chanting, banging on drums, and the creation of a tent city — initially faced severe disciplinary action from Harvard administrators, who argued that the occupation disrupted the University’s normal operations and posed a security risk. The study-in protests are of a completely different nature.

Now, the pro-Palestine activists read books, watch lectures, and write essays — inviting Harvard officials to discipline them for engaging in the normal operations of a university.

To an extent, library administrators have obliged. At each study-in, security guards note down participants’ Harvard University IDs. Several days later, like clockwork, participants receive two-week bans from physically entering the library.

But the sanctions are largely symbolic rather than punitive. Each disciplinary notice is careful to note that participants retain complete access to Harvard Library resources and are free to use other campus libraries for the duration of their suspension.

Violet T. M. Barron ’26, a HOOP organizer and Crimson Editorial editor, said the studyins have been “silent and very explicitly non-disruptive.”

“I think it’s a real stretch for them to consider silently studying while wearing a keffiyeh and having a piece of paper taped to your computer as a demonstration or anything that — what is the wording they like to use — violates the functioning of the university,” she said. That’s where Harvard Library administrators disagree.

Martha J. Whitehead, the head of Harvard Library, defended the decision to temporarily suspend protesters

from accessing the library in a lengthy statement posted to Harvard Library’s website.

“While a reading room is intended for study, it is not intended to be used as a venue for a group action, quiet or otherwise, to capture people’s attention,” Whitehead wrote. “Seeking attention is in itself disruptive.”

University spokesperson Jason A. Newton declined to comment for this article.

Caught in a Bind

The rise in study-in protests has put Harvard administrators between a rock and a hard place.

If they fail to discipline pro-Palestine protesters, members of Congress and donors will accuse the University of encouraging campus activism.

But if they discipline students for studying in a library, faculty members and free speech watchdogs will levy allegations

of censorship.

Faculty members have already shown they’re willing to go to bat for sanctioned students.

Two weeks after the first wave of library suspensions, approximately 25 faculty members staged a study-in of their own in Widener’s main reading room. The faculty members subsequently received similar suspensions — though they’ve since appealed the sanctions.

In effect, faculty members and students argue, the library bans punish them for studying.

When checking studyin participants’ IDs, security guards have passed out sheets of paper reminding them that protests are prohibited in Harvard libraries. But guards and administrators alike have declined to define what they consider a demonstration — and activists have resolutely refused to refer to their actions as protests.

Sanaa M. Kahloon ’25, an organizer with the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee who has participated in several studyins, said it was “really powerful” to “sit in a room with people and engage in an activity that is entirely related to your own personal scholarship” and doing so “in the name of Palestine.”

Opponents of the study-in have claimed that even the ostensibly silent study-ins are a distraction.

“We don’t need three-million-volume treasuries like Widener Library just to read sound bites that fit on protest signs,” Harvard Law School professor Stephen E. Sachs ’02, a former Crimson Editorial Chair, wrote in an email.

“A standard as absurd as that is going to leave plenty of room — and, in fact, invite — content-based discrimination,” according to Harvard Business School professor Reshmaan N. Hussam, who joined the faculty study-in.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Sciences professor Emily J. M. Knox, who chairs the National Coalition Against Censorship, said she thought Harvard could make its library policies more consistent by regulating specific behaviors, rather than banning protests in general.

“We do need them to encounter deep ideas in an atmosphere of quiet and concentration, without other people trying to get our attention for the causes of their choice.” But study-in participants argue that by focusing on actions that “compel attention,” library administrators have set an impossibly broad standard that functions to suppress political speech and pro-Palestine speech in particular.

But Knox said she thinks protesters haven’t crossed a line so far.

“Saying they’re not studying the right way in the library seems to me to be a bit of a stretch,” Knox added.

Writing ‘Rules Before Our Eyes’

Even the Harvard administrators who are willing to publicly defend the library suspensions acknowledge that there is ambiguity about what actually constitutes a protest.

Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 defended the suspensions in an October interview with The Crimson, saying the study-in warranted some form of disciplinary action. However, Garber declined to say what specifically about a study-in makes it a protest.

“It’s very healthy to have a discussion about this issue of what actually constitutes a protest,” he said. But so far, Harvard officials have largely avoided having that discussion in the public eye.

Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana repeatedly declined to take a stance on the library suspensions in an interview late last month, deflecting any questions about whether he supported the level of disciplinary action taken against the study-in participants. “One of the things I want to

really remind people is that because this rollout is new, that it’s understandable if there’s misunderstandings,” Khurana said, adding that he welcomed “feedback and dialogue” regarding the intention behind the rules — suggesting the policy was not yet set in stone.

Some faculty members who conducted a study-in to protest student suspensions said they were chagrined that administrators did not seem willing to speak with them about their concerns.

“There’s actually been a frustrating — and I think also potentially damaging — lack of communication from the library and from other administrators about this,” Government professor Ryan D. Enos said. “You would think that the response of an administrator would be ‘I want to understand why these colleagues are so upset and what their concerns are.’”

But frustration at Harvard’s disciplinary response has helped organizers rally more allies to their side. Kahloon said that she’s seen each Widener study-in draw more participants than the last — largely because people have found administrative response to the protests to be “so ridiculous.”

Barron said the temporary bans have made students more willing to protest because the sanctions, though predictable, are lighter than the probation and suspension rulings doled out by the Harvard College Administrative Board last spring. Nonetheless, Barron said she wasn’t counting on anything.

“If there’s anything that you can trust this administration to do, it is write rules before our eyes and enforce them in different ways at their own will,” she said.

‘An Incredibly Difficult Situation’

Meanwhile, Harvard Library officials have found themselves face-to-face with more practical quandaries — communicating with library staff about the possibility of tense confrontations in their reading rooms, even as some staffers quietly support the protesters.

On the morning of Oct. 17, shortly before students gathered at the Law School library in Langdell Hall, HLS library

assistant dean Amanda T. Watson emailed staff to warn them about the upcoming study-in.

“I ask that all of you please go about your normal duties,” Watson wrote in an email obtained by The Crimson. “Please feel free to temporarily work downstairs (if you don’t already) if you have any hesitation about being in library spaces during this time.”

She noted that security guards would be present to check protesters’ IDs and asked staff not to interfere with the ID checks or interact with protesters. According to one person familiar with the situation, Watson did not address the study-

ins to Law School library staff again until Oct. 25 — one day after students held a second study-in in Langdell Hall — when she sent a Slack message describing the repeated protests as “an incredibly difficult situation.”

“For many reasons, chiefly the confidentiality around the situation, I cannot speak about the events of these past weeks,” Watson wrote. “Please know any silence on my part is in no way an indication that I don’t want to share information along the very open path I hope we’ve started together.”

Some library staff have expressed frustration, saying that communication from above has been limited and Whitehead has not directly explained her decisions to library staff.

While waiting for a train in the Harvard Square MBTA station, special collections conservator Amanda C. Hegarty ran into two students who were temporarily banned from Widener for participating in a study-in. After speaking with them, she decided to join the next study-in at a library.

On Oct. 24, she participated in the second Langdell Hall study-in, attaching a sign to her laptop that decried the “erasure” of Palestinian cultural heritage.

On Thursday, Watson sent an email notifying Hegarty — whose preservation work involves materials across the library system — that she was barred from the Law School library for two weeks.

Even as library protests have proved an effective tool for pro-Palestine protesters, they have not entirely turned away from their more traditional forms of dissent. On Thursday, HOOP organized its first rally in more than a month to denounce Garber’s refusal to review Harvard’s investments for human rights violations. Barron, the HOOP organizer, said the group will continue to employ a variety of methods to advocate for their demands.

“When anything could be considered a protest, even something as non-disruptive as this — I don’t think it gets any more non-disruptive than this — if anything, it doesn’t hinder us,” she said. “We’re just gonna keep on trying stuff, and then seeing what doesn’t work.”

“You can definitely expect new and creative things,” Barron added.

While Barron said the group does not have any immediate plans for a major escalation, she didn’t rule it out either.

“Definitely not tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that,” she said. “Yeah, don’t worry about it in the next few days for sure.”

Administrators checked IDs during a Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine sit-in in at Widener Library in late September. FRANK S. ZHOU — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Harvard Law School students stage a study-in at the library in Langdell Hall. SAKETH SUDAR — CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

A student with a “Free Gaza” sign on his stachel silently students at Widener. FRANK S. ZHOU — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Zach H. Marto was running late to a class in eighth grade at Wayland Middle School when he saw his longtime friend, Ryan H. Murdock ’25, coincidentally arriving at the same time to the classroom door.

“We walked in together, and the teacher said, ‘Why are you late? I’m gonna assume you’re late because you walked here with Ryan. Is that true?’ And, of course, it wasn’t true,” Marto recalled.

The teacher, who was reluctant to believe Marto, turned to Murdock for confirmation.

“Ryan just kind of looked at me and slowly nodded his head, and that got me out of that,” Marto said.

“So he just saved me again that time,” Marto added. “Probably, for like the millionth time.”

Murdock, a senior in Dunster House pursuing a double concentration in Earth and Planetary Science and Government remembered for his sense of humor and passion for environmental justice, died on Oct. 18 after a brief illness. He was 21.

A Constant Presence Murdock was born on July 27, 2003, in Boston to Hernan A. Murdock and Laura V. Murdock, but lived most of his life in Wayland, Mass.

While at Wayland High School, Murdock was an active member of Model United Nations and student government, and served as team manager for the school’s baseball and soccer teams.

Nicholas Urato, who played for Wayland’s soccer team, remembered how the team brought Murdock onto the field for a team photo during senior night celebration, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

“I specifically remember everyone just going crazy — the whole community. And that was really special,” Urato said.

Urato said that Murdock had a genuine love for both baseball and soccer. In addition to supporting his high school teams, he enjoyed watching Cape Cod Baseball League games during the summers.

In particular, Urato remembered how Murdock was a constant presence on the sidelines of the team’s playoff soccer games, even during a particularly cold day in junior year of high school.

“He could probably be anywhere else, but he wanted to be there,” Urato said.

His mother, Laura Murdock, similarly recalled his love for sports and his high school teams.

“When he was doing the scorekeeping in baseball, I remember he did it on the phone, and if there was a mistake on the field, all the players would come to him because they knew he was going to be right,” she said.

While Murdock remained a lifelong devoted sports fan, he became increasingly passionate about environmental justice and policy after enrolling at Harvard.

“I think he really wanted to do something that would make a difference in the world and help change policy,” Laura Murdock said. “He wanted to help, just in whatever way he could.” Hernan Murdock, his father, also recalled how his son was always thinking about “how we can do something to help within our circle of influence.”

“As far as justice and fairness and empathy as well, when it comes to different political dynamics, whether domestic or international, he was always very curious about those — and how those were open questions and how there were so many opportunities for improvement,” Hernan Murdock added.

‘A Common Node’

Murdock’s academic and extracurricular involvements at Harvard straddled his various passions, which spanned environmental justice, healthcare and accessibility advocacy, and government policy.

Evan W. Hsiang ’26, who worked with Murdock on a variety of writing projects for the Harvard Undergraduate Health Policy Review, said Murdock approached the work with “a very unique interest in environmental justice.”

But what Hsiang remembered most about Murdock was his contribution to the “sense of community within the organization.”

“I think that’s something that’s rare in any student organization, but it’s especially rare for a single person to contribute so much,” Hsiang said. Hsiang described Murdock as “a common node between people in

the organization.”

“I think he really humanized the work we did,” Hsiang added.

Livingston J. W. Zug ’26 described Murdock as “a voice for consensus and bipartisanship” in their time together as members of Harvard Undergraduates for Bipartisan Solutions.

He said Murdock helped the group “find common ground” on contentious political issues and had a knack for getting people to agree and feel heard.

“He was a really, really valued member of the group, and I really have no idea how we’re going to function without him,” Zug added.

James R. Jolin ’24, who knew Murdock through the Health Policy Review, wrote in a statement that Murdock was “an outstanding colleague and better friend.”

“His smile lit up every room he

entered, and his enthusiasm for his work was palpable,” wrote Jolin, a former Crimson News editor. “But what I think I will remember most about Ryan is his dependability: he was a steadfast presence at every meeting, never lapsed on an editing assignment or article deadline, and was always willing to lend a hand to others in need.”

In a letter from the editor on Oct. 23, HUHPR announced that it will dedicate its upcoming issue to Murdock to celebrate his contributions and legacy at the Review.

Murdock also wrote articles for the Harvard International Review about environmental issues, health policy, and human rights law — interests that his father said “go back to his character.”

“I think empathy drove a lot of his interest over time,” Hernan Murdock said.

dock, as a young child, would have “a million questions” about the world. “He was curious about all different kinds of things,” she said, adding that Murdock “just wanted to know about everybody, everywhere in the whole world.”

Murdock had a special interest in accessibility and healthcare systems across different countries, stemming from his enthusiasm for traveling since he was young. Murdock’s mother recalled that even as an eight-year-old, he would plan trips himself to travel abroad.

Ryan had this unique ability to observe the world a little differently than a lot of other people and see the humor in that.

Zach H. Marto Childhood Friend

Murdock frequently traveled to see family on his father’s side in Costa Rica, and also visited the Netherlands, England, and Canada. Murdock’s curiosity also manifested in the classroom, where he bridged his interests in science, the environment, health policy, and advocacy through his academic coursework. According to his parents, Murdock continued to attend classes until the day before he died.

Reza M. Shamji ’25 remembered meeting Murdock in a Physics class as he was deciding whether or not to concentrate in the field, but their friendship evolved past problem sets when they exchanged numbers and decided to get breakfast one day.

Shamji said Murdock’s calming presence was the most memorable thing about him.

“I don’t think this school is very calm, and he was able to make it calm,” Shamji said. Many of Murdock’s friends fondly recalled his unique, witty sense of humor.

Marto, Murdock’s childhood friend, said Murdock was especially “great at picking up on things other people wouldn’t.”

“Ryan had this unique ability to observe the world a little differently than a lot of other people and see the humor in that,” he said.

“A lot of times Ryan would start with saying, ‘I’ve noticed something about this, or I’ve noticed something about that,’ and usually that would end with me rolling on the floor laughing because he was just looking at something differently in a funny way,” Marto added. Shamji said “whenever there’s something funny to be brought up, or he could make a joke,” Ryan would “crack it.” He added that whenever he saw Murdock, he’d always give him a fist bump and Murdock would always know that it was coming.

“He’d give a little laugh, and then a little bit more, and you knew the second half was coming, and you always waited for it,” Shamji said. “I think that’s something I also loved about him and his smile — you always knew there’s a second half of it coming.”

Fez S. Zafar ’24, a former resident of Dunster House, said Murdock was “one of those people who you come to Harvard to meet.” Zafar said he would go to the dining hall just to catch up with Murdock.

“I knew that once I sat down, I was going to have one of those conversations that you will always remember,” he said.

Zafar recalled that Murdock “always had great jokes” and “great stories” to share — but added that he was, “beyond that, a phenomenal listener.”

Eunice S. Chon ’25-’26, who worked closely with Murdock as co-advocacy chairs of the Harvard Undergraduate Disability Justice Club, said he was a dedicated disability justice advocate on campus — often staying behind after board meetings, even late into the night, to meet with her and the co-presidents of the club.

“I can’t emphasize enough how much he cared about disability justice and accessibility on campus,” Chon said. “There’s nothing Ryan ever did that was for himself.”

‘One of Those People Who You Come to Harvard to Meet’ Murdock’s family and friends also recalled his innate curiosity and care for people, which manifested in his academic pursuits. Laura Murdock said that Mur-

“The image that I remember him by is he was always surrounded by groups of people because everyone just enjoyed sitting with him,” Zafar added. “He would absorb what others would say, and would just have the perfect thing to say in response.” Marto, who first met Murdock when they were in kindergarten, said he had “the strongest character of anyone I’ve ever met.”

“When I look back at my life, I feel like I’ve been lucky to have a lot of good friends,” he said. “But I think out of all of them, Ryan might have been the easiest to really open up to when I talked to him.”

“He was just such a caring, caring guy,” Marto added. “I’m gonna really miss talking to him. I learned a lot from him, and I feel like he was just always there for me when I needed it.”

Ryan Murdock, left, gathers with friends in third grade. From left to right: Murdock, Zach Marto, and Jack McCahan. COURTESY OF ZACH MARTO

Weinstein Pauses Faculty Hiring at HKS

GAP YEAR. New Kennedy

School Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein will pause all faculty hiring for the 202425 academic year.

BY WILLIAM C. MAO

arvard Kennedy School

HDean Jeremy M. Weinstein will pause all new faculty hiring at HKS for the 202425 academic year, according to three individuals familiar with the matter.

Weinstein explained the hiring pause — announced at a faculty meeting in early September — as a strategic measure to allow faculty to prioritize teaching and research over hiring responsibilities, one person close to the decision said.

HKS spokesperson Daniel B. Harsha did not deny the hiring pause in a statement, but wrote that Weinstein intends to use his first year leading the school to use conversations with faculty members to inform future hiring decisions and other strategic initiatives.

“Dean Weinstein is reaching out to stakeholders across the Kennedy School community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni to help develop strategy on many issues related to the future of the school,” Harsha wrote.

The pause marks Weinstein’s most significant decision since assuming the Kennedy School’s top post in July and his most concerted effort yet to improve relationships among HKS faculty.

The hiring pause will not af-

fect the Kennedy School’s ongoing faculty searches — including the search for a faculty member who will serve in a role named after Henry A. Kissinger ’50, the controversial longtime American diplomat, according to one person familiar with the process. Since becoming the HKS dean in July, Weinstein has not authorized any new faculty searches. He announced four new HKS

faculty members in August, but their appointments were approved by his predecessor, former HKS Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf, before he departed the position in June.

The hiring pause comes amid growing calls from students to improve the gender, racial, and international representation of HKS faculty. During the dean search that ultimately landed on

ENDOWMENT FROM PAGE 1

Weinstein, students urged the Kennedy School to ensure that the next dean was committed to diversifying the faculty.

The pause also follows Elmendorf’s tumultuous tenure at the school’s top post.

When he was the HKS dean, faculty widely criticized Elmendorf for his decisions to investigate allegations of antisemitism against HKS professor Marshall L. Ganz ’64 and to block former Human Rights Watch head Kenneth Roth from a fellowship at the Kennedy School over his stance on Israel and Palestine.

One attendee at the September faculty meeting said the hiring pause coincides with efforts to foster connections among faculty members and promote transparency between the dean’s office and professors.

Garber Will Not Review Endowment for Ties to Human Rights Violations

of action,” echoing an Oct. 7 statement by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, which wrote that “now is the time to escalate.”

The September meeting was organized as part of a deal to end HOOP’s 20-day encampment in Harvard Yard last spring. Pro-Palestine activists have repeatedly called on the University to divest from any institutional or financial investments in Israel.

The group’s suggested human rights investment statement includes a pledge not to invest in companies that “directly facilitate or enable severe violations of human

rights, which might include, but are not limited to, acts of apartheid, illegal occupation, and genocide.”In particular, HOOP’s proposal encouraged the University to examine its investments in Israel and weapons manufacturers.

Even as HOOP has repeatedly acknowledged that the University was unlikely to accede to its demand for divestment, the group’s new strategy of including all human rights violations in their divestment demand could put greater public scrutiny on Garber’s response. “Garber indicated that he was not opposed to human rights investment principles in general, but rather chose to reject

HOOP’s proposals once it became obvious to him that they explicitly include human rights violations in Israel and Palestine,” HOOP wrote in a Monday release. A University spokesperson declined to comment for this article, but referred The Crimson to Garber’s email to HOOP.

In an emailed reply to Garber on Oct. 21, HOOP wrote that they were “disappointed” by Garber’s rejection of the proposals. “As long as Harvard remains invested in such violations of human rights, you endorse a deeply political and irresponsible view: that Harvard will continue to make money off of hu-

Harvard Will Offer Funding to Mend Campus Divisions GSD Concludes First

The University launched a new grant to provide funding for student projects that seek to mend campus divisions and encourage civil discussions about controversial topics, Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 announced in an email on Monday. The President’s Building Bridges Fund, which will be financed by the Office of the President, marks the University’s latest initiative as it seeks to implement some of the preliminary recommendations from the twin presidential task forces on combating antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias, and anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian bias. The two task forces were initially announced in January amid criticism of the University’s handling of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. They released their preliminary findings in June which urged the University to counter a culture of discrimination against both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel students. Some of the specific recom -

mendations included auditing academic resources on the Middle East, creating a prayer space for Muslims on campus, and having a diverse set of leaders provide feedback on University statements prior to their release.

While protests have largely subsided at Harvard during the fall semester, tensions on campus have continued to linger. Garber’s new initiative comes as local law enforcement authorities investigate a string of vandalism and postering incidents around Harvard Square.

Earlier this month, the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee released a controversial statement on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks. Around the same time, an unknown individual broke two ground-floor windows in University Hall and splattered red paint on the John Harvard statue in an act of vandalism.

According to Garber’s emailed announcement, the President’s Building Bridges Fund will help Harvard to “build bridges across differences.”

“Our own community has the skills, creativity, and commitment to develop approaches that will help us heal and to expand opportunities for con -

structive engagement,” Garber wrote. “Grants will be awarded to selected projects that bring together diverse groups of students.”

Selected projects will receive a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to carry out their proposal.

According to the fund’s website, projects will be evaluated on the principles of “building relationships between affinity groups whose interests and views on important issues might diverge; investing in intellectual excellence; acting against discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hate; and fostering constructive dialogue on campus about interfaith issues.”

Each proposal will be assessed by a review committee. If selected for funding, awardees will be asked to complete a brief report about the outcomes within 10 days of project completion.

“If you have an idea that speaks to these goals, I hope that you will consider putting it into action by applying for a Building Bridges grant,” Garber wrote.

Applications for a Building Bridges grant opened Monday and will close on Jan. 6, 2025.

man rights abuses,” HOOP wrote. HOOP declined to directly address why the group only chose to release Garber’s email nearly a month later, writing in a statement to The Crimson Monday evening that for the past 25 days, “our eyes have been on the region, just as they have always been.” “Amidst Israel’s horrific escalations, we have been considering how to best respond to President Garber’s guarantee that our University will remain complicit in this violence,” they wrote.

michelle.amponsah@thecrimson.com

cam.kettles@thecrimson.com joyce.kim@thecrimson.com

Stage of Renovations on Gund Hall

CATHERINE

Harvard Graduate School of Design concluded the first phase of renovations on Gund Hall — as part of an effort to improve sustainability while maintaining the building’s unique design.

Gund Hall is the 52-year-old building that houses the GSD and a number of student studio spaces. The renovations — which began in 2023 — were designed by Bruner/Cott Architects, and primarily feature updates to windows on the south, east, and north sides of the studio area.

David N. Fixler, a GSD lecturer in architecture and chair of the faculty building committee, said that a priority during the renovations was the preservation of Gund Hall’s original design.

“It was important that the GSD project a spirit of innovation but also of legacy, of stewardship, of respect for the historic quality of Gund Hall,” Fixler said. “This was a good example of preservation strategies working very much in tandem with the best of an innovative design.”

The renovations replaced windows on the north and south

sides of the building, which previously used single pane glass, with vacuum-insulated glass to increase energy efficiency.

Benjamin C. Szalewicz, GSD Chief of Facilities and Campus Operations, said that the specialized glass is both efficient and thin enough to match the original design of the building.

“That was one of the innovative features of this that the design team came up with,” Szalewicz said.

The new windows also allow for better insulation in addition to the energy saving benefits.

“At the time it was built, people didn’t think too much about how much energy they were using, and frankly, they just tried to throw a lot of heat at the outside of the building to keep people from getting cold drafts,” Fixler said. “It was not comfortable at certain areas around the perimeter.”

The renovations also addressed issues with leaking, according to Fixler.

“Ever since the building opened, there have been problems with leaks,” Fixler said, “But we’ve taken a very robust approach and been very particular about making sure that that’s fixed.”

“As of our last rain storm that

we had, we had no leaks in the studio, so that’s a big improvement for anyone that’s using and working in the space,” Szalewicz said. Designers also added new coatings on the window glass to improve clarity and reduce glare.

“There’s a lot more natural light in the studio, which is also good in terms of you need to use less artificial light, and it just feels great,” Fixler said. Szalewicz said students and faculty have appreciated the increased “quality of light.”

“The building felt darker with the old glass,” Szalewicz said. Aside from windows, the project also improved accessibility, adding handrails and guardrails to the outside of the building. There are no set dates for the next phases of the renovations, but there will be continuous work on the exterior glass and envelope, according to Szalewicz.

“The first phase took care of all the student spaces — the spaces that the majority of the people use on a daily basis,” Szalewicz said. “The later phases will deal with glass in offices and classrooms, which had less of an impact to the entire community.”

Jeremy M. Weinstein, the dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, announced a one-year pause on new faculty hiring. CALEB D. SCHWARTZ — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Pro-Palestine students staged a march during a September meeting between HOOP and Alan Garber. FRANK S. ZHOU — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

DSO to Pay $43,000 Post Activities Fee Drop

zation community.”

BY MADELEINE A. HUNG

LIPPIT

he Dean of Students Of-

Tfice will pay more than

$43,000 to keep funding for student activities at the same level as last year after a sizable dip in students paying the Student Activities Fee.

The expense comes after 959 students opted out of paying the SAF for the 2024-25 school year — nearly 70 more than last year — according to Associate Dean for Student Engagement Jason R. Meier. The SAF is an optional annual $200 payment intended to fund independent student organizations, House life, and events like Yardfest. The DSO distributes the fund to the Harvard Undergraduate Association, the College Events Board, House Committees, and the student advisory committee of the Harvard Foundation.

Last year, the DSO distributed a total of $1,225,500 to the

four groups, but this year the DSO only had $1,182,132 to distribute. In order to match last year’s disbursement, Meier said in an interview last week that the DSO shrank their own budget by $43,368.

“We have nickeled and dimed ourselves to make that difference up,” Meier said. Meier said that if SAF optouts continue to grow, the DSO may not be able to continue making up the difference.

“I do not believe we would be able to assist in this manner again,” he said. “If we continue to see the opt outs, we will see another significant cut to our HoCos, to CEB, to our student organi-

Both this academic year and last, the DSO allocated $522,500 to the HUA, $427,500 to CEB, $204,250 to HoCos, and $71,250 to the SAC of the Harvard Foundation. Collectively, the four groups’s funding requests — which tend to exceed available SAF funds — rose $150,000 from last year.

“It was very hard listening to these presentations from these four groups. Unreal impact, and a very significant need,” Meier said. “Having to cut these groups yet another year felt insurmountable.”

The DSO has insisted that the SAF structure — where funding for student activities origi-

nates with students — enables undergraduate organizations to remain independent from the College. To maintain this independence, Meier said, the DSO’s funding will go toward “baseline charges” such as renting tables and chairs for House formals that do not require the office to “editorialize.”

But despite the DSO’s bailout, some student leaders maintain that the College needs a more robust and sustainable system for funding student activities.

Anna G. Dean ’25, a co-chair of both the Mather House Committee and the All-House Committee — a group that represents every HoCo to the DSO — said the SAF

Richard A. Cash, Developer of Oral Rehydration Therapy, Dies at 83

When Qudsia Huda first met her adviser and lifelong mentor, Richard A. Cash, as a graduate student more than 15 years ago, she was surprised that he greeted her in her language, Bengali: “Ami Richard Cash.” Cash then referred to Bangladesh as his “second home.” Cash, a senior lecturer on global health at Harvard’s School of Public Health, had learned Bengali while developing oral rehydration therapy, a treatment for cholera that has saved millions of lives. Cash died on Oct. 22 at his Cambridge home after an eight-month battle with brain cancer. He was 83. He is survived by his wife, Stella Dupuis.

‘Empathy With the Myriad Poor’

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Cash took his interests in global health across the world.

Cash completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and received his medical training at the New York University School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital in New York City before moving to Dhaka, East Pakistan — modern-day Bangladesh — in the late 1960s to work at the Cholera Research Laboratory.

At the CRL, Cash collaborated with David Nalin to develop and implement the use of oral rehydration therapy in the treatment of cholera and other diarrheal diseases. ORT — which replaces traditional IV-based dehydration treatment with a sugar and salt solution — was designed to maximize diarrheal disease survival rates in medically underserved countries.

In the 1970s, Cash helped BRAC, a Bangladesh-based development organization, implement

its Oral Therapy Extension Program, which supplied local Bangladeshi residents with the resources and strategies to combat cholera. By showing caregivers how to prepare a simple solution of accessible ingredients, the program disseminated ORT beyond hospital walls in Bangladesh.

Nalin emphasized Cash’s dedication to his work overseas.

“Number one was his empathy with the myriad poor of the developing world, who, at that time, were going totally unserved,” he said.

Despite eventually returning to the United States and taking a post at HSPH, Cash continued to return to Bangladesh and retained a fascination with South Asian culture. Several former students recalled how Cash kept a statue of Sheetala — the Hindu goddess and patron of smallpox eradication — in his office.

Beyond his work at HSPH, Cash was also involved in Harvard’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute.

Tarun Khanna, faculty director of the Mittal Institute and a professor at Harvard Business School, said Cash “was a frequent participant in many of the research projects and academic events we put on for the community” and served on the academic steering committee.

Cash — who conducted the first scientifically-proven clinical trial of ORT — has been repeatedly honored for his work, winning the Prince Mahidol Award in Public Health in 2006 and James and Sarah Fries Prize for Improving Health in 2011.

Per the World Health Organization, the global dissemination of ORT saved more than 60 million children. The Lancet wrote that ORT “was potentially the most important medical advance this century” in 1978.

‘He Loved Teaching’

Ananda S. Bandyopadhyay, who studied under Cash as a student at HSPH, recalled sitting across

from Cash — on opposite sides of the Sheetala statue — to debate combating disease.

“I’ll forever remember this duel that we used to have with the Sheetala in between us and thinking about the eradication programs,” Bandyopadhya said.

“He was such a humble, soft-hearted person, so caring, it would always be reflected in a very genuine way whenever he would interact with students,” he said.

Cash’s students remembered him as not only a brilliant academic, but also someone who tended to his students’ intellectual and personal development.

“Richard’s passion for global health and making a difference in the lives of those who needed it most inspired me and helped shape my career,” Bazghina W.S. Dessalegn, an associate professor at University of Washington and former student at HSPH, wrote in a statement to The Crimson.

“He picked my brains just as he would with a colleague,” Dessalegn added.

Though his work was credited with saving millions of lives through his oral rehydration therapy, “you would never even guess that from knowing him,” said Elizabeth L. Hentschel, a Ph.D. student in the Population Health Sciences program at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Only months before he died, Cash took on a new class at HSPH just because “he loved teaching,” Hentschel said.

According to Nazia Binte Ali, a Ph.D. student at the HSPH, Cash was “very innovative” in the classroom, promoting a “culture of freedom of speech, sharing ideas and values,” and “motivating students to take the knowledge that is existent and think more in depth.”

In particular, Ramya Pinnamaneni — a research associate at the HSPH — said Cash told his students to focus on “solutions that are actually practical.”

“He always asked us to pay attention to those small things,” Pinnamaneni added. “Which was a very great lesson coming from a

person with that experience.”

Timothy Mah, a former HSPH student, wrote in an email that Cash was the kind of teacher “ you hope you’re lucky enough to encounter during your education.”

“He was a giant in the world of public health and a caring friend,” Mah wrote.

“I remember that Richard would ask tough questions when you least expected or wanted it, forcing you to re-evaluate your thinking,” Mah added. “Then, he’d just smile because he could see the wheels spinning in your head, knowing you’d be better for it.”

‘Very Human’

Nearly two decades later, Huda — who graduated from HSPH and now serves as the Head of Disaster Risk Management and Resilience Unit at the WHO — still recalled Cash’s support. When Huda was completing a master’s through the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative — a feat that felt impossible with two young children in tow — she said Cash reminded her that “‘it would be difficult for you, but just keep it in mind that your children will be very proud of you one day.’”

events

“He was one of those people who would actually not only encourage you, but give you moral support to work for humanity,” she said. Huda also pointed to Cash’s ability to remember minute details, which “made him very human.” When the pair met up in Geneva years later, Cash noticed that she was wearing a saree with her winter boots — a quirk of Huda’s from her time at HSPH. “He was like, ‘But see you still wear boot with your saree,’” Huda said. “Then we started laughing with each other.”

Students in Mather celebrate their House pride on Housing Day 2023. Funding from the Student Activities Fee supports social events organized by House Committees. TRUONG L. NGUYEN — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Richard A. Cash pictured in his office with one of his students.supports social

organized by House Committees. COURTESY OF ANANDA S. BANDYOPADHYAY

Frustration at Community Center Hearing

AllstonBrighton residents demanded action from Boston officials to replace the community center.

BOSTON — Dozens of All-

ston-Brighton residents and local leaders demanded action from Boston officials after years of confusion and delay on its promise to replace Allston-Brighton’s only community center at a Tuesday City Council hearing.

During three hours of raucous testimony — punctuated by cheers and applause from an audience of more than 230 people — residents lambasted the city for its failure to support Allston-Brighton, whose crumbling Jackson-Mann Community Center has been slated for demolition since 2019 without a clear timeline for replacement.

The hearing was held at the community center rather than city hall, putting the poor physical condition of the building on stark display for all attendees. The Boston public school that shared the space was shuttered two years ago.

“If this community center was a business and somebody was making money off of it, it would have been done yesterday,” said Elaine McCauley Meehan. “Listen, I am a last-stage breast cancer patient. If you do not have a community center done before I am dead, I am coming back for it.”

One after another, a diverse lineup of speakers — including an unusually strong turnout of young people — testified to how much they depend on the center, which provides free childcare, after school programming, summer camp, English classes, and a GED program.

Uncertainty over when the demolition and construction would begin, and where the center would relocate in the meantime, have forced the center to halt several of those services.

Though councilors had the opportunity to grill Boston’s

chief of operations and the commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth and Families onstage, their tense exchanges brought little new information to light.

The officials argued they could not make any hard commitments about the center by themselves.

Dion Irish, the chief of operations, said the Grove Hall Community Center planned in Dorchester has taken over a decade – and counting — to be built. “It shouldn’t take that long,” he said.

“I agree with everyone there, but I cannot tell you a specific time at this evening,” he continued, in reference to the city’s timeline for Allston-Brighton’s center.

“We’ll be back with an future date we can tell you that’s more definitive, but I’d be dishonest if I tried to give you an answer tonight, because there’s a process that we have to go through to look at everything that’s being planned and make decisions about how we move forward,” he said.

BCYF declined to comment for this article.

The hearing’s high turnout represented a major political victory for Allston-Brighton’s city councilor, Elizabeth A. “Liz” Breadon, who organized the event and spent over a month recruiting residents to testify at it. Eight out of Boston’s 13 city councilors were present.

The city’s slow progress on

the community center touched a nerve for many neighborhood leaders, who argued that Allston-Brighton was often treated unfairly by the city, despite being its second-largest neighborhood.

“Allston-Brighton is not getting its fair share of city resources,” Susan Gittelman, executive director of B’nai B’rith Housing, said in her testimony.

The neighborhood has often come in last in the city’s annual capital funding allocations, which support public infrastructure projects like park renovations or building new schools.

Jackson-Mann is also the neighborhood’s only city-run community center, even as many smaller neighborhoods have

three, four, or five centers each, Breadon pointed out.

Allston also lacks a post office after its only one was shut down in 2019 — another sore spot, especially after a letter from Massachusetts’ congressional delegation this summer complained about post office closures in the state but failed to mention Allston.

Gittleman pointed out the disparity was at odds with Allston-Brighton’s role in the city as a “heavyweight” in its municipal revenue.

“Allston-Brighton is a giant among the neighborhoods in what it generates in taxes, jobs, and economic spinoff. Ultimately, these uses generate major revenue to the city,” she said, ref-

erencing the corporate offices, three major universities, and significant biotech developments that the neighborhood hosts. After the hearing, Breadon acknowledged that the show of force failed to deliver any immediate results but described it as a necessary step in pressuring the city to act.

“No commitments were made because the people who make those decisions weren’t here,” she said in an interview.

“I’m very, very skeptical and cynical about the city’s commitment to actually delivering on this project,” Breadon said in the hearing. “That’s why we’re all here tonight.”

jack.trapanick@thecrimson.com

Matt Damon, Mike Bloomberg Weigh In On MCAS Ballot Question

BY DARCY G

In a sprint to the finish line, celebrities, elected officials, and millions of dollars in new donations have flooded the hotly-contested race over Ballot Question 2 over the last two weeks. A “yes” vote on Question 2 would remove the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System as a high school graduation requirement. The referendum is the most controversial of the five ballot propositions, garnering more than $18 million in donations from both sides, $7 million of which arrived over the last 11 days. The race took a turn on

Wednesday when Hollywood star Matt Damon — a Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School alum and Harvard dropout — endorsed a “yes” vote on Question 2 in a video posted to X.

“We need to trust our teachers, not some one-size-fits-all test,” Damon said in the video, adding that the graduation requirement “disproportionately affects lower-income communities,” students with disabilities, and people of color — “people whose futures we do not want to limit.”

Eight days earlier, Michael R. Bloomberg — former mayor of New York City and entrepreneur, who hails from Medford — made a splash when he donated $2.5 million to the “no” campaign.

“Mike Bloomberg has been

a fierce advocate on issues affecting children, such as reducing gun violence and improving education,” Dominic Slowey, a spokesperson for the No on 2 campaign, wrote in an email.

Bloomberg’s donation accounts for 48.5 percent of the total funds raised by the No on 2 campaign. It was accompanied by a slew of donations from other business leaders, according to reports from the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

James S. “Jim” Davis, chair of New Balance, donated $250,000 to the effort. State Street Corporation, Bain Capital Co-Managing Partner John Connaughton, and Ross Jones — a managing director of Berkshire Partners — each donated $100,000.

Damon’s endorsement of a “yes” joins supporters from Massachusetts’ congressional delegation, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) — who endorsed the question on Monday — and Rep. Ayanna S. Pressley (D-Mass.).

“Passing Question 2 is about promoting an educational system that upholds high standards while recognizing the diverse ways in which students learn and succeed,” Markey wrote in a statement.

Both Markey and Damon’s endorsements were posted directly to social media platforms from the Yes on Question 2 campaign.

The campaign is funded by the Committee for High Standards, Not High Stakes. Its sole benefactor has been the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which has spent nearly $14 million on the campaign.

In Cambridge, Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern and Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler are public supporters of the “yes” campaign. McGovern and Sobrin-

Source: Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance DARCY G LIN — CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

ho-Wheeler both voted to endorse Question 2 at an Oct. 7 City Council meeting, though the proposal ultimately failed by a 4-4-1 vote.

“I believe it’s time to replace the test with a more equitable measure of a student’s competency by looking comprehensively at their schoolwork and give teachers and districts more freedom to decide what’s best for their students,” Sobrinho-Wheeler wrote in an email.

But other top state officials oppose the measure, including Governor Maura T. Healey ’92, Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell, and leaders in the state legislature. At an Oct. 22 panel at the

Graduate School of Education, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler said he opposes the measure because it does not propose an alternative, which he says harms students’ preparedness. The No on 2 website lists Cambridge City Councilors Paul F. Toner and Patricia M. “Patty” Nolan ’80 as opponents of the measure, as well as former Cambridge School Committee member Manikka Bowman. Toner, who previously served as president of the MTA and president of the Cambridge Education Association — the union for CPS teachers — wrote in a state -

ment to The Crimson that before the implementation of the MCAS graduation requirement, schools “allowed kids to fail.” “Many — mostly poor kids of color — were allowed to float through the grade levels and graduate unprepared for college or work,” Toner wrote. As out-of-state endorsers like Damon and Bloomberg attempt to tip the scales in different directions, the fate of the ballot question will remain in the hands of Massachusetts voters when they head to the polls on Tuesday.

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

Rising City Budget Faces ‘Inflection Point’ Officials Say

er Yi-An Huang ’05 said at the meeting.

Much of the conversation focused on Cambridge’s educational services, which — at $268.25 million this year — were the highest line item in the city’s expenses.

Cambridge officials agree that the city’s rising budget poses a major problem. They just need to figure out what to do.

Over the past five years, the city budget has swelled by 7.1 percent annually, hitting nearly $1 billion for fiscal year 2025.

As fears of austerity and budget cuts have dawned on Cambridge officials, the City Council and School Committee met Monday to discuss the city’s shaky fiscal position.

“We are facing an inflection point,” Cambridge City Manag -

Since the two bodies’ last joint roundtable in February, members of both have braced for smaller school budget increases. Nevertheless, Huang assured committee members that many existing projects — including the newly-launched universal preschool program, an extended school day, and in-progress building renovations — are not on the chopping block.

“We are not in the moment of fiscal crisis where we’re saying we need to make cuts. A lot of what we’re walking through is how we ensure that we don’t end up in that situation,” Huang said. Still, deliberately slowed budget growth is unprecedented in recent Cambridge history.

“In my 20 years, we’ve never had this conversation,” Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern said, “because we haven’t been in this situation in a very long time.”

The Council voted to raise property taxes by 7.3 percent on residential property and 10.1 percent on commercial property earlier this month, but this meeting signaled that the raises come in the context of what will become a broader shift.

Assistant City Manager for Fiscal Affairs Claire B. Spinner said that high budget growth and projected declines in commercial tax revenue will demand smaller spending increases and higher taxes.

CPD Body Camera Negotiations Stalled Over Stipend for Officers

no agreement on the amount — more than 19 months after the Cambridge City Council first approved the cameras.

Negotiations between the Cambridge Police Department and two unions to implement body cameras were held up for more than a year over a disagreement on stipends for officers to cover maintenance costs.

The dispute between CPD, the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers Association, and the Superior Officers Union was over how much officers should received for the stipend proposed by the CCPOA to cover officers’ costs for camera maintenance and training. The discussions were put on hold for three months as CPD and CCPOA negotiated a new contract for officers after the prior contract expired on July 1. Now, though the parties are back at the negotiating table over the stipends, there remains

CPD Commissioner Christine A. Elow wrote in an emailed statement that she hopes to reach an agreement with both unions soon.

“The Cambridge Police Department has selected a vendor for body cameras and begun the purchasing process, as well as preparations to ensure our facilities are ready to go live,” she wrote. “While I hesitate to give a specific date, I promise to keep our community updated.”

Cambridge City Councilor Ayesha M. Wilson said the Council has repeatedly confirmed their support for body cameras, and has passed all the requisite legislation to begin their roll-out.

“This is between the union and the department,” she said.

“This is something that has been agreed upon, has been passed. It’s being worked out — the funding

is there for it.”

“Everything’s a go. It’s just the negotiations themselves,” she added.

Both CPD and the CPPOA have also expressed their support for body cameras. CPPOA president Christopher Sullivan stated that police “are supportive of the deployment of body-worn cameras” in a July statement.

A former union employee herself, Wilson said she believes both parties are working earnestly to implement body cameras on the force.

“I know that this is something that both sides want, right? Like the Cambridge Police Department wants it. The community wants it. The union wants it,” she said. “It’s just really working out what that looks like.”

“I really have the faith that they’re going to come to an agreement soon,” she added.

In the meantime, officials at the meeting said they will take a careful approach to approving new projects and assess whether to phase out old programs that have become less effective.

“All of us have great ideas, and all of us have people advocating for certain things in the city, but at least for the near term, I think we have to be very cautious,” said Councilor Paul F. Toner, who co-chairs the finance committee.

Councilor Burhan Azeem advocated for an alternative to tax raises and budget cuts: growth. He argued that Cambridge should focus on boosting tax revenue by allowing for

greater residential and commercial development.

City officials are already moving forward on proposals to eliminate single-family zoning citywide and dramatically upzone Central Square, though both initiatives are likely to face significant local resistance.

But the group did not emerge with any firm consensus on how to address the city’s impending financial woes, instead walking away with a commitment to more public discussions.

The roundtable will reconvene to discuss the universal preschool program at an undetermined date, according

to Mayor E.

committee will also

on Dec. 11 to discuss city-wide public investments and budgeting priorities.

Councilor Patty M. Nolan ’80, who co-chairs the finance committee with Toner, said the committee’s meeting will be a “tough discussion.”

“If we all had a magic wand, we would fund all of them, and we will not be able to,” she said. “All of them are worthy, worthy goals.”

Staff conceded that the impact on city schools was difficult to reliably predict.

Cambridge officials said they were optimistic about the city’s ability to accomodate the population growth that could accompany eliminating single-family zoning, in an attempt to alleviate fears from some residents that the blanket upzoning could have negative economic impacts.

As the City Council moves ahead with a proposal that would legalize six-story multifamily housing citywide, some residents and neighborhood leaders have asked the city to slow down and consider whether the radical change could irreparably damage the fabric of Cambridge.

But at a Thursday hearing of the Council’s economic development and university relations committee, city leaders appeared confident that the city was well equipped to address the aftermath of the zoning proposal.

“We feel comfortable with the growth rate,” Iram Farooq, the assistant city manager for community development, said.

“Projecting the impact of new housing on future enrollment is really difficult, especially without knowing the unit size, the number of bedrooms specifically that will be developed,” according to Claire B. Spinner, the assistant city manager of fiscal affairs.

However, Spinner added that given the long time span of the project and the fact that not all families in new housing will place their children in CPS, “we can assume that the school district will be able to absorb the amount of increase.”

Other staff who spoke at the hearing said that an influx in residents could have positive impacts for transportation.

“With more density, we can really look forward to having our city be even more walkable and bikeable and transit accessible than it is now,” said Brooke McKenna, the assistant director for street management. She cited improvements in the Red Line as an example of changes residents can look forward to in improving transportation city-

wide as population density increases.

“I think as Cambridge plans for growth, that growth will be incorporated into the larger regional planning that goes on,” McKenna said. Still, many Cambridge residents who gave public comment at the beginning of the hearing said they felt uneasy about the pace at which the city was advancing the proposal.

“There seems to be very little, if any, explicit consideration of the issue of population density,” said Cambridge resident Arthur McEwan.

“I agree with all the comments that others have said that it’s necessary for us to address the housing crisis in Cambridge,” said Cambridge resident Henrik Torres. “But to me, it seems like this current proposal still has some issues with unintended economic consequences.”

The hearing is one of several upcoming public meetings to elicit community input about the proposal before it comes to a final vote in the City Council.

Denise Simmons, while the Council’s finance

meet

The Cambridge City Council and the Cambridge School Committee met on Monday to discuss the city’s budget. BARBARA A. SHEEHAN — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Cambridge officials said they were optimistic about the city’s ability to accomodate population growth along-

the elimination of single-family zoning. JULIAN J. GIORDANO — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

How to Vote on the 2024 Mass. Ballot Questions

The Massachusetts State Legislature is one of the country’s worst. A “yes” vote on Ballot Question 1 could begin to change that by empowering the State Auditor to break open the black box and see what’s going wrong inside. It’s difficult to overstate how intransparent the State House really is. It’s not subject to open meeting laws, its committee votes can remain private, and the conference committees that finalize bills do so in secret. No wonder Massachusetts has often found itself ranked last in

Massachusetts rightfully prides itself on first-rate public schools, high standards for graduation, and a commitment to educational equity. Because we believe the state can maintain these distinctions without punishing individual students for systemic problems, we support a “yes” vote on Question 2. It’s worth beginning with what the measure wouldn’t do: Make the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System optional. Students would still be required to complete a version of the test regularly throughout their K-12 years, and the resulting data would continue to inform state policy. Massachusetts high school diplomas would not lose all meaning as some critics have suggested — students would still have to pass their classes and meet local or district requirements to graduate. And student performance would not plummet,

judging from the fact that statewide scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress have hardly shifted since the introduction of the MCAS requirement in 2003. In short, eliminating the MCAS requirement wouldn’t change all that much for most Massachusetts students. But for those who disproportionately don’t pass and receive a diploma — a group that is disproportionately Black, Hispanic, low-income, and non-native English speakers — eliminating the MCAS graduation requirement would make all the difference. Massachusetts public schools have an obligation to maintain their high standards and funnel resources to students who need them most. MCAS data is a useful tool to identify where and how the school system is failing to achieve those goals. But requiring MCAS for graduation doesn’t solve structural problems. Instead, it further harms students who fell through the cracks.

state legislature transparency. You might think a Democratic supermajority paired with a Democratic governor would mean fewer disagreements and more effective governance. You’d be wrong. This year alone, the legislative session ended without a vote on key bills on climate, economic development, and maternal health that had been months in the making. This dysfunction also results from an excess of centralized power. House and Senate leaders control committee appointments and legislative priorities, leaving individual representatives hesitant to dissent. The result? Top state legislators are accountable

From academic workers to residential ad-

visors to student employees, our Board is proud to support organized labor on campus. Because all workers deserve a say in the terms of their employment, we call for a “yes” vote on Ballot Question 3. The right to unionize is all the more important to rideshare industry gig workers, because they aren’t categorized as employees in Massachusetts, denying them the protections that come with that status. As a result, Uber and Lyft drivers nationwide report low pay, in-

sufficient healthcare coverage, and workplace stress. It’s no wonder the Massachusetts attorney general successfully sued those companies for labor law violations, winning a settlement of $175 million and improvements to working conditions.

With a union, drivers can build on these victories and influence the terms of their work. The state government should not stand in their way. Of course, the ballot measure is far from a panacea. Forming a union and building a representative leadership structure is no easy task, especially given the transient nature of gig work. But that’s not a reason for a government prohibition — it’s a challenge organizers stand ready to face.

As

voters head to the polls to decide the future of psychedelic use in the state, they would be wise to remember that over five million people are estimated to use psychedelics. And yet — despite these numbers — no crises have erupted.

Given the relatively low risk of addiction or overdose, we shouldn’t expect catastrophe if this question passes. Citizens — including those who are underage — will continue using psychedelics regardless of whether or not they are explicitly legalized.

Furthermore, there are very real reasons to create safe pathways for psychedelic use. The National Institutes of Health has itself noted the medical benefits of certain psilocybin and MDMA in treating certain mental illnesses; the licensed centers proposed in this ballot question would provide a reasonable setting for users to take these drugs.

Decriminalization will both destigmatize drug usage and, most importantly, provide safe, regulated avenues for those who choose to use them. Voting “yes” on Ballot Question 4 will help achieve these goals.

M assachusetts might increase the minimum wage for tipped workers over the next five years from $6.75 per hour to the statewide minimum wage — $15 dollars per hour — if voters approve Ballot Question 5 on Election Day. Tellingly, many affected workers are far from enthusiastic about the proposal. In interviews with The Crimson, waiters and other tipped workers expressed concerns that the change would result in lower wages and fewer tips. Some even feared the measure would cost them their employment. Their concerns are well placed: The average restaurant enjoys profit margins of less than five percent. Raising the minimum wage will only squeeze margins lower on account of higher labor costs. Who eats the difference? Unless tipping hab -

its substantially change — which we believe is unlikely — restaurants will need to raise prices, depressing demand, until restaurants are forced to lay off staff. In the two years following the passage of a similar measure in Washington, D.C., full-service restaurants lost 1,800 jobs, a startling indication of the measure’s effect. When economics and common sense align, we should listen to those who know the industry best. Vote “no” on Ballot Question Five.

It’s Not Massachusetts’ Job to End Legacy Admissions

As the debate over legacy preferences in college admissions continues to rage, I find myself opposed to recent efforts by state lawmakers to ban the practice — but not because I believe legacy admissions is right.

I understand Harvard’s goal of maintaining alumni engagement and monetary donations through a legacy boost in admissions. I also sympathize with the arguments that giving a leg up to an applicant based on where their parents went to school flies in the face of truly meritocratic admissions — much like systematically devaluing Asian applicants’ personality scores.

While I don’t care what decision is reached on legacy preferences, I do care who makes that decision — and the correct answer certainly isn’t Massachusetts legislators. Decisions about admissions are unquestionably Harvard’s to make. No state should interfere with the core functions of a private university simply because they don’t like how it chooses to operate.

We should not write a blank check for institutions to operate without legal oversight. For example, anti-discrimination laws — long the crux of debates surrounding college admissions — should remain well within lawmakers’ scope. Legacy admissions, though, falls far short of justifying legislative intervention. There are two primary strains of opposition to legacy. The classic argument is that it makes the admissions process less meritocratic. Kids whose parents went to Harvard already have a leg up. There’s no reason to put another finger on the scale. More recently, adversaries have claimed that in a post-affirmative action world, one of the ways to maintain diversity would be to let the practice go. But in the first admissions cycle since the curtailing of affirmative action, the alarmists were proved staggeringly incorrect: The enrollment of minority students on Harvard’s campus remained relatively stable. The sky did not fall. Harvard has proved itself capable of maintaining a diverse student body while continuing to practice legacy admissions.

In either case, it’s clear that, however commendable, these goals are not of such urgency that state or national governments may rightly arrogate to themselves the power to determine admissions criteria. Countenancing such overreach risks opening the door to more and more interference with college admissions practices.

For example, athletic applicants are routinely held to a much lower academic standard in the admissions process. Might legislators soon see fit to place quotas on the number of athletes a school admits? In fact, an outright ban on athletic preferences in admissions might end collegiate athletics as we know it.

What about the children of major donors? Should the children of those people whose donations fund tuition, resources, and opportunities for so many of us truly receive no additional consideration in the admissions process?

If such situations sound ludicrous, it’s because they are. Obviously government officials should not usurp the admissions professionals and administrators who know best what’s the needs of their school. Existing ad-

missions practices, including athlete and donor preferences, balance a complex matrix of needs and incentives. It’s fair game to call on colleges to find a different balance, but to directly intervene ignores that colleges themselves are best-placed to ensure their continued prosperity.

Some might argue that this reasoning implies the Supreme Court was wrong to evaluate the University’s program of affirmative action. But the two situations are clearly distinct. While the Supreme Court found that treating applicants differently based on their race violates the principles of equal protection found in the Constitution, the same can’t be said of legacy preferences, which may have racially disparate impacts but are plainly not discriminatory. Government should not wrest decisions about admissions practices from the hands of universities. Maybe legacy admissions should go — but Massachusetts legislators can’t be the ones to do it.

Haphazard Harvard and the Terrible Tailgate Troubles

omething is seriously wrong with this school, and it has nothing to do with intellectual vitality. As the Harvard-Yale game approaches, the College is once again repeating history by trying to administrate its way out of a subpar social scene. Harvard’s bureaucratic disconnect from actual student social life was on full display in recent comments from Associate Dean for Student Engagement Jason R. Meier, who focused more on scrutinizing the Editorial Board’s calls for a handsoff student tailgate than outlining his plan for The Game itself.

It’s wonderful to see Harvard administrators reading our editorials so closely, and I am grateful for the University’s commendable steadfastness to the rule of law, but — with less than a month until The Game — they seem to have no idea what they’re doing.

To date, aside from its barebones guidelines for general admission parking lot tailgating on regular game days (which is clearly not intended for undergraduate students), the College has provided no official details about this year’s undergraduate or alumni tailgate plans. No updated maps, schedules, tent policies, or anything else that students, alumni, and fans alike would turn toward to prepare for the biggest game of the year.

And they wonder why our stands are empty?

It’s a sad truth that Harvard’s school-sanctioned “parties” — like the embarrassing tailgate debacle of 2022 — are often poorly attended and ridiculed by many in the student body, while opportunities for student-led endeavors are constantly blocked by bureaucratic red tape.

These failings, compounded by the loss of institutional memory in House culture and student organizations, are sending Harvard down a painful path toward party culture purgatory.

It’s no secret, either. Last week, when discussing attempts to bolster our dastardly low attendance in the football stands, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Nicholas Majocha noted that “no one’s going to come” to tailgates hosted by the administration and successful tailgates must be “promoted and organized by students.”

The reality is, paid Harvard employees are subpar social chairs, and students want to have fun without administrators breathing down their necks at events that feel like they were pre-sanitized by a public relations firm.

Instead of engaging with this reality, Meier mocks his critics as merely underage students seeking exclusivity and free alcohol. As if we think that’s the only thing that makes a good party, and as if Harvard undergraduates are paragons of impropriety that can’t be trusted under any circumstances.

Let me promise that the Crimson Editorial Board — or anyone else for that matter — is not asking for Dean Dunne to pour shots for teenagers while Dean

Khurana snaps Instagram selfies. But it’s not ludicrous to acknowledge that every beer taken from a 19-year-old’s hands in the good name of the law can easily be replaced with a bottle of lukewarm vodka hastily chugged in a Grays Hall common room — an exponentially more dangerous undertaking.

So where do we go from here?

Housing Day, perhaps the best “community party” experience at Harvard, offers some guidance. With minimal policing and an administrative willingness to look past a few bent rules, thousands of (dare I say) intoxicated students gather en masse in Harvard Yard, safely embodying the raw school pride and admirable unruliness we would hope to see at a tailgate and in the stands at The Game.

The first step in correcting the course is recognizing that these critiques aren’t born of a desire for exclusivity but rather a hunger for freedom and authenticity, which Harvard’s programming consistently eludes.

The next step is gathering student leaders from both official and unofficial campus organizations — affinity groups, final clubs, large student organizations, House Committees, etc. — and asking them to join the tailgate as planners and participants.

The fields at the athletic complex are vast.

Mapped out ahead of time, allow student organizations to set up tents around the tailgate where they can provide a broad range of activities that appeal to the student body.

Create multiple areas with independent speaker systems for dancing in crowds, replete with elevated

surfaces and vibes curated by our best student DJs. Stock the tailgate with ample food and drink stations, plenty of bathrooms, thousands of bottles of water, and go-to gimmicks like bouncy houses, snow-cones, and carnival games. Then handle the liquid issue. Ahead of the event, provide wristbands to students who are over 21 to easily identify who can receive alcoholic drinks. During the planning process, clearly and coherently outline rules on the provision of alcohol to student-group leaders. Provide information about medical support and emergency contacts. This shouldn’t be hard — it’s essentially the same process used for events that provide alcohol in house spaces. Be willing to hear student ideas and negotiate (within the law, of course). Finally, on the day of The Game, take a step back and

P. Moss IV ’26, a Crimson Editorial editor, is a History concentrator in Eliot House.

CLAIRE YUAN — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

JULIAN J. GIORDANO — CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER

Concert Review: Billie Eilish Hits

Boston

Hard,

Soft, Quiet, and Loud at TD Garden

BY NAJYA

Billie Eilish showed Boston exactly who she is at her sold-out concert at TD Garden on Oct. 11. The eighth stop on “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour,” Eilish maintained impressive control over her set throughout the night, seamlessly transitioning between the high and low energies of her discography. After an exciting performance from American pop duo and Eilish’s good friends Nat and Alex Wolff, the arena simmered with anticipation. In a way, it felt as if the audience became a group of friends as they awaited Eilish’s entrance. At one point, everyone moved their flashlights to the beat of the preshow music, waving to strangers across the floor.

They chanted “Billie” and let out howls calling her to the stage.

The arena erupted with ear-splitting screams when the big cube sitting on stage lit up to reveal Eilish’s shadow, and the multi-talented artist began her set with “Chihiro” from her latest album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” The second song, “Lunch,” introduced even more energy, with Eilish running around the stage as fans threw bras at her. “Thank you for these,” she said cheekily.

The show’s lighting design cannot go unmentioned. It consistently matched and elevated the spirit of the tracks Eilish played — colorful and cartoonlike for “Lunch,” flashing black and white for “NDA,” red for “Oxytocin,” and a fitting green for “Guess.” Pyrotechnics literally brought the heat during songs like “Therefore I Am,” “bury a friend,” and “Happier Than Ever.”

The lighting also brought the en-

ergy down when needed — a lone spotlight shone down on Eilish as she performed her sadder, quieter songs such as “lovely,” “idontwannabeyouanymore,” “Ocean Eyes,” and “when the party’s over.”

One engaging aspect of the show was the vlog-style camera Eilish occasionally carried around. She took fans with her as she ran across the venue, posing with band members, security staff, and audience members along the way. Seeing this perspective on the big screen was refreshing, showing the audience a performer’s point of view.

Eilish brought her longtime friends Ava and Jane Horner on stage for her performances of “Male Fantasy” and “Skinny.” They provided background vocals for Eilish, the three of them sitting in a triangle while they shared this special experience.

An especially poignant mo -

ment in the show was Eilish’s performance of “when the party’s over.” Instead of simply using the instrumental as the backing track, she recorded her humming live, doubling and looping it to recreate the opening of the track. However, in order for this creative and intimate moment to be successful, it required complete silence in the room — a difficult task in a 19,600 seat arena. Sitting criss-cross applesauce on the darkened stage, Eilish asked her fans for this favor of silence.

“It’s the only time in my life that I’m gonna ask for silence from you, because I love the noise more than anything in the world,” she said.

“Don’t you know I’m no good for you,” Eilish sang. “I’ve learned to lose you, can’t afford to,” the audience screamed back. The second line of the song was so loud and full of love, it must have echoed throughout the streets of Boston.

Eilish closed out the night with “Birds of a Feather” off of “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Friends held hands and sang to each other as they jumped around, and one couple even got engaged.

“I love you,” Eilish screamed to her fans as she waved, bowed, and threw them kisses. This show made one thing glaringly clear — Eilish is no longer the 13-year-old girl the world fell in love with. She’s a performer, a creative, a friend — a star — and Boston knows it.

Eilish asked, and her fans delivered. For 30 seconds, it felt as if the air had been sucked out of TD Garden, breaths held behind recording iPhones. The audience watched in awe as the layers of her voice came together, waiting for the moment they could sing along.

najya.gause@thecrimson.com

Savoring Cambridge: CanalSide Food + Drink Opens

BY JORDEN

On Oct. 25, workers, college students, and shoppers gathered at CambridgeSide mall to celebrate the grand opening of CanalSide Food + Drink. Surrounded by the buzz of conversation and live soft rock music, attendees curiously explored the vibrant new food hall, sampling offerings from its two new eateries and sipping craft cocktails and wine at the sleek C-Side Bar. With a diverse smattering of dining options and picturesque waterfront views, the newly renovated food court aims to become a hub for the Cambridge community. This renovation is part of the broader CambridgeSide 2.0 initiative: a transformative project designed to create a seamless space for shopping, working, and living. The first phase of construction began in 2021, and three short years later, CanalSide Food + Drink has opened its doors to a bustling crowd.

Nestled just steps away from stores like American Eagle Outfitters and Mango, the food hall features a variety of shiny new seating areas, ranging from cozy, cushioned booths to wooden high tops ideal for study-

ing or meeting with colleagues. The bright, airy space also features large windows that offer stunning views into Cambridge fall, flooding the hall with natural light and creating a welcoming atmosphere perfect for lingering. Melissa LaVita, senior marketing director of CambridgeSide, emphasized the food hall’s role in building community. “There’s a lot of office and lab workers in the area. There’s a lot of college students. We have a lot of residents,” LaVita said. “You can have lunch, maybe you’re writing a paper, maybe you’re doing a little bit of work.” The crowd on opening day reflected this vision, as CanalSide’s attendees included a mélange of demographics. Jim Milliman, a patron staying at a nearby hotel while visiting family, learned about the opening from an advertisement of things to do in the city. Another visitor, John MacGillivray, stumbled into the food hall after accidentally booking the wrong time for an iPad class at the Apple Store. Throughout the food hall, college students in university gear sat near corporate workers in business attire; families with small children sat adjacent to construction workers on their lunch breaks, still wearing their hard hats.

CanalSide’s impetus for making global cuisine local, as evidenced by their slogan “Go Local, Eat Global,” is evident in its expansive range of food offerings.

“There is something for everyone on the menu,” LaVita said. “You could get Asian food, and your family member could get a burger, your friend could go to Sapporo Ramen. There’s definitely so many options.”

The hall’s current lineup includes coffee and breakfast sandwiches from Caffè Nero, bubble tea from Teazzi Tea Shop, fresh pasta from DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go, New Zealand-style ice cream from Far Out Ice Cream, and craft drinks from the C-Side Bar, where attendees relaxed next to a theater-sized screen showing a football game.

Though not all of the dining or shopping options are currently operational, visitors were optimistic about the center’s future. Milliman was disappointed that not every store was open, adding that once they are open, “it’ll be great.”

Other patrons commented on the upgraded ambiance in the food hall. Annette Rescigno, who visited the opening on her lunch break, said that the renovated hall was “really nice.”

“I feel like I should’ve dressed up for lunch,” Rescigno said. “I like the vibe, I love the furniture, the decorations, the colors — it’s really nice.”

Rescigno was also pleased with the expanded food selection, saying that it was a huge change from before the renovations.

“I like the different selections. They have more of a variety, which I like,” Rescigno said. The grand opening featured charming balloon displays and a festive spin-the-wheel game, where visitors had the chance to win CanalSide beer koozies, reusable bags, CanalSide gift cards, and other prizes.

In the future, CanalSide plans to continue its communityminded approach.

“We’re gonna have activities such as live music, trivia nights, different types of themed events for holidays,” LaVita said. The optimism surrounding CanalSide Food + Drink’s potential to become a staple within the Cambridge community is shared by both management and attendees, and with expansion in CambridgeSide’s front view, CanalSide Food + Drink is poised to become just that.

CAMPUS

Our Favorite Album Cover Art

BY HANNAH E. GADWAY, MARIN E. GRAY,

ROSE M. JEWELL, MADELYN E. MCKENZIE, AND HANNAH M. WILKOFF CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS

We listen to music, but sometimes we look at it too. Album cover art is an essential part of the listening experience, although it is often overlooked. No longer! Here are some of The Crimson’s Arts Board’s favorite album covers, including some reflections on the music inside.

‘Clouds’ by Joni Mitchell

It’s the late 1960s, and singersongwriter — and visual artist — Joni Mitchell has found widespread popularity for her music along with the most efficient means of distributing her lesserknown works of visual art: her album covers. As her music tunnels through American culture, the masses are also handling her artwork. Millions of copies are sold, shared, lauded, and critiqued, all printed on the flimsy cardboard casings of her music. It was in this context that

Mitchell’s self-portrait took up position as a sentinel stationed with an unwavering gaze on the cover of her 1969 album, “Clouds.” Yet the artist’s frontal stare, framed by her signature wispy blonde hair and bangs set against her hometown of Saskatoon, isn’t directed at the viewer at all. Much like the songs encoded in vinyl within, it’s a reflected average of her self-observations constructed from Mitchell’s scrutiny of herself in a mirror over the course of several weeks.

From the double edges of life juxtaposed in “Both Sides Now” to the sunshiney tune of “Chelsea Morning,” the raw introspection of “Clouds” is anticipated first in its cover portrait — but only once Mitchell’s original vinyl listeners had been initiated as viewers could they unfold the album’s self-portrait in song. And once they did, they’d find that her music and her art aren’t so distinct, after all: Joni Mitchell’s guitar strings and sailing vocals reverberate with all the vibrance of cadmium red and cobalt violet in her painting.

marin.gray@thecrimson.com

“Punisher” by Phoebe Bridgers

When I think of Phoebe Bridgers,

I immediately think of the “Punisher” album cover. To have a cover so synonymous with one’s personhood and career represents the extent to which Bridgers encapsulates her album and herself in a single square. The silhouette of the Trona Pinnacles on the outskirts of Death Valley evokes the otherworldly essence of Bridgers’ tracks on the albums, as she voices feelings of hope, adriftness, and existential dread. The apocalyptic, hellish wasteland mirrors the cacophonic screams at the end of “I Know The End” and the deep future dread which accompanies much of Bridgers’ discography. Yet, what makes the cover the most memorable is not the intricate composition of the photo, but Bridgers herself. Standing in her trademark skeleton costume with her face turned up towards the constellations in the dark night sky, she asks the viewer to pause and think about the importance of their own vulnerability in such a beautifully overwhelming world.

hannah.wilkoff@thecrimson.com

“Prelude to Ecstasy” by The Last Dinner Party

From the marble mantle to the

costuming in the portrait hung above it, the “Prelude to Ecstasy” album cover epitomizes the unique experience listeners of The Last Dinner Party love. “Prelude to Ecstasy” is the band’s debut album, and its cover reflects their unique, indie-rock sound reminiscent of bands like Arctic Monkeys, Marina and the Diamonds, and Florence + the Machine. The mantle holds greenery, flowers, candles, and a massive baroque-esque portrait featuring corsets, long skirts, and a chaise lounge hidden by stylized poses — all of which scream tradition. Yet, the tarot card, palm reading guide, and crystal add a modern edge that listeners love. The muted color scheme with pops of complimentary green and red make the cover enjoyable yet interesting to look at, mirroring the intriguing yet easy-tolisten-to music of The Last Dinner Party.

madelyn.mckenzie@thecrimson.com

“Eat a Peach” by The Allman Brothers Band

I was raised by “Eat a Peach.” On dreary Maine winter mornings, my dad would pop his well-loved Allman Brothers CD into our pickup truck’s stereo. My sleepy gaze would land on the tiny im-

age of a truck carrying a comically large peach across a blueskied road, and for a few minutes, I wasn’t in a winter landscape — I was in Georgia. The music of The Allman Brothers Band, a 70s rock group based in Mason, Georgia, has an uncanny ability to transport you to the South, but the album cover of “Eat a Peach” takes this to the next level. The central illustration of the album was lifted from a Georgia postcard. Behind this, a wash of baby blues and pinks, reminiscent of winter sunrises, feels like a synesthesia-generated visualization of listening to the album. The simple album cover opens to reveal an inner gatefold inspired by psychedelic imagery, children’s fantasy illustrations, and the complex landscapes of Hieronymous Bosch. The artwork of “Eat a Peach” fits right in with the band’s breezy and comforting sound while gesturing at the Allman Brothers’ diverse inspirations. Beyond this, the iconic record art echoes the words of Duane Allman, one of the band’s founding brothers. Duane passed away before “Eat a Peach” was created, but he said, “Every time I’m in Georgia, I eat a peach for peace. Every time I look at “Eat a Peach,” I am transported to my

own pocket of peace — my childhood, my favorite memories, my version of Georgia.

hannah.gadway@thecrimson.com

“What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye What is an album without its cover? Incomplete. That’s exactly what Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” album would be rendered without its iconic cover. The imagery, while so simple, perfectly encapsulates the album’s message and story. Photographed in the backyard of his Detroit home, Gaye stands tall and proud, reflecting his steadfast efforts to release the politically charged album that his manager Berry Gordy opposed. Gaye pensively looks out in the distance, appearing to reflect on the state of the world; with a slight smile, he seems to be thinking of a better Earth — one where the children of today can thrive tomorrow. The sleek black coat Gaye dons is sprinkled with water droplets and shields him from snowfall, mirroring his existence in the coldness of the modern world he articulates throughout the album. So simple, so symbolic, so iconic. Go ahead, try to name a better album cover. I’ll wait.

‘Caddo Lake’ Review: The Mysteries Haunting Caddo Lake

BY THALIA I.

FERRO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Exploring the depths of the everchanging marsh, a daughter finds her roots and unravels the mysteries from her past in “Caddo Lake,” leading to a masterful depiction of finding forgiveness, trust, and closure for one’s found family. “Caddo Lake” is an original film directed by Celine Held and Logan George. This movie is eerie but not scary, and the plot feels realistic even though it includes some supernatural elements. Held and George are no strangers to this genre, as they have worked on many films in the past that deal with topics of poverty and loss, such as “Topside” and “Caroline.” The film’s plot line was confusing at times, especially when the characters moved

through a specific area of the lake that changed the time period in which the characters live. This element of time travel was sometimes hard to follow, and it was difficult to understand where and when each character was during some scenes. However, the film was engaging through its plot twists and emotional authenticity, and the element of confusion might be on purpose, as the filmmakers likely wanted the viewers to experience the same emotions that the characters felt.

Eliza Scanlen and Dylan O’Brien give extremely skilled performances in “Caddo Lake.” In this film, a little girl goes missing somewhere in Caddo Lake. Her older sister Ellie, played by Scanlen, is determined to find her and bring her back to safety. O’Brien’s character, Paris, technically never meets Scanlen’s character; they are simply dis -

covering the supernatural qualities of Caddo Lake at the same time. Paris is dealing with the death of his mother, who died in a car crash in Caddo Lake. He is wrestling with survivor’s guilt and is committed to discovering what really happened that day. Both of their characters are coping with losing someone, and the film handles this topic with clear commitment and thoughtfulness, underscoring the intense emotions one feels when experiencing grief.

Scanlen, who is known for her delicate take on Beth in Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women,” demonstrates her versatility as an actress as she plays a hot-headed, risky and protective sister — quite the opposite to the kind and quiet Beth. O’Brien has done some work in darker and more brooding films, having come a long way from playing a comedic young adult in

adventure films and mysteries, such as the “Maze Runner” trilogy and “Teen Wolf.” His performance as Paris in “Caddo Lake” displays his acting prowess, as he embodies a character with deeper emotions and ambitions. Both actors give authentic and dedicated performances in this film.

The filmmakers utilize silence and musical crescendo to build up big plot points or twists. On the other hand, the film lacks strong narrative and character dialogue at points, instead relying heavily on the actors’ emotions to portray the story in a “show, not tell” manner. The color grading in the film is muted, adding to each sequence’s ominous weight. Most scenes are dark because of the film’s reliance on natural lighting from its outdoor setting. The coolness of this lighting con -

tributes to the film’s rural and outdoorsy qualities. The lack of theatrics in the color grading and lighting also allows the audience to focus primarily on Scanlen and O’Brien’s acting and emotional performances. Unlike films that use color to create a different world, “Caddo Lake” seeks to emphasize the everyday — distilling the viewing experience down to misty skies, flowing rivers, and mysterious woods. Lowell Meyer’s cinematography is dynamic and focused. The camera closely follows the characters in each scene, cutting quickly to different angles of the same subject. The intentionally shaky camera work makes the viewer feel like another character walking alongside and tracking the protagonist. A fast visual blur effect and matching sound accompanies the characters whenever

they enter the “magical” part of the marsh, making it clear that something out of the ordinary has occurred. However, a few scenes felt inauthentic. One scene features CGI wolves in the woods that are not edited well, causing them to not appear realistic. Another scene features water from Caddo Lake’s dam rushing through trees and refilling barren terrain, but the way the water pools around the trees does not look realistic, either. These last two visual effects feel especially out of place in such a raw and genuine film, detracting from an immersive viewing experience. Although the movie’s confusing plot choices and special effects occasionally diminish from the viewing experience, “Caddo Lake” is filmed and performed beautifully, finishing with an undeniable emotional impact.

ANGEL ZHANG –– CRIMSON DESIGNER

Lessons Beyond the Court

do this for our community and obviously our basketball team.

It’s so enriching, we get the energy and positivity. And we learn a lot.”

OSCAR E. MERCADO

Harvard men’s basketball coach Tommy Amaker knows that building a great team is about more than athletic skill. Raised in a family of educators, Amaker takes his role as a teacher seriously, working tirelessly to develop his players into well-rounded individuals, inspiring them to become great teammates. For him, great teams have great teammates. And there’s no better example of Amaker creating an environment for great teammates than The Breakfast Club, a harrowed Harvard basketball tradition.

Amaker and his team meet monthly over breakfast with esteemed guests and Black professionals and scholars from the Boston area. The initiative fosters dialogue on equity, social justice, and shared experiences among powerful and influential voices in the community. It also serves as a mentorship opportunity for student athletes.

“We’ve been doing it for so many years,” Amaker explained. “I’m proud that we can

Coach Amaker arrived at Harvard in 2007 as the only Black head coach in Harvard Athletics. Ronald Sullivan and the late Charles Ogletree, both Harvard Law professors, assembled a group of Black leaders, mostly faculty, for an informal networking group called Tommy’s Kitchen Cabinet, to welcome the new coach on campus. The small community enabled Amaker to build relationships, connect to the community, and learn from others.

Since that eventful day, Tom -

bers. Past participants include President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, former Harvard President Drew Faust, former Massachusetts governor and current NCAA president Charlie Baker ’79, among others.

This month, the Breakfast Club held two editions of its monthly breakfast, featuring special guest visits from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, six-time Grand Slam tennis champion John McEnroe, the General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison, and Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown.

“They all mention how meaningful the Breakfast Club

er. The impact has been enormous and it lives on. It goes on forever which is transformational.”

This enduring support is precisely the transformational impact Amaker envisions: former students leveraging their expanded network for career opportunities, mentorship, and lifelong guidance, a testament to the power of connection and representation.

Harrison, in particular, was the ideal speaker to drive this message home, not only because of his ties to the NBA. At the club’s Oct. 23 meeting last week, he emphasized the importance of visibility in leadership, highlighting how representation can broaden aspirations within the community.

“If people don’t see themselves in a job like this, then they’re never going to dream about it,” Harrison said, highlighting his goal to inspire others by showing that success in such roles is within reach.

Though many icons come from various fields, the teachings and lessons that they impart on the team remain forever.

ties as players and as students,” Piggé added. “Being confident in who we are as individuals contributes to us being great as a team.”

nent figures. This opportunity to engage with leaders like Healey and Feaster provides invaluable lessons and perspectives, transcending typical

my’s Kitchen Cabinet evolved into The Breakfast Club, a place not only for Black leaders to meet student athletes but also the broader community. The event has moved from its original spot at Henrietta’s Table to a larger space within the Charles Hotel, as it has grown in mem -

was to them,” reflected Amaker on the club’s lasting impact on his players. “Any member of the Breakfast Club, the only requirement is that they always are available, willing, and able to advise, mentor, guide, and counsel any current or former Harvard Men’s basketball play -

“We are more than basketball players,” said junior guard and Crimson Sports editor Chandler Piggé. “A lot of the people that came and talked to us are always encouraging us to look beyond the basketball court and look at things we’re passionate about. They’ve talked about being our authentic selves.”

“We possess unique quali -

The impact of The Breakfast Club transcends men’s basketball, with everybody in the room taking away something from the meeting. One such person was Harvard women’s basketball coach Carrie Moore, who attended both editions this month.

“I feel very special,” said Moore, as she specifically pointed to Governor Maura Healey ’92 and former WNBA star Allison Feaster ’98 as significant guests this month.

“Just to talk to the people in the room, the education and inspiration you get from that hour is so impactful.” Moore’s experience highlights the unique environment Amaker has cultivated, where not only players but also coaches can connect and learn from Harvard alumni and promi -

team-building activities. The Breakfast Club continues to shape a powerful legacy at Harvard, a testament to Coach Amaker’s commitment to growth beyond the court. Through conversations that blend mentorship with social consciousness, participants gain perspectives that influence their lives and careers. The Breakfast Club isn’t just about building athletes; it’s about cultivating leaders who, in turn, will uplift others. With each gathering, Amaker’s vision of fostering great teammates echoes. The Breakfast Club’s impact is poised to endure for years, inspiring future generations to see themselves as both athletes and changemakers.

Members of the Harvard men’s basketball program meet Celtics star Jaylen Brown at The Breakfast Club meeting on Oct. 23. Also in attendance were Hakeem

Big Green Beatdown

three consecutive matches.

Harvard 3, Dartmouth 1

After two straight winless weekends, the Harvard women’s volleyball team (9-8, 4-4 Ivy) got back on track taking down Dartmouth (9-9, 2-6 Ivy) 3-1 on the road. This was the second victory for the Crimson over the Big Green this season as Harvard won the previous matchup at home also in 3-1 fashion. The Crimson have now won four straight over Dartmouth, having not lost to its rivals from Hanover since 2022. Four straight victories makes the rivalry between the two New England schools Harvard’s longest active win-streak in Ivy League play; though, the Crimson have a chance to match it against Columbia (3-14, 0-8 Ivy) this weekend, who Harvard has not dropped as much as a set to in

The Crimson showed growth from the onset of the match by taking five of the first seven points. Strong play by the whole team put pressure on the Big Green and forced multiple errors by Dartmouth. The opening of the first set was highlighted by strong play from junior outside hitter Peyton Hollis. Hollis bombarded on the Big Green defense with kills for three of Harvard’s first ten points. Dartmouth crept back into the set through more efficient play before a 3-0 run by the Crimson recreated some distance. That distance helped Harvard survive a 4-1 Big Green run that shrunk the Crimson lead to one. Once again though, Harvard stretched the lead out to four before Dartmouth launched a run of its own to even up the score at 22. The Crimson would get the last laugh, however, as two kills by sophomore middle blocker Ryleigh Patterson and another kill by junior outside hitter Brynne Faltinsky snatched a 2522 first set for Harvard. Set two started off with the Big Green dealing the first blow, running out to an 8-4 lead early. Sloppy play from the Crim-

son contributed four of the eight points. From there, Harvard battened down the hatches and held the deficit to four up to the 14-10 mark. Then the Crimson launched a counterattack, bursting out to a 6-0 run followed by only a brief pause before continuing with a 4-1 spurt to secure a 20-17 lead. Desperate to avoid a 2-0 hole, Dartmouth bowed up to tie the set at 20-20. In the end, the Harvard squad stepped up in the biggest moments and clinched the set 25-22.

for half of the set before surging to a decisive defense of its homecourt. After playing clean volleyball in the first two sets, errors plagued the Crimson throughout the third, with the Crimson reverting back to its old yip with five service blunders. These errors allowed Dartmouth to coast to a 2519 set win.

Errors continued to hurt Harvard early in the fourth set, allowing the Big Green to gain a slight 7-5 advantage in the early stages. Sharper play by the Crimson helped the team play even with Dartmouth for a stretch before seizing a 13-10 lead with a 4-0 outburst. The two squads exchanged points for a period before Harvard turned up the pressure and blew the Big Green off its own court to end the set. From the 1715 mark, the Crimson exchanged one Dartmouth point for two to three of its own ultimately ending the set and match with a 2518 score, the most decisive of the match.

Just as in the first match between these Ancient Eight rivals, the Crimson took the first two sets, and just like that first match, the Big Green would claim the third. In the first go-around, Dartmouth won a nail-biter to prevent the sweep. This time, the Big Green hung close with Harvard

Although Harvard still suffered bouts of errors, its play was much cleaner this game than during its losing streak. The squad committed only 16 errors over the four set match which was 12 fewer than the Big Green and nine fewer than the team committed in the first match of

these Ancient Eighters. While Faltinsky had a very strong performance, 18 kills at 37.8% and three blocks, the most notable performance came from senior libero Lindsey Zhang who recorded a game-high 21 digs. Zhang crossed the 1,000 career digs milestone with her 13th dig of the night.

“Reaching 1,000 digs felt amazing,” Zhang said. “I had no idea that I would hit it during this game. When I walked into the locker room, everyone started cheering, jumping, recording, and hugging me–I had no idea what was happening! I looked up and saw a sweet message written on the whiteboard. The milestone was incredibly rewarding, and I felt so lucky and grateful for this program.” Harvard will look to carry the momentum from this match into its play next weekend when it travels to New York for the Empire State doubleheader against Cornell and Columbia. The Crimson defeated both of these foes in the first go around, so will be looking for another straightsweeep. The road trip starts on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Cornell (116, 5-3 Ivy), and the match will also be aired on ESPN+.

Ending Big Green’s Streak?

Green to an undefeated 6-0 start, heading into its matchup with the Crimson (5-1, 2-1 Ivy).

The Crimson will face Dartmouth (6-0, 3-0 Ivy) — the only remaining undefeated team in the Ivy League — on Saturday in a defining matchup for both team’s seasons.

Harvard enters the heavyweight showdown tied for second in the Ivy League, with its loss to Brown in the team’s first conference matchup as its lone blemish on the season. The only realistic path for Harvard to achieve its goal of an outright Ivy League title would be to win this game and then run the table, hoping Dartmouth and Brown lose at least one game in the rest of their seasons.

If Dartmouth secures the win, they’ll emerge the clear favorite for the League title with their toughest targets already behind them.

Despite the importance of the game, Harvard Head Coach Andrew Aurich said his players have had the benefit of playing every contest since the Brown game with the knowledge that their season is on the line.

“We’ve had our back against the wall since Brown game, so the mindset for these guys is not any different than it was Cornell, than Princeton.” Aurich said. “Because in this league, a two loss championship hasn’t happened very often, so you literally have to be playing with your back against wall.”

Junior wide receiver Copper Barkate also said that his mindset hasn’t changed much since the loss to Brown.

“We messed that one up,” said Barkate of the last-second collapse against the Bears. “Every week is a championship

previously undefeated teams in the conference.

Dartmouth is no stranger to close games. The Big Green has won its last five games by a combined total of 13 points, with the largest margin being just four.

Running back Q Jones, who is currently second in the Ivy

the depth of talent Craig has to work with in Harvard’s offense.

“They involve a lot of players offensively,” McCorkle said. “It does put a lot of stress on you defensively. The big thing we’ve got to do is, obviously, we’ve got to make sure we’re assignment sound. We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot. We can’t give them easy plays. We have to make them work for everything. And that’s our plan going forward.”

McCorkle also said he is prepared to adjust his offense as needed against a strong Harvard defense — led by Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Scott Larkee ’99.

League in rushing, played a key role in the game against the Lions, finishing with a career-best 182 rushing yards. His role was all the more important for the team as Dartmouth’s starting quarterback Jackson Proctor was held out with an injury.

McCorkle gave little indication of whether his lead signal caller will make a return against Harvard.

“We’re still day to day,” McCorkle said. “By Saturday, we’ll have a better idea of where we are with that.” For his part, Aurich acknowledged Jones as a threat, but noted that as long as no player on his defense tries to be a “superhero,” Jones can be contained.

“He is a great running back, great vision, patience, and when he sees the hole, he has an acceleration to him,” Aurich said. “So the main thing is we have to make sure everybody’s doing their job. Because if somebody tries to go and make

“Harvard’s very good up front, very good up front, and very good at the second level,” McCorkle said. “Their safeties and secondary do a very good job of being involved as well.”

“I mean, they got very good defense,” he added. “They always have a very good defense.”

Going into Saturday, both teams are preparing for the most highly anticipated matchup of the year in the Ivy League. Still, Barkate said he’s feeling good about where the Crimson stands.

“We have so many weapons,” Barkate said. “The running back room has depth. The receiver room has depth. Craig’s playing lights out. So I think we’re doing pretty well.”

The top quarterback and wide receiver duo in the conference, along with the rest of the Crimson, will try to extend their winning streak to five in Hanover, N.H. at 1:30 p.m. on Sat. Nov. 2, with streaming on ESPN+.

Jaden Craig follows through on a throw against Princeton on Oct. 26. This Saturday, Harvard will try to win its third straight game against Ivy League opponents and fifth straight game overall.

BY NICHOLAS T. JACOBSSON AND KAYLA H.