The Harvard Crimson THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873
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VOLUME CXLIX, NO. 1 |
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
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MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022
EDITORIAL PAGE 4
SPORTS PAGE 6
NEWS PAGE 5
Harvard’s new pandemic policy flies in the face of public health and safety.
Women’s hockey skates to a 3-2 record over winter break.
Harvard undergraduates bemoan the fourth virtual course preview period.
Harvard Returns Amid Omicron Wave HGSU Some Classes Start Asks for Spring Term Online covid-19 cases Covid by week Changes faculty, staff and others By ARIEL H. KIM and MEIMEI XU
CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
Some Harvard professors will hold classes online during the first week of the spring semester, citing Covid-19 concerns. Harvard told faculty members earlier this month they would be able to hold classes remotely during the first week of the semester, when Covid cases are expected to surge. “When students return to campus, we expect to see a surge in cases and we realize that it may be difficult for instructors to manage large numbers of students in isolation all at the same time,” Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda J. Claybaugh wrote in a Jan. 18 email to faculty members. But the flexible policy will not last: Courses must be taught in-person for the remainder of the semester unless instructors obtain special permission, Claybaugh wrote. Covid cases on Harvard’s
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MADISON A. SHIRAZI—CRIMSON DESIGNER
campus have surged to their highest rates ever this month. During the first week of January, when most students were away from campus for winter break, Harvard reported 977 positives, shattering the previous record set just three weeks prior. Still, the University opted to bring students back for an in-person spring semester, citing the decreased risk of severe illness the Omicron variant presents to most students. Several instructors decided to take advantage of the policy, forgoing classroom instruction in favor of Zoom for the first week. Harvard School of Public Health Professor Susanne J. “Sue” Goldie wrote in an email that she decided to teach Gen Ed 1063: “World Health: Challenges and Opportunities” online for the first week to reduce risk of infection and create greater learning equity among students, some of whom
SEE CLASSES PAGE 3
Undergraduates Greeted by New Covid Policies By LUCAS J. WALSH and VIVIAN ZHAO CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
Harvard students returned to Cambridge en masse over the last week to signifigantly-changed campus Covid-19 restrictions. Grappling with the fast-spreading Omicron variant, the University now requires students who test positive for Covid to isolate in place — not in school-run isolation housing. It also stopped conducting contact tracing earlier this month, asking affiliates who test positive to notify their own close contacts of potential Covid exposure. “The updates to guidance and protocols we have made recognize the unprecedented number of cases within our community,” Harvard University Health Services Director Giang T. Nguyen wrote in a Jan. 12 email to Harvard affiliates. University administrators
have said they expect cases to rise during the opening days of the semester. The school hasn’t yet seen an overwhelming surge — but 425 affiliates have tested positive in the last seven days, according to the University’s Covid-19 dashboard, compared to only 140 in the week after Thanksgiving break. With most undergraduates just returning to Cambirdge, most cases this month have been among faculty, staff, and graduate students. Harvard encouraged students to complete Covid-19 tests prior to arriving on campus. The tests, provided through Color Genomics, were mailed to students upon request. Upon arriving on campus, undergraduate students were required to complete a rapid antigen test and then begin taking PCR swabs three times per week. Indoor social gatherings will be “limited in size” for at
SEE MOVE-IN PAGE 3
HKS Publication Retracts Article By MILES J. HERSZENHORN CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
The Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review has admitted to publishing misinformation. The journal, published by HKS’s Shorenstein Center, retracted an article last month that concluded a slavery reparations advocacy group discouraged Black voters from participating in the 2020 presidential election. The group in question, the American Descendants of Slavery Advocacy Foundation, publicly refuted the article’s findings, leading the journal to launch internal and external reviews of the research. The reviews, which concluded in August, found mistakes and data discrepancies in the study, calling into question its conclusions. The Misinformation Review retracted the article, titled “Disinformation creep: ADOS and the strategic weaponization of breaking news,” on Dec. 20, writing in an editor’s note that the authors admitted “defects” in their work. “The retraction decision was not taken lightly but is one that
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Harvard Today 2
we feel was necessary, as certain of the principal conclusions reported in this paper cannot be considered reliable or valid,” the Misinformation Review’s editorial staff wrote. “It is important to acknowledge that this outcome also represents a failure of the journal’s editorial process.” The article underwent three peer-reviews and one editorial review prior to publication, according to Maria Y. Rodriguez, a co-author of the article. The journal pledged to review its practices “to prevent similar occurrences in the future.” The article concluded ADOS used discussions of current events on Twitter to support “anti-Black political groups and causes, strategically discouraging Black voters from voting for the Democratic party.” The external review — written by Bruce Desmarais of Pennsylvania State University — found that the article relied on a small subset of tweets from ADOS’ co-founders, Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore, to demonstrate that the group attempted to dissuade its Black Americans from voting
SEE HKS PAGE 5
News 5
Editorial 4
The chairs were empty in the Winthrop House dining hall on Sunday. For the beginning of this semester, the University instituted grab-and-go dining as a public health measure. CORY K. GORCZYCKI—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
By SOPHIA C. SCOTT and CLAIRE YUAN CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
Harvard’s graduate student union presented University leaders with a list of grievances about the school’s updated spring Covid-19 protocols last week, calling for free high-quality masks and expanded testing. In a letter to administrators last Wednesday, Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers raised concerns that the University’s Covid-19 regulations for student workers will not adequately slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The union also met with University leaders Wednesday, with members offering testimonials. HGSU-UAW called for increased social distancing in indoor spaces, waivers for mental health costs, undergraduate isolation housing, contract tracing, and improved Covid-19 guidance and accommodations. It also requested booster vaccine access for student workers’ families and HEPA filters in workspaces. More than 350 HGSU members had signed onto the list of demands as of Wednesday evening, one week after its release. The University has five business days to respond to the complaint, per the union’s contract. University spokesperson Jason A. Newton declined to comment on the letter. He confirmed Harvard will address the grievance in accordance with the contract. The union previously presented the Covid concerns to the University in the first week of January. HGSU-UAW sent informal complaints to Harvard’s Office of Labor and Employee Relations that outlined preliminary concerns and warned of a possible grievance letter, according to former union president Brandon J. Mancilla.
SEE HGSU PAGE 3
Elow to Lead Cambridge Police Department By BRANDON L. KINGDOLLAR CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
Christine A. Elow was sworn in as commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department earlier this week, making her the first woman ever to lead the force. Elow served as acting commissioner of the department for nearly five months following the departure of Branville G. Bard Jr. in August. She took over the post full-time on Tuesday after a private swearing-in ceremony at CPD headquarters. Elow was also the first woman to serve as a CPD superintendent, a position she held for five years prior to taking over as acting commissioner. In a CPD press release, Elow said she was “honored” to have the chance to lead the department, adding that she hopes CPD can be “the model for policing” nationally. “My entire career has been dedicated to serving the Cambridge community. I grew up in Cambridge and love working in this city,” Elow said. “I will remain committed to bringing change and transformation to public safety and working collaboratively with the community.” Elow, who was raised in
Sports 6
Christine A. Elow was sworn in as commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department earlier this week, making her the first woman ever to lead the force. COURTESY OF CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Cambridgeport, is the first native Cantabrigian to serve as CPD commissioner, according to the city press release. She has served in the department since 1995, when she joined as a patrol officer after four years in the U.S. Navy. Tyrone Bellitti, co-founder
TODAY’S FORECAST
of the Cambridge branch of My Brother’s Keeper, a youth-advocacy initiative, said Elow’s lived experience in the city will be an asset to her tenure as commissioner. “She’s been involved through so many different iterations of Cambridge’s history,” Bellit-
CLOUDY High: 32 Low: 25
ti said. “That firsthand experience and knowledge of the city and its evolution, it’s critical to her ability to help lead the seat that she’s in currently.” During the summer of 2020, Bellitti worked with Cambridge
SEE POLICE PAGE 3
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archaic heating
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
JANUARY 24, 2022
PAGE 2
HARVARD TODAY
For Lunch Philly Cheese Steak Sub Red Spiced Chicken Seitan Cheese Steak Sub
For Dinner Sausage Jambalaya Roasted Chicken Spanish Pisto Manchego
TODAY’S EVENTS Moderna Booster Clinic 12 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
IN THE REAL WORLD
Trying to find a place where you can get your Covid-19 vaccine booster shot? Look no further than HUHS. Make an appointment on the HUHS patient portal and go down to the clinic to get boosted.
Two N.Y.P.D Officers Gunned Down in Shooting
Two officers from the New York Police Department were shot after responding to a 911 call from a woman having a dispute with her son. The son shot the two officers, killing Jason Rivera, 22. The second officer, Wilbert Mora, 27, was in critical condition. After this incident, a total of five N.Y.P.D. officers have been shot this year.
Principles of Time Management with the ARC 12 p.m.-12:45 p.m. New Year, New You means no more pulling all-nighters because you procrastinated all your assignments until the last minute. As a new semester starts, we all want to become more efficient at managing our time well. The ARC is here to help you stay on top of your schedule. Effective and Efficient Reading 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Are you drowning in an endless pile of readings for class? Instead of skimming through your readings (or just not reading them at all), join the ARC to learn how to read more efficiently and effectively.
100 Lab Monkeys Found After Some Escaped in Crash
People walk in front of Lamont Library on a sunny day in December. JULIAN J. JIORDANO—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
DAILY BRIEFING
All of the monkeys that escaped after a truck towing a trailer of 100 of the animals crashed into a dump truck on a Pennsylvania highway last Friday. The Pennsylvania Game Commission and other agencies tracked down the last monkey Saturday night after a search involving thermal imaging and a helicopter.
Omicron Sub-Variant Discovered By British Health Authorities
Some Harvard professors elected to move their classes online during the first week of the semester, citing Covid-19 concerns. Amid the spread of the Omicron variant and new policies set forth by the University, students returned to campus en masse this past week for their second fully in-person semester since the pandemic began. Harvard’s graduate student union presented University leaders with a list of grievances about the school’s updated spring Covid-19 protocols last week, calling for free high-quality masks and expanded testing.
British health authorities have discovered hundreds of cases of a sub-variant of Omicron named “BA.2”. More than 400 cases were found in Britain this month, and scientists have identified the variant in 40 other countries. The BA.2 variant was found in the majority of recent cases in countries such as India, Sweden and Denmark.
COVID UPDATES
LAST 7 DAYS CURRENTLY
CAMPUS
350 In Isolation
425 1.74% Total New Cases
Positivity Rate
LAST 7 DAYS
CAMBRIDGE
1090 8.64% 75%
Total New Cases
Positivity Rate
Fully Vaccinated
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY Colleges Fight Bill Limiting Students from Outside State
Harvard and other local colleges protested a Massachusetts bill barring schools with less than 65 percent local enrollment from receiving tax exemptions. The post-war bill was designed to support Massachusetts veterans, according to legislators, but educators argued it would harm local enrollment levels and campus diversity. January 24, 1947
Lawsuits Spur Inquiry on Bias Within Police Force
Black officers from the Cambridge Police Department filed two lawsuits alleging the CPD used discriminatory disciplinary and promotional practices. January 24, 1990
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873
The Harvard Crimson Raquel Coronell Uribe ’22-’23 Associate Managing Editors President Kelsey J. Griffin ’23 Taylor C. Peterman ’23-’24 Jasper G. Goodman ’23 Managing Editor Associate Business Managers Amy X. Zhou ’23 Taia M.Y. Cheng ’23-’24 Business Manager Isabelle L. Guillaume ’24
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PAGE 3
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
JANUARY 24, 2022
CLASSES FROM PAGE 1
POLICE FROM PAGE 1
Covid Sends Some Classes Online
Elow to Lead Cambridge PD
might be in isolation after testing positive. Goldie also wrote she wanted to reduce the risk of Harvard affiliates passing along the virus to vulnerable family members and avoid contracting the virus herself. All instruction for Chinese BB: “Elementary Modern Chinese” and Statistics 171: “Introduction to Stochastic Processes” will also be held online for the first week. “This could actually help us see each other’s face for the first time,” said Chinese BB course head Yuxiao Du. Statistics Professor Subhabrata Sen said some students told him they might not be able attend his first lecture in-person. Some classes will adopt a hybrid approach. Government
Professor Sarah J. Hummel will host in-person classes at the scheduled time, but will also reteach the lectures online in the evening for Government 1249: “Authoritarianism.” Claybaugh wrote in her email to the FAS that instructors may hold classes online during the rest of the semester if over 40 percent of students in the course go into isolation at the same time. Claybaugh also asked instructors to make a plan for maintaining course continuity through potential disruptions, though she noted that they are not obligated to offer hybrid instruction. Taruna Singh ’24 said she believed students did not receive enough information about why some professors elected to
make courses online for the first week and not others. “If my Chinese Literature class is going online and my other classes aren’t, I don’t see how I’m supposed to receive any sort of protection from the infectious nature of the virus,” she said. Harvard spokesperson Alixandra A. Nozzolillo pointed to measures taken by Harvard University Health Services to reduce the risk of transmission.For students who test positive after the first week, some courses will offer a live virtual option. History 97: “What is Urban History?” and Government 40: “International Conflict and Cooperation” will allow isolating students to join the class on Zoom.
For those students unable to Zoom, Government Professor R. Stephen Chaudoin said he will also offer students a recording, though he does not want students to “rely on recordings as a crutch.” “I think engaging and talking and seeing things live is really important,” he said. Many instructors and students remain hopeful that they will return to in-person class after the first week. “My sincere hope is that this turns out to be just a precautionary measure, that we can move forward with normal in-person classes starting next week,” Sen said. ariel.kim@thecrimson.com meimei.xu@thecrimson.com
Harvard, from the Law School to Longwood.
The Crimson thecrimson.com MOVE-IN FROM PAGE 1
city officials, including Elow, to support MBK Cambridge’s youth outreach programs. Bellitti said Elow was a “key component” in getting city support. “Working with Elow during those sessions, it was whatever we needed to help impact Cambridge kids in a positive way, we had her support,” he said. City Councilor Quinton Y. Zondervan, who supports police demilitarization, said Elow’s appointment is “certainly progress,” but added that she must be open to major public safety reform in Cambridge. “We need transformation in our public safety approach, and that’s the most important aspect of this from my point of view — how willing she will prove to be in terms of achieving that transformation,” he said. “Business as usual is not acceptable to the impacted communities.” Elow steps into her role as the Cambridge City Council is considering alternatives to traditional police responses that would limit direct intervention from officers in some instances. In June, the council approved a policy order asking the city manager to explore funding the non-profit Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team, which describes itself as “an alternative safety program outside of policing systems.” In an October conversation with the Public Square, a pub-
lic access television show, Elow said any changes to emergency response must be gradual. “There are so many calls that we’re responding to now that would be so much better suited for an alternative response,” Elow said. “Having a proposal like HEART — I think that this can happen, and I think it’s going to happen in layers.” “I don’t think you can just start it off at zero to 60,” she added. Bellitti, who served on the city’s public safety task force,
She’s been at the table from day one, and a huge supporter of doing things different. Tyrone Bellitti My Brother’s Keeper co-founder
said Elow has “embraced” the conversation about alternative public safety models. “She’s been at the table from day one, and a huge supporter of doing things different,” Belitti said. “She admits to our flaws and she speaks to our flaws, but then she also speaks to the solutions.” brandon.kingdollar@thecrimson.com
HGSU FROM PAGE 1
Harvard Union Calls for Changes to Covid Regulations Univ. Covid Policies Change least the first two weeks of the spring term, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Claudine Gay wrote in a Jan. 5 email to Harvard affiliates. The University provided students with HEPA filters in their dorm rooms and it will give out high-quality masks upon request. Harvard will provide only grab-and-go meals for the first two weeks of the semester, leaving dining halls empty. The University will also allow instructors to hold classes remotely for the first week of the semester.
The updates to guidance and protocols we have made recognize the unprecedented number of cases within our community.
Mancilla said Wednesday that the union always tries to “alert” the University of its concerns, but sending a grievance letter “adds formality and legality to the equation.” Undergraduate members of the Student Labor Action Movement signed in support of the HGSU’s requests to Harvard. “The union-wide grievance filed by HGSU-UAW is very straightforward and — to us at SLAM — not radical at all,” Prince A. Williams ’25 said. Mancilla said the union’s safety concerns extend beyond the workplace into Cambridge and undergraduate life. “We’re not just looking out for ourselves, but we’re looking out for the rest of the community and particularly undergrad
students,” Mancilla said. He added that the union does not plan to disrupt operations with a strike in order to secure a University response. “At the moment, we’re just asking for the flexibility and options to be able to teach safely,” he said. The grievance letter called on the University to approve all worker requests for isolation after potential exposure. It also pushed for the reinstatement of contract tracing, which the University provided during the fall but scaled back earlier this month ahead of the term. “Contact tracing is an ‘enduringly important public health tool’ that provides vital protection against the spread of COVID-19,” it reads.
The union also petitioned for heated outdoor dining areas and easily-accessible masks.
We’re just asking for the flexibility and options to be able to teach safely. Brandon J. Mancilla Former HGSU-UAW Pres.
“It’s still going to be cold for at least another three months,” Mancilla said. “We should have outdoor heated areas so that we’re not all mask-off eating indoors.”
Mancilla added the costs of masks should be covered by the University, rather than left to its student workers. The union’s letter requested two free highgrade masks per week for each employee and urged for consistent masking protocols across Harvard’s schools. “If every custodian had to buy all their mops, that’s ridiculous,” he said. “Masks should be seen the same way as those other tools are — as safety gear.” Harvard’s surveillance testing program currently includes student workers, but not other members of their households. The letter noted that some other peer institutions — such as Northeastern University and the University of Illinois — have already expanded their
Covid-19 testing programs to include family members. “Harvard has a remarkable testing infrastructure, which could accommodate these additional people and further ensure that we have as safe and healthy a campus as possible for the community, as a whole,” the letter states. HGSU-UAW called on Harvard to act on its demands immediately. “We believe that once implemented, these requests will live up to Harvard’s commitment to a safe work environment and allow the Spring plans to continue with less disruption and risk for everyone,” the letter reads.
Never miss a moment.
Giang T. Nguyen HUHS Director
The changes to campus public health guidelines come as the positivity rate in Cambridge sits at above 8 percent. More than 1,000 people have tested positive for the virus in the city over the last seven days, but cases have begun to fall from a peak in early January in both Cambridge and Boston.
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THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
JANUARY 24, 2022
PAGE 4
EDITORIAL OP-ED
COLUMN
Give Harvard Kennedy School ’22 the Flexibility of a Flex Semester By EMMY-LOU NICOLAÏ, PETER T. SKOPEC, AND NADYA YUSYUZ
W
e are second-year students at the Harvard Kennedy School, and we are calling on the University administration to do right by the hundreds of Master in Public Policy, Master in Public Administration, and Master in Public Administration in International Development candidates in the Class of 2022 whose educations have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. We urge the administration to let us extend our time on campus by giving our class a “flex semester” option — the same option that was offered to the Class of 2021, who faced similar disruptions as we did. In light of the uncertain impact of the pandemic on our spring, the flex semester is the safest way to help us make the most of our severely impacted graduate school experience. For the majority of our time at the Kennedy School, we’ve been largely cut
For the majority of our time at the Kennedy School, we’ve been largely cut off from what makes HKS special: the people and the community they create together. off from what makes HKS special: the people and the community they create together. We’ve had fewer opportunities to learn from our peers, less time to build relationships with faculty and staff, and limited access to research centers, guest speakers, and career events. Our academic learning, our social experience, and our professional development — all together culminating in the quality of our education — have suffered. Surging Covid-19 caseloads could send us back to online learning at any point in this semester. We support a strong public health response to safeguard the wellbeing of the campus community and of our neighbors in Cambridge, Boston, and beyond. But we expect the administration to work with us to find creative, meaningful ways to make the most of our Kennedy School
experience — which we’ve paid full tuition to receive. A flex semester option would allow us to make up for what was lost by extending our time on campus by one extra “flex” semester — either next fall or next spring — without having to pay additional tuition. The administration rightly offered this option to the Class of 2021, but so far has denied our requests for similar treatment, despite the fact that we have now spent a similar amount of time in Zoom school as the previous class did. In multiple meetings since October, the Kennedy School leadership has made us aware that offering a flex semester would have a negative impact on the HKS community, without providing much detail on the flex semester’s challenges or how we could manage them. The presence of Class of 2021 flex students on campus last fall should tell us that these challenges can, in fact, be overcome. We’re disappointed that our extended presence at HKS is seen by the administration as a burden, when we feel that allowing our class to stay on campus for one more semester would greatly benefit the Kennedy School community. We’ve experienced firsthand how sharing campus with current flex students has enriched our learning, in and out of the classroom. Many students in the Class of 2023 understand this, too; we’re grateful to the 166 first-year students who signed a solidarity petition calling on the administration to offer us a flex semester. When we accepted our offers of admission to the Kennedy School in the spring of 2020, we did so in the face of significant uncertainty. Much like today, Covid-19 cases were surging, our family members and friends were getting sick, and economies around the world were shutting down. And yet, deferring our education wasn’t an option for most of us: we had given up jobs, made plans to move our families across the globe, or spent years applying for scholarships to be able to attend Harvard. We knew that we might face restrictions and the possibility of online learning for some time. But we committed to the Harvard Kennedy School because we expected every effort on the part of the University to provide us with the world-class education that drew us here
in the first place. We’re tremendously grateful to the administrators, faculty, staff, and our classmates for working so hard to make the most of our time together, while protecting public health. Nonetheless, we feel that the University’s actions so far have failed to deliver the education we
Nonetheless, we feel that the University’s actions so far have failed to deliver the education we paid to receive. paid to receive. For the dozens of students who expressed interest in a flex semester, offering this option is a meaningful way to make up for the disruptions caused to our education by the Covid-19 pandemic. We also know that not everyone will be able to extend their education by one semester. That’s why we urge University leaders to continue doing all they can to ensure that classes are held safely in-person this spring, and to consider other accommodations for students who can’t take a flex semester. In light of the Kennedy School’s recent budget surplus, such accommodations could include reduced or refunded tuition for any additional time we spend learning online, or expanded alumni benefits and social programming for the Class of 2022. We want to partner with student government and the administration to develop a safe and effective flex option that works for everyone involved. As we head into our final spring semester at the Kennedy School, we’re convinced that this is the right and fair thing to do, both for our class and for the Kennedy School community at large.
—Emmy-Lou Nicolaï is a second-year Master in Public Administration student at the Harvard Kennedy School. Peter T. Skopec is a second-year Master in Public Policy student at the Harvard Kennedy School. Nadya Yusyuz is a second-year Master in Public Administration in International Development student at the Harvard Kennedy School.
OP-ED
What Happens When We All Get Sick? By ADJOA D. YEBOAH
A
s the United States faces a Covid-19 surge quite unlike any before it, with daily new cases reaching 1 million and a peak potentially yet to come, Harvard’s new pandemic policy flies in the face of both the safety and health of all those affiliated with the University. In an email sent to the Harvard community on Jan. 4, University President Lawrence S. Bacow outlined plans for an in-person spring semester along with new pandemic protocols taking effect upon the semester’s start. Although the promise of an in-person semester brings comfort to some degree – that a semblance of normalcy might still be maintained — the numerous changes made to different protocols leave behind a sense of worry. The biggest change being that in place of isolation housing, students who test positive for the virus will instead isolate in place in dorms they may share with any number of Covid-negative and/or immunocompromised individuals. The justification offered for this change is threefold. First, the University expects to “have large numbers of cases at Harvard,” seeming to suggest that because of the sheer volume of expected cases, there’s not enough quarantine housing and thus, isolating in dorms is the default. Second, Harvard has “near-universal vaccination,” which
If anything, these reasons only underscore Harvard’s lack of care for the safety and health of its community as well as a blatant attempt to protect its own interests. leads to the third reason, that the Omicron variant, which is responsible for the rampant surge, is said to be less severe than its predecessors, a point cited by Bacow in the email. Administrators believe the reasons behind this drastic protocol change could be of comfort in an unpredictable time. If anything, these reasons only underscore Harvard’s lack of care for the safety and health of its community as well as a blatant attempt to protect its own interests.
For a school that’s taken the pandemic very seriously — and rightly so — the past 22 months, these new policies don’t align with Harvard’s previous actions. In March 2020, Harvard was one of the first schools in Massachusetts to move classes online and shut down in the wake of the pandemic. With the considerable influence that the University holds, it’s not surprising that other schools quickly followed suit. The following academic year, while other universities rushed to in-person classes only to be faced with widespread outbreaks, Harvard wisely played it safe, with remote learning and limited campus density. In fall 2021, Harvard re-opened with a vaccine requirement and a rigorous testing regimen that ensured low case numbers throughout the semester. These were the actions of a university that cared about its commu-
As the pandemic evolved, Harvard’s strategies evolved with it, which made it clear that the school wask eeping students’ best interests in mind. Now, the only thing that remains is that Harvard is giving up. nity enough to go the extra mile to keep it safe. As the pandemic evolved, Harvard’s strategies evolved with it, which made it clear that the school was keeping students’ best interests in mind. Now, the only thing that remains clear is that Harvard is giving up. Expecting large numbers of cases in the upcoming weeks isn’t a reason to shift from quarantine housing to quarantine-in-place. Rather, having that expectation should prompt the University to search for alternatives and find ways to expand existing isolation housing. With an endowment that soared to over $50 billion last year, Harvard possesses more than enough resources to not put students in the completely unreasonable position of quarantining amongst their peers in the event they test positive. Secondly, a high vaccination rate won’t completely stop the spread of the variant. In Massachusetts, the most vaccinated state in the country, 75% of people are fully vaccinated. Still, the positivity rate in the state soared to over 23% on
Jan. 7. Even with a newly instated booster requirement, Covid-19 can run rampant throughout campus and Harvard is accepting that, putting people at risk in the process. It’s not enough to say the Omicron variant has “less serious consequences” and leave students to fend for themselves. This flippancy is dangerous, es-
Even with a newly instated booster requirement, Covid-19 can run rampant throughout campus and Harvard is accepting that, putting people at risk in the process. pecially for members of Harvard’s community who are immunocompromised. Catching the Omicron variant would not be any “less serious” for them. Clearly, Harvard doesn’t care. If a student hasn’t come into contact with the virus at some point over winter break, Harvard’s new protocol all but ensures they will when they return to campus. Only after facing pressure from students did Harvard offer minor concessions in a way that makes one wonder why they weren’t given in the first place. In an email sent Jan. 13, the Dean of Students Office detailed additonal protocols for return to residential life, with the added concessions of school-provided rapid tests, HEPA filters, and KN95 masks. Despite vocal student concern, no major changes were made to quarantining guidelines. Students are still expected to quarantine in their dorms, or otherwise figure out isolation on their own, placing the onus firmly on everyone but Harvard. It’s unacceptable. With all the money the school has, and all the time it had to foresee this problem, students should be receiving more than masks and filters. It’s understandable that Harvard wants to protect the integrity of the spring semester as much as possible, but when huge swaths of the community begin catching the virus and problems mount, the school will only have itself to blame when there’s not much of a spring semester to be had. —Adjoa D. Yeboah ’25, a Crimson Editorial Editor, lives in Canaday.
Thank You, Tourists
Alvira Tyagi RECKONINGS & REASONINGS
I
am a student at Harvard. It seems almost ridiculous to even utter those words, let alone type it out. I allow this fact to escape my mind and sight whenever possible because ignoring it allows me to concentrate on my end goals with humility. What Harvard students such as myself cannot escape, however, are the tourists on campus. We awkwardly stumble through the families hoisting their children up to touch the famous foot of the John Harvard statue. We tediously navigate up the stairs of Widener Library to bypass any possibility of photobombing a future Instagram post. We scrupulously shutter our blinds in an attempt to shelter ourselves from being peeked at outside our windows. Tourism perpetuates campus life every day; Harvard’s museums alone draw more than 650,000 visitors annually. My daily sightings of tourists on my walk to my Life Sciences 50 class are an incessant reminder of the fact that Harvard isn’t just a college — it is a destination. We will never be able to break away from the tourists and the public eye. Yet, this reality is a truth we should be grateful for. Tourism should represent more to us than just flocks of strangers on campus: we must recognize tourists as a symbol of our privilege and our responsibility to utilize the vast opportunities granted to us as Harvard students.
Tourism should represent more to us than just flocks of strangers on campus: we must recognize tourists as a symbol of our privilege and our responsibility to utilize the vast opportunities granted to us as Harvard students. We become desensitized to “normal” sights such as Memorial Hall and Annenberg. We spend countless hours in Widener Library staring at our laptop screens, failing to become entranced in the 3.5 million books surrounding us. What we consider our monotonous and unchanging daily routine is viewed as exceptionally unique to those outside of the Harvard bubble. I myself was once one of these tourists. During the summer after fourth grade, my family traveled to Boston and decided to pay a visit to Harvard before we left. My vision of Harvard at the time was one of innocent admiration; I was utterly impressed by the school for its prestige and high rankings. My nine-year-old self deemed Harvard an elusive and unattainable pedestal, a college for elites, prodigies, Carnegie Hall performers, and theoretical physics masterminds — a place that would never fit me. I assumed that my first encounter with John Harvard’s golden foot would also be my last. Yet, 10 years later, I find myself writing this column in my dorm of Pennypacker Hall as a firstyear student. The unending strolls of tourists were jarring during my first few weeks of college. Yet, as I rolled my suitcase back into my dorm in preparation for the second semester, I carried a newfound understanding of what Harvard tourism means to me and the campus body as a whole. Throughout my first semester of college, I had my fair share of frustrations regarding copious assignments, late nights in Lamont, and yawn-inducing morning classes. Encountering tourists across campus, however, left me feeling unjustified in my grievances. As Harvard students, our attention is always directed on another goal: a problem set, an essay, or an A on our next midterm. We become blasé to the awe-inspiring breadth of courses, faculty, resources, and support encompassing us. The Harvard reputation that draws so many visitors to Cambridge is the same world-class stature that we, as students, draw benefit from and take for granted daily. I do not think I will ever become completely comfortable with the fact that the campus I now call home is also a prime destination for onlookers. What I have come to terms with, regardless, is that this is precisely how my relationship with Harvard tourism should be. Tourism should make us think. The sight of visitors should leave us contemplating, leave us reflecting, and leave us filled with gratitude. The ebbs and flows of tourism on campus will come and go, but my time here as a student will persist until May of 2025. As Harvard undergraduates, each of us has four guaranteed years on campus. It is both our collective and individual responsibility to make the most of those eight semesters. We should employ our interdisciplinary education, our real-world experiences, and our intrinsic motivations to transform the society we live in today, retaining Harvard’s worthiness in attracting tourists who view this university with such high regard. My biggest regret will be graduating and leaving this campus feeling like a tourist at a college that I was supposed to make my own. The permanence of my time here is designed to encourage Harvard to change me as an individual while simultaneously uplifting me to leave behind a deeply-rooted impact on the institution itself. Many tourists perceive Harvard students as the future visionaries, innovators, and reformers of society — we owe it to them to never stop striving for our wildest aspirations.
—Alvira Tyagi ’25, a Crimson Editorial editor, lives in Pennypacker Hall. Her column “Reckonings & Revelations” appears on alternate Mondays.
PAGE 5
THE HARVARD CRIMSON |
HKS FROM PAGE 1
HKS Journal Retracts Research conclusions that were “insufficiently connected” to the quantitative analysis. In a written response to the Misinformation Review’s retraction obtained by The Crimson, the co-authors criticized the Misinformation Review for not conducting a more rigorous pre-publication review of the piece. They added that issues raised post-publication could not have been known at the time research was conducted. The 10 co-authors also accused the Misinformation Review of failing to defend them against ADOS criticism. “Instead of using Harvard’s institutional power to shield authors from blowback, the publication risks becoming a lens to focus greater blowback on authors,” they wrote. “At the very least, it should put resources into raising these issues pre-publication, rather than post-publication.” Rodriguez, an assistant professor at the University of Buffalo, said she stands by the work.
“I personally think that this paper was done well, and I have received that feedback from colleagues,” she said in an interview. “It’s unfortunate that it was retracted, but I don’t have control over that.” Natascha Chtena, editor-in-chief of the HKS Misinformation Review, declined to comment beyond the retraction note. In a rebuttal to the article published on its website, ADOS denied discouraging its supporters from voting. The organization wrote it primarily promotes candidates who align with its calls for reparations and aim to break down racial barriers faced by Black Americans. “In the absence of such a candidate, ADOS has consistently advocated voting down ballot Democrat on Election Day; that is, voting along the Democratic Party line below the President,” ADOS wrote. “This tactic is not, as the report’s authors disingenuously suggest, a withdrawal from the electoral pro-
cess and civic engagement; nor is it an approach that implicitly indicates support for the Republican Party.” ADOS’s rebuttal alleged the article was part of a “smear campaign” by progressive political action committee and advocacy group MoveOn, which employed five of the article’s 10 authors at the time of publication. MoveOn “ assisted with data collection and management,” according to a disclosure in the article. “With the relatively new Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, MoveOn appears to have found a propaganda-friendly platform to carry out a dishonest delegitimization campaign against our movement,” ADOS wrote. The Misinformation Review, established in 2019, publishes work from academics studying misinformation and disinformation. Articles are submitted to the journal through an accelerated peer-review system, it describes as a “new format of
peer-reviewed, scholarly publication.” The Misinformation Review publishes research within two months after submission, according to the journal’s website. In its rebuttal, ADOS decried the journal’s fast-track peer-review method, writing that it “de-emphasizes academic rigor in favor of disseminating information that may or may not be accurate.” Carnell, an ADOS co-founder, frequently used the hashtags #CrimsonSmear and #PoisonIvy in tweets demanding a retraction. Rodriguez, one of the co-authors, said ADOS “trolled” her as part of its retraction campaign. “I received lots of mentions from people that I didn’t know who were calling me many things online, to the point where I invested in some sort of third party support for my account,” Rodriguez said. miles.herszenhorn@thecrimson.com
Students Found Tibetan Cultural Group By ELLA L. JONES and MONIQUE I. VOBECKY CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
A group of students founded the Harvard Undergraduate Tibetan Cultural Association to promote Tibetan culture and awareness this month. Students involved in the group’s formation said the association aims to bring together Tibetan students on campus in celebration of their heritage. “The very nature of our collective existence here as Tibetans in Harvard is truly powerful,” said Tsering Yangchen ’25, who organizes events for the association. “Just acknowledging our presence here, by allowing the creation of this club in itself, is a huge accomplishment,” Yangchen added. Tenzin Y. Dadak ’25, one of the group’s founders, said the organization plans to serve as a cultural space for both students of Tibetan heritage and those interested in Tibet.
“It’s for us as Tibetans and it’s also for people to just learn about Tibet, apart from its political identity,” she said. Dadak said the group also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of important aspects of Tibetan culture, such as Tibetan Buddhism. “A lot of our culture — it pertains to compassion, doing well for others, celebrations, and things like that,” she said. In addition to its cultural function, Yangchen said she believes the club highlights the 1950 Chinese annexation of Tibet, which its exiled government says has resulted in the erosion of Tibetan culture. “In some ways, it’s a form of resistance to that cultural genocide and a way to also just preserve our culture, which is pretty much dying out right now,” Yangchen said. The organization has events planned for the near future, including a Tibetan New Year celebration in March. Dadak explained that the
event intends to immerse students in Tibetan culture, such as through trying khapse, a traditional biscuit specific to the New Year festivities. Yangchen added that the group is considering holding an annual event to celebrate Tibetan culture. “We’re thinking of having an annual trademark event of sorts that will get people not only learning about Tibetan culture and various aspects of it, but also just to have a good time,” Yangchen said. Dadak said the group also hopes to organize “White Wednesday,” or Lakhar — a tradition to celebrate Tibetan culture that began after the Tibetan government went into exile. Yangchen said she hopes the club’s reach will eventually extend to undergraduates who do not call Tibet home. “Something that we have in mind for the future is to hopefully make it into a more sustainable group so that even non-Tibetans who are interest-
ed can take leadership roles,” she said. Dadak noted she hopes the group’s presence will create visibility for Tibetan students, beyond Harvard’s campus, and inspire more high schoolers to apply to elite educational institutions. “Hopefully seeing these groups and seeing Tibetans doing well, even in exile, would be a good motivator for them,” Tenzin said. Another co-founder Choetsow Tenzin ’23, a Flyby editor, said she believes the association will encourage students of Tibetan heritage to aspire to attend Harvard and other top universities and share Tibet’s unique culture. “My biggest hope is that the Harvard community welcomes us and tries to understand who we are, and is willing to learn what we have to offer as an organization,” she said. ella.jones@thecrimson.com monique.vobecky@thecrimson.com
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JANUARY 24, 2022
Students Wish for Shopping Period By VIVI E. LU and LEAH J. TEICHHOLTZ CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
arvard undergraduates parH ticipated in a virtual course preview period last week, marking the fourth straight semester without shopping week — a longtime scheduling quirk that allows students to sample classes before enrolling. Despite returning to in-person classes this fall, the College opted to forgo in-person shopping weeks for the 2021-2022 school year, citing Covid-19 concerns. Over course preview period — which took place from Jan. 14 to Jan. 20 — students attended optional introductory Zoom sessions, perused course syllabi, and watched class “trailers.” Some students said they felt the virtual course preview period made course selection more complicated than in-person shopping week. Victoria M. Zhang ’24, who
It definitely adds a layer of pressure having to think about courses a lot more. Carolina Ranfagni ’22 Harvard Senior
has never experienced a traditional shopping week, said she found it “very difficult” and “frustrating” to decide on her classes with the virtual course preview format. “I would like to see a shopping week because I have talked to students who are older than me, and they said they would try out like 10 classes,” Zhang said. “They had the luxury of going to a class for 15 minutes.” Carolina Ranfagni ’22, who participated in shopping week as a freshman, said she has “no doubt” shopping week is superior to the virtual course previews. “It definitely adds a layer of pressure having to think about courses a lot more, rather than just bumping into courses and then choosing,” Ranfagni said. “It takes out a lot of the randomness that shopping week had.” Some students skipped course preview period altogether. Naomi Bashkansky ’25 said she did not utilize the course previews, in part because she believed they would not be as useful as attending the class itself. “I’d rather sit down in the actual lectures and then just switch classes if need be,” Bashkansky said. Chloe R. Loughridge ’23-’24 said she did not attend any previews because of a six-hour time zone difference.
Some students said they simulated shopping week by enrolling in extra courses, then drop-
Most other colleges don’t do shopping week — Harvard’s unique in that. Michael Y. Cheng ’22 UC President
ping some before the deadline to finalize classes. “For both this semester and last semester, I’ve had to enroll in six classes with permission from my resident dean, and then be forced to drop one of them,” Brian J. Zhou ’25 said. Harvard spokesperson Alixandra A. Nozzolillo declined to comment on student criticisms, but wrote in an emailed statement that the College and the FAS Registrar shared resources with undergraduates through many channels before the start of the spring semester. Other undergraduates said they already had sufficient information for picking classes, utilizing course evaluations — stored on a database known as the Q Guide — and class syllabi. “I feel I already know what classes I’m taking and then just go through the Q Guide,” Melanie T. Munoz ’24 said. Over 96 percent of voters supported an Undergraduate Council referendum last semester to “save shopping week.” But just three months later, an FAS committee reviewing Harvard’s course regristation system reccomended scrapping shopping week in favor of previous-term registration. UC President Michael Y. Cheng ’22, who has advocated publicly for restoring shopping week, equated the online replacement to “picking classes in the dark.” “I know most other colleges don’t do shopping week — Harvard’s unique in that,” Cheng said. “But I don’t think Harvard needs to become like every other college in this way.” Still, some faculty and teaching staff have criticized shopping week for creating administrative woes and job uncertainty for teaching fellows. Nozzolillo wrote that the committee utilized student input throughout its decision-making process. “[Previous-term registration] sounds even worse than what we have right now,” Anthony Y. Tao ’22 said. “Ideally, they would just go back to shopping week.” vivi.lu@thecrimson.com leah.teichholtz@thecrimson.com
SPORTS
WEEKLY RECAP
SCORES
MEN’S SQUASH VS. AMHERST W, 9-0 ___________________________________________________________
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS. KING UNIVERSITY W, 3-0 ___________________________________________________________
WOMEN’S SQUASH VS. AMHERST W, 9-0 ___________________________________________________________
WOMEN’S TENNIS VS. QUINNIPIAC W, 7-0 ___________________________________________________________
MEN’S TENNIS VS. VIRGINIA W, 6-1 ___________________________________________________________
WOMEN’S HOCKEY VS.QUINNIPIAC W, 3, 2 ___________________________________________________________
MEN’S HOCKEY VS. CLARKSON 15TH ___________________________________________________________
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
No. 9 Crimson Goes 3-2 Over January Break By CHRISTOPHER D. WRIGHT CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
As classes wrapped up and campus grew quieter, the postseason push for the No. 9/9 Harvard women’s ice hockey team heated up. Winter break play was filled with highs and lows for the Crimson. The Crimson (12-5, 9-3 ECAC) dropped its first two games of the break to Minnesota-Duluth (13-7, 10-6 WCHA). After a 13 day intermission, Harvard regrouped with wins over conference foes Brown (214-2, 2-8-1 ECAC), Yale (12-41, 6-3-1), and Dartmouth (8-12, 2-11). “It is definitely [about] getting back to the basics as you gear up for the first game back, ‘’ said senior forward Becca Gilmore. Days before the Crimson returned to action, the Harvard Athletics department announced a new indoor spectator policy. The policy limited the attendance for games in an effort to fight the rise of Covid-19 cases. However, it also diminished the home-ice advantage and the crowd energy, so Crimson morale depended mostly on the team itself. “Your team has to boost the energy on the bench more. You are not going to get that energy from a big crowd,” said Gilmore. HARVARD 8, DARTMOUTH 0 The final game of Harvard’s homestand pitted it against Dartmouth as it tried to repeat its performance from the first game of the season and sweep the season series. The Crimson did just that, easily dispatching the Big Green behind a strong third quarter. Its eight goals were a season high along with a season low two penalties. Junior forward Anne Bloomer scored the lone Harvard goal in the first period. In the second period, junior defender Maryna Macdonald would score off a pass from first-year forward Paige Lester. Junior forward Kristin Della Rovere then extended the lead by scoring a short-handed goal in the wan-
ing minutes of the second period. The Crimson continued to pour it on in the third period with goals from Bloomer, sophomore forward Shannon Hollands, and first-year forward Hannah Chorske. Bloomer’s two third-period goals gave her the team lead and her first career hat trick. Chorske’s goal was the first in her collegiate career. The win gave senior goalie Becky Dutton her second shutout of the season and the fourth of her career. It also extended the Crimson’s overall winning streak to three games and its conference winning streak to six games. HARVARD 3, YALE 1 Entering the matchup, Harvard sought to split the season series by avenging its Nov. 12 1-3 loss to Yale. The Crimson relied on a strong first period to propel them to the win. Harvard opened the scoring just one minute into the game when senior defender Kate Glover scored her first goal of the season. Senior defender Emma Buckles then extended the Crimson’s advantage by capitalizing on a five-on-three power-play. Harvard held Yale scoreless across the second and third period due in large part to Dutton’s performance. All in all, she saved 20 of the Bulldogs’ 21 shots. Bloomer finished off the game by scoring an unassisted goal with seven seconds left on the game clock. Harvard’s first period power-play goal extended its power-play goal streak to six consecutive games. The Crimson were outshot by the Bulldogs, who held it to its lowest amount of shots all season. Senior defender Kate Glover awaits the puck in an Oct. 30 overtime loss to Colgate. In the Jan. 15 win over Yale, she scored her first goal of the season. By Angela Dela Cruz HARVARD 5, BROWN 1 After a 13-day break due to Covid-19 related issues, the Crimson sought to shake off the back-to-back losses. In its first
conference matchup of 2022, the Crimson responded to an early goal by Brown and held the lead the rest of the way. Brown struck first six minutes into the first period when Tina Paolillo guided a shot into the net. The one goal advantage lasted just a minute before Harvard tied up the game on the power-play when Macdonald fired a shot from the blue line past goalie Hayley Kliczko. First-year forward Taze Thompson then gave the Crimson the lead when she fired a forehand shot that ricocheted off the left post and found the back of the net. Harvard extended its lead further in the second period when at the 11 minute mark, Hollands scored off a pass from first-year defender Mia Biotti. Three minutes later, Gilmore guided Thompson’s pass into the goal. The power-play goal was her 10th on the season, pacing the team. The goal also represented Gilmore’s 100th point as a member of the Crimson. She became just the 25th player in school history to achieve that mark. “It is obviously a great individual goal, but it really means the team is doing well,” said Gilmore. “I have been very fortunate to play with some talented linemates that have helped me eclipse that goal.” Della Rovere scored an empty net goal with seconds remaining to close out the game for Harvard. This goal, along with her earlier assist, extended her point streak to 12 games. The streak is the longest by a Crimson skater since the 20122013 season. The win pushed the Crimson’s winning streak in conference play to four. Harvard also scored multiple power-play goals for the fifth time this season. The Bears’ nine shots were the fewest the Crimson had given up all year. HARVARD 3, MINNESOTA-DULUTH 4 The 2022 slate started off the same way as the 2021 slate ended, with a loss to Minneso-
ta-Duluth. Harvard held multiple leads throughout the game, but they failed to fend off the Bulldogs’ comeback. Harvard’s senior forward Dominique Petrie opened up the scoring at the 12 minute mark in the first period by rebounding her first attempt off the post and guiding it into the net. The goal earned first-year forward Gabi Davidson Adams her first collegiate point with an assist. Three minutes later, UMD tied the game up when Gabby Hughes converted on the power-play. Six minutes into the second period, the Crimson converted another power-play when Thompson redirected junior defender Kyra Willoughby’s shot attempt from just inside the blue line. Nine minutes later, the Bulldogs responded with two goals in quick succession. Elizabeth Giguere and Anna Klein scored to give UMD a one goal advantage. Hughes netted her second goal of the game five minutes into the third period to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to two. Then, later in the period, Della Rovere slid a shot into the net to cut the Bulldogs’ advantage in half. Looking for a late equalizer, Harvard decided to pull its goalie. The extra attacker was not enough to complete the comeback as UMD would hold on for the win. In the set against Minnesota-Duluth, Harvard lost backto-back games for the first time this season. The Crimson fell to 2-2 in games in which it scored multiple power-play goals. Harvard also lost the faceoff battle for only the second time in the 2021-2022 season. Among a few positives for the Crimson, Thompson’s three-point performance marked her new career high. The two matches could have bolstered Harvard’s out of conference resume, which currently features only one win over a ranked opponent. After the match, Harvard head coach Katey Stone noted that the recent surge in Covid-19 cases played a role in the matches’
outcomes. “We put ourselves in the best position to be successful under the circumstances, but we had quite a few Covid issues on that weekend,” she said. The Crimson’s matchups versus Colgate and Cornell were both rescheduled due to Covid-19 related issues. “We were below the minimum number of players to play in a back-to-back series,” Stone said. “[There were] different return-to-play protocols, so it was a little bit of a juggling act but we managed it.” HARVARD 2, MINNESOTA-DULUTH 5 The New Year’s Eve showdown featured two teams within the top 10, with Minnesota-Duluth ranked No. 8/7. Harvard came into the match seeking to extend its winning streak to five games; however, Minnesota-Duluth came out strong and thwarted the Crimson’s efforts. The Bulldogs struck first and answered every Harvard rally to hold on for the victory. At the four-minute mark, UMD’s Klein guided a pass from teammate Giguère into the net. An opportunity to tie the game up opened up in the 11th minute when the Bulldogs’ Katie Davis was called for a two-minute tripping penalty. The Crimson capitalized on the power-play in the 12th minute when Bloomer found the back of the net off of a pass from Gilmore. However, with less than two minutes left in the first period, McKenzie Hewett scored a power play goal to give Minnesota-Duluth a 2-1 advantage. Both teams were scoreless in the second period until Hughes scored an unassisted goal in the final minute of the period. With nine minutes left in the final period, Harvard’s Gilmore scored off crisp passes from Buckles and Della Rovere. The assist extended Della Rovere’s point streak to 10 games. After decreasing the deficit to one goal, the Crimson appeared to have momentum on its side for a comeback. However, it took only 30 seconds for the Bull-
dogs to seize back momentum. A quick goal by UMD forward Naomi Rogge extended Minnesota-Duluth’s advantage to two. Another goal by Hughes extinguished the possibility of any late-game heroics. This loss was the fourth on the season for the Crimson and only the second in regulation. Despite dropping the match, Harvard had a few positive takeaways, winning the battle in the faceoff circle 3022. The Crimson has had the faceoff advantage in every game since Oct. 30. This matchup was also the first time that Harvard had lost while scoring multiple power-play goals. Although Covid-19 has led to postponements and thin lineups, it may have also produced a positive impact on Harvard’s season. “We have been able to make some adjustments with different lineup changes because of the pandemic,” Stone said. “We are playing good defense, we got good goaltending, and we are putting pucks in the net.” The Crimson’s 9-3-0 conference record moved it to first in the ECAC. Continuing its strong conference showing for the rest of the season could result in Harvard’s first NCAA tournament berth since its run to the national championship game in 2015. “Especially team-first, everyone is going to do their part to make sure that this team can win championships and go all the way this year.” said Gilmore when asked what words best describe this team. The Crimson will look to extend its winning streak when it travels to face Princeton (8-73, 6-4-1 ECAC) on Jan. 21. Currently, Princeton ranks top five in the nation in faceoff winning percentage. This will be the first game outside of the Bright-Landry Hockey Center in 2022 for Harvard. On Jan. 22, the Crimson will travel to Connecticut to face Quinnipiac (16-3-3, 8-2-0) in a potential top 10 showdown. christopher.wright@thecrimson.com
MEN’S HOCKEY
Harvard Sees Mixed Results During Winter Break By BRIDGET T. SANDS and AARON B. SHUCHMAN CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
The Harvard Men’s Hockey team has been busy over winter break. After reporting back to campus on December 26th, they have had a schedule filled with days of practice, lifts, matchups against some of their toughest competition, and a mixture of disappointing and exciting player news. Harvard head coach Ted Donato and first-year standouts Matthew Coronato and Ian Moore, who play forward and defenseman respectively, returned to the team earlier than expected after the 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship was canceled due to COVID-19 outbreaks among several teams. Both Coronato and Moore had been named to the final 25-man roster of Team USA for the first time, while Donato was returning to Team USA as an assistant coach for his second consecutive year. Coronato, a prospect for the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Calgary Flames, has posted 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 13 games this season for the Crimson, while Moore, a prospect of the Anaheim Ducks, has posted three assists in 14 games. “It was definitely just really sad, it was a great honor to be there with those guys and play with Team USA,” Coronato said of the tournament’s cancellation. “It was just heartbreaking to have it thrown away after just one game.”
“It was pretty much everything I could have hoped for. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had.” Moving forward from the World Juniors disappointment, Coronato, Moore, and Coach Donato were then able to return for the team’s first game of break against the University of Connecticut Huskies at home on Jan. 2. In a 6-3 victory, sophomore forwards Alex Laferriere and Sean Farrell and junior forward and captain Nick Abruzzese each had a goal and two assists. Junior forward Austin Wong, senior defenseman Marshall Rifai, and senior forward Baker Shore contributed the other goals while junior goalie Mitchell Gibson earned 32 saves in the Crimson’s dominant win. Their January 7th home game against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. It has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 25th at 7pm. The Crimson were still able to play the next day, home at Bright-Landry, against Union College. They defeated the Dutchmen 4-1, with junior defenseman Henry Thrun and sophomore forward Sean Farrell each picking up a goal and an assist. Three of the Crimson’s four goals were scored within the first period, setting the tone of the game early. However, both teams became more aggressive as the game went on, with a fight late in the third period resulting in roughing and ten minute misconduct penalties
for both Harvard’s Tommy Lyons and Union’s Michael Hodge – Harvard’s Ryan Drkulec was also charged for slashing, leaving a brief power play for the Dutchmen. Coming off back-to-back wins, the Crimson was hit with some amazing news a few days later. On Thursday, January 14th, a secret that two members had been keeping for about a week became public. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Abruzzese and sophomore forward and Montreal Canadiens prospect Sean Farrell had been named to the 2022 Team USA Olympic Team. Both players accepted the roster spots without hesitation and have faith in their teammates to have continued success this season. “I think we have so many good players on our team that the next guys will be ready to step into bigger roles,” Farrell said. “I think that with COVID, we’ve kind of been dealing with that already – guys being in and out of the lineup – so I think that guys will just continue to have bigger opportunities and step up in such an important part of the season too.” The day after the Olympic announcement, the team suited up in Hamden, Connecticut to play the No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (15-1-3, 6-0-1 ECAC Hockey). Despite the positive momentum of the previous two games, Harvard was shut out 3-0. Mustering only 13 shots on goal in a tight game overall, the Crimson was done in by two breakaway goals and a power play goal.
BACH TO PLAY Senior forward Casey Dornbach and sophomore defenseman John Fusco team up against Brown at home on Nov. 23. JOSIE W. CHEN—CRIMSON PHOTOGRAPHER
Harvard also only managed to win 38% of the faceoffs in the game. Special teams play was critical in the loss to Quinnipiac, as a second period goal from Bobcats forward Ty Smilanic ended the Crimson’s eight-game, 20for-20 streak on the penalty kill, and Harvard was unable to convert on a power play at the start of the third period that would have cut the deficit to 2-1. “They’re definitely a really good team, and they play hard. They’re well coached,” Coronato said of the Bobcats. “I think for us, we’ve got to keep our
head up, move onto the next one. I think we all know that we’re a good team and what we need to do to have success so I think [the loss is] not too much of a negative for us. We can rebound off it and use it as a building block.” Farrell similarly sees the loss as an opportunity for the team to learn and grow. “Obviously it wasn’t our best showing. As a team we know that we have a lot more to offer and can do a lot better but it’s good to have that measuring stick,” Farrell said. “It was a good learning experience for
us.” The final game on the Crimson’s winter break schedule, away at Princeton on January 15th, was also postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. It has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 27th at 4pm. Their next game is scheduled for this Friday, January 21st at 7pm, at home at Bright-Landry Hockey Center against St. Lawrence University. They’re also home on Saturday at 7pm against Clarkson University. bridget.sands@thecrimson.com aaron.shuchman@thecrimson.com