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SIXTEEN people are sitting around a large circular table. A few private conversations have begun and ended. The sixteen are now sitting silently, looking at each other.
Person A: "Well, last session we were talking about drugs."
B: "I think that you wanted to make the first comment today because you'd like to take on a leadership role in this section."
A: "That's not true."
B: "Is so."
A: "Is not."
C: "I think it's true, A. What difference does it make that we were talking about drugs last time?"
A: "All right, all right, I'm sorry I brought it up. I was only suggesting something for us to talk about."
D: "I'm interested in why you're apologizing for your behavior, A. Don't you have enough confidence in your self to stick up for what you say?"
E: "I don't know what gives you the right to talk. D. Anybody who gets rated upward-negative-backwards, which Bales says means 'toward rugged individualism and gratification.' doesn't have much business telling other people how to act."
D: "It just so happens that I came pretty damn close to being upward-backwards, which means 'toward valuerelativism and expression.' So get fucked. E."
F: "This is the first time today we've mentioned sex." Section Leader: "F's comment seems to be arousing anxiety in the group."
G: "It didn't bother me. Did it bother you?"
H: "Hey, you can't ask the section leader questions."
G: "Why not?"
H: "Because he's not in the group."
G: "Then why is he making comments?"
A: "He's got to do something to show that he's the leader."
H: "No, he's trying to help us understand ourselves."
G: "I already understand myself."
C: "Then why are you taking this course?"
G: "It doesn't have a final."
H: "I'm feeling a lot of hostility towards you, G."
I: "You're bound to feel hostile toward someone if you're cooped up with 15 other people and you're all told to analyze each other."
C: "Have you got something against analysis, I? Afraid something will come out? Huh? Huh?"
F: "Let's get back to sex."
B: "Are you trying a leadership role on for size, F?"
G: "Maybe he just wants to talk about sex."
B: "Man, don't you know anything about this course?
Nobody ever talks about something in here because he wants to; there's always a hidden motive behind it."
G: "What's your motive?"
B: "What's yours?"
G: "I asked you first."
B: "I asked you second."
G: "You're acting like a fifth-grader."
B: "I am not. I know psychology!"
There is a short pause.
J: "I noticed A and K eating together last night."
C: "What gives, K?"
K: "We're friends."
C: "Why didn't you tell the group?"
K: "Uh... well, we're not that good friends."
A: "What do you mean?"
D: "You responded pretty weakly to C, K."
K: "I'm sorry."
D: "Weakling!"
Section Leader: "Time is just about up."
B: "I thought today's session was really good. This is the only place around Harvard where people relate honestly to each other."
G: "But all we do is exchange insults."
B: "That's what I mean."
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