News

Pro-Palestine Encampment Represents First Major Test for Harvard President Alan Garber

News

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Condemns Antisemitism at U.S. Colleges Amid Encampment at Harvard

News

‘A Joke’: Nikole Hannah-Jones Says Harvard Should Spend More on Legacy of Slavery Initiative

News

Massachusetts ACLU Demands Harvard Reinstate PSC in Letter

News

LIVE UPDATES: Pro-Palestine Protesters Begin Encampment in Harvard Yard

Holrcorthy Freshman Tells Of His Troubles

By D. JOSEPH Menn

A lot of freshman get depressed and confused about this time, but last night one of them decided to tell the world how he feels.

"Why do we pay $ 15,000 to be confused?" asked John N. Axelrod '88, of about 50 fellow freshman who gathered below outside his Holworthy suite and shouted their agreement. "We can save this place," he exhorted at another point.

Axelrod spoke and played his electronic keyboards for about 15 minutes, starting around 9 p.m., because he "figured it's no use just sitting here," as he put it afterwards.

Axelrod said he was depressed for a variety of reasons and chose to use the microphone spontaneously. "I don't know which courses to take, the Din & Tonics told me to get lost... and Becky didn't call." Axelrod said of his existential diatribe.

"We need more comic relief." Axelrod went on. "I think a lot of people come here and have their aspirations shattered by the seriousness and the intellectual demands. I want more freedom of speech, action and thought."

Axelrod said he plans to make the broadcasts a habit, explaining that "tomorrow it will just be louder self, expression. By the end of the year it's a coup d'etat."

But two neighboring proctors last night asked him to stop because of the noise level.

Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.

Tags