Reporter's Notebook

Vacation Watch--After an unusually eventful fall, Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 is finally getting away from it all. This morning, he heads for Melbourne, Australia, and later New Zealand, for a two-month leave of absence. The dean says he is looking forward to his first extended vacation since 1980, but notes that it won't be all fun and play. While on vacation, he says, he plans to continue work on a much awaited pamphlet on the workings of the Administrative Board. Guess a dean's job is never done.

Sticking to Schedule--Thursday's ACT UP demonstration at the School of Public Health was planned--well-planned, to be precise. During the afternoon, protesters handed out a schedule of events, which detailed events ranging from a "noisy, highly visual picket" at 3:30 to "civil disobedience" at 4:15. One schedule entry read: "Our bodies are piling up in the doorways of research institutions and pharmaceutical companies. Good intentions are not enough--we're dying for results! (Those arrested will probably taken to the Dudley Square Police Station at 35 Dudley St.)."

But all did not go according to schedule. Although the activists did lie down in front of the entrance to the school, as well as in the street and along the trolley tracks, police never made the anticipated arrests.

Smile, You're on Candid Camera--Police surveillance seems to have become de rigeur at Harvard protests.

At the University Hall sit-in two weeks ago, a Harvard police sergeant took photographs of those sitting in the lobby of the building with a pocket 35mm camera. He took pictures of all those who sat silently in the hallway, although many of those people walked out before the group was formally asked to leave.

Evidently the police took a liking to the concept, and by this week had gone decidedly high tech. At Thursday's ACT UP protest, two Harvard police officers panned the crowd of picketers and more militant activists with video cameras.

University Vice President and General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54, who supervises the Harvard police force, was on hand for the protest and a Crimson reporter asked him why the officers were videotaping the event.

"I don't know specifically why they're videotaping. I'd have to find out why they're doing it," Steiner initially told the reporter.

After conferring with police officials, the University's top lawyer returned to say the surveillance would be discontinued. "There did not seem to be a reason for it, so we've stopped videotaping," Steiner said.

But old habits die hard and when the activists began their "die-in" on a Boston street, the camera-toting cops swung back into action.

Interior Design--There won't be many singles in the DeWolfe St. building, which is scheduled for completion late this spring. But transfer students and other undergraduates who will make the building their homes next year have little reason for worry. Most of the 200 units in the house will not only have air-conditioning for the warm spring months, but most will also feature full kitchens.

A Musical Note--The much maligned Harvard Band paid an unexpected visit to The Crimson's 14 Plympton St. office last night. The band has been on a vendetta against Cambridge's only breakfast table daily for some time now, and band members refused to comment on why they decided to raid the newspaper's offices after last night's hockey game. Still, Crimson editors said they were impressed with the peppy, if not always on-key, rendition of "10,000 Men of Harvard" in their front office. "I should have joined the band," remarked Crimson Editorial Chair John L. Larew '91. "It's nice that there are still some activities here where you don't really have to be talented to join."