Harvard Must Come Clean

Gastroenteritis struck about 20 residents of Dunster and Mather Houses last Tuesday night. With symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps, gastroenteritis is not cool. The University rightfully closed down Dunster and Mather dining halls for two meals so that they could be thoroughly cleaned and inspected by Harvard’s Environmental Health and Safety Services (EHS) and Cambridge health inspectors. While these closures were a good first step in combating gastroenteritis, EHS should play it on the safe side, and just close down Dunster and Mather dining halls permanently—clearly, their time has come.

Donna Campbell, an official with the imposing title of “Infection Control Surveillance Officer,” urged students to take safety precautions in an e-mail. “To lessen the risk of additional spread of communicable gastrointestinal illnesses, some simple good hygiene measures are helpful,” Campbell wrote. Specifically, she suggested that students “Wash your hands frequently—most important!” We sincerely agree with Campbell, and even believe that Harvard students can take good hygiene measures a step further. Students should shower daily and brush their teeth after every meal to show gastroenteritis who’s boss—and to make section a little more bearable.

Fortunately, the University is looking into the true cause of the outbreak. EHS director Joseph Griffin quickly sent 11 samples of dining hall food to the Massachusetts State Laboratories. An initial analysis showed no signs of a contagion, with more extensive results expected today. We heartily look forward to learning this information, which is is important to the student body—we need to know whether we should be avoiding our sickly-looking peers or the undercooked pork chops.

Buying two meals a day at the Wrap is getting expensive and rather dull. The results of the tests should be released so students can get back to normality—sneaking into Adams House for lunch and dinner.