The Game Does Not Belong at Fenway

Harvard has given us a solution to a nonexistent problem.

For the 142nd playing of The Game, Harvard has elected to host (and beat) Yale at Fenway Park, for the second time. The administration only plans to run “six or seven” shuttles to Fenway, directing students towards public transportation to shift funding towards other programming for The Game.

Students and alumni have gathered year after year at the colosseum to enjoy the game in its historic site. By relocating to Fenway, the administration is interfering with a meaningful tradition in an unnecessary and possibly unsafe way.

The 2018 relocation to Fenway was out of necessity — our own venue was undergoing restoration. This year, with little apparent reason for the move besides promises of “new energy,” the venue switch feels unnecessary at best.

Students deserve to have the venerated tradition held in the comfort of the University’s backyard, not the streets of Boston. Safe inside the Harvard bubble, students get the chance to let loose in a secure environment for one fun-packed day of the year.

Hosting The Game at Fenway will simply not be as fun. Given the pilgrimage it takes to get there, people will likely turn to various different venues to pregame, preventing the annual Harvard-Yale tailgate from being the school-wide bonding experience it should be.

Not to mention, the administration is simply wasting cash. We think we speak for the student body when we say the new, higher Student Activities Fee shouldn’t go to more random merchandise giveaways or transportation to Fenway. The money — which presumably we would keep more of if The Game were at Harvard — should be used to organize experiences that enhance the student experience, such as better Yardfest headliners.

Perhaps Harvard thinks Fenway is a safer choice — no outside tailgate, less drinking, right? Unfortunately, we are less convinced our peers will give up so easily. Without the option of the nearby bars to socialize with their older classmates, we imagine they’ll resort to less public places to imbibe, such as dorms and clubs, where less eyes means less oversight.

When underage students drink on campus, it’s easy for them to seek the help of campus employees under the University’s help-seeking policy. Neither those needing medical assistance nor those seeking it for their peers are punished for underage drinking.

But at Fenway Park, University resources are much less apparent. The ballpark’s dispersal environment includes high-traffic public streets and commercial areas, unlike Harvard Stadium’s proximity to Harvard housing and University health services. Boston isn’t exactly known for being polite to temporary 21-year olds, either.

Beyond that, hosting The Game in Boston is just not as warm of an experience.

Students may host their own pregames on campus before traveling over, if for nothing but hesitancy to drink downtown. No one wants to be drunk by the T’s traintracks, for example. Another concern is the vulnerability of female students in crowded, public spaces where they may be taken advantage of.

With school-sponsored transportation seemingly preferring those with accessibility needs, the vast majority of students taking public transportation won’t have the comfort of knowing HUPD, CrimsonEMS, or other urgent resources will be there during their commute.

Regardless, Harvard-Yale will be held at Fenway whether we like it or not. Students, go to The Game to support our team, look out for each other, and have fun. The last time we showed up at Fenway, Harvard won — let’s keep that streak alive.

In the future, administrators, keep our campus traditions on campus.

This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.

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