House Life
‘A Marathon, Not a Sprint’: Faculty Launch App to Promote Physical Activity
A group of Harvard faculty and administrators led by Human Evolutionary Biology department chair Daniel E. Lieberman ’86 launched CrimsonZip — a new app designed to connect Harvard affiliates to opportunities for physical and social activities — last month.
‘Make It Easy, Make it Tasty’: How Harvard’s Dining Services Influences Student Food Choices
In Harvard’s dining halls, every array of food has been carefully constructed. Harvard University Dining Services selects particular tray placements, serving station names, and menus based on student preferences to meet sustainability and local sourcing goals.
13-Hour Power Shutdown Leaves Dunster House Students in the Dark
During a 13-hour power outage on Friday, students in the overflow housing for Dunster House studied using flashlights, plugged appliances into hallway outlets, and flocked to nearby dining halls and libraries.
Harvard Yard Ops Doubles Down on Pest Control, Students Report Mice and Cockroaches
Yard Operations implemented a series of pest management and prevention strategies in freshman dorms over the summer — but students continue to report pest sightings.
As Harvard Cafe Prices Rise, BoardPlus Remains Stuck at $65 Per Semester
Over the past 17 years, Harvard’s tuition has nearly doubled. But over that same time period, the $65 credit that undergraduate students receive via BoardPlus to use in Harvard cafes and grilles has remained the same.
Grammy-Winner Daya to Headline Crimson Jam 2024
Grammy award-winning singer Daya will headline Crimson Jam, Harvard’s annual outdoor back-to-school concert for undergraduates, the College announced at a freshman orientation event Thursday morning.
Dunster House Faculty Deans to Step Down at End of Academic Year
Dunster House Faculty Deans Cheryl Chen and Sean D. Kelly will step down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, the deans announced in an email to House affiliates on Tuesday.
Historic Heat Wave Reignites Debate About Lack of AC in Harvard Housing
As a heat wave descended on Cambridge, students living on campus sought relief from the scorching temperatures — just not in their dorm rooms.
Historic Bow & Arrow Press Will Move to Lamont Library Following Adams House Eviction
Bow & Arrow will be run by Houghton Library’s Printing and Graphic Arts department, though the library has not yet announced a timeline for when operations will begin.
‘A Guinea Pig’: Looking Back on Randomized Housing for the Class of 1999
For more than two decades, Harvard students were able to rank where they wanted to live for three years of college. But in 1995, Harvard’s administration decided it was time for a change.
‘Adjust on the Fly’: Harvard Undergrads Receive Diplomas at House Ceremonies Despite Rain and Protest
Whether they chose to participate in a pro-Palestine walkout or remain seated at the University-wide Commencement, undergraduates streamed to their residential Houses Thursday afternoon to officially receive their diplomas.
‘Crazy Times’: With Graduation Approaching, Seniors Reflect on Harvard Journey Bookended by Crisis
The Crimson spoke with dozens of seniors about their memories of a Covid-19-hued transition to college and how they reclaimed a vibrant student life amid four years bookended by crisis.
Bad Karma: How Anonymous Social Media Platform Sidechat Shapes Harvard Campus Politics
Though Sidechat is often a platform for much-needed levity and humor in moments of stress, many students have raised concerns about its effectiveness as a medium for political debates and propensity for spreading negativity.
Dilapidated Dorms: How Harvard Undergrads Cope with Run-Down Housing
Some students say they’ve grown accustomed to living with rodents and the occasional maintenance problem in dilapidated houses. But for others, housing problems raise broader concerns about how run-down living spaces may detract from quality of life at Harvard.
Harvard Prepares for Commencement Disruptions, Enlists Tutors as ‘De-Escalators’
The College enlisted a number of residential tutors across the 12 undergraduate Houses to serve as “de-escalators” during this week’s Commencement festivities as Harvard makes contingency plans for handling disruptive protests.
‘Tied to the People’: As Renovations Loom, Harvard Affiliates Say House Culture Will Persevere
Despite initial fears, alumni and affiliates who experienced living through past renovation projects expressed optimism surrounding House culture — saying that they were able to preserve their Houses’ long-standing traditions, culture, and spirit.
‘People Have Spoken’: Harvard Residential Advisors Vote Against Unionization
Both prospective units of the Harvard Union of Residential Advisors voted against unionization Wednesday, ending HURA’s year-long fight — including a two-months-long public campaign — to unionize Harvard’s residential tutors, proctors, and house aides.
Adams House Announces Climate Funding Program for Student Projects
Adams House, one of Harvard’s twelve upperclassmen houses, launched Adams Works on Climate earlier this month — a two-year program to fund climate projects led by Adams residents.
Harvard Residential Advisers Allege University Administrators Engaged in Union-Busting Tactics
Harvard Union of Residential Advisors organizers allege University administrators have engaged in “captive audience meetings” and anti-union messaging through emails to tutors, proctors, and house aides ahead of HURA’s union recognition elections.
‘Like a Horror Movie’: Freshmen Complain About Mice in Dorms
Though several freshmen said they have seen mice in their dorms since early last fall, many said they noticed an increase in recent weeks.
Harvard College Changes Freshman Advising Model, Assigns ‘Pre-Concentration Advisers’
The Harvard College Advising Programs Office rolled out significant changes to the first-year advising network, assigning incoming freshmen pre-concentration advisers during their first three semesters.
Monthslong ‘Putrid’ Odor in Winthrop Dining Hall Draws Student Complaints
A persistent odor in the Winthrop House dining hall has drawn student complaints and a range of speculated causes. Students described the smell as “putrid,” likening it to trash and sewage.
Task Forces on Antisemitism, Islamophobia Announce Listening Sessions for Harvard Undergraduates
Harvard’s dual presidential task forces to combat antisemitism and anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias will hold a series of listening sessions for undergraduate students over the next two weeks, according to a Friday morning email from the Dean of Students Office.
‘Treat It Like a Lottery’: Interhouse Transfer Application Decisions Released
In the first round of fall interhouse transfer, 142 students applied, according to a spokesperson for the Housing Office.
Following Uptick in Campus Respiratory Illnesses, Students Criticize Dorm Ventilation
Students in some of Harvard’s undergraduate dorms are pointing to issues with building ventilation systems as the cause for a surge of respiratory illness cases on campus last month.