Nerd Club Debuts at Harvard

A Harvard version of Revenge of the Nerds debuted last night as Jeremy A. Kahn '90-'91 launched the introductory meeting of the all-new Society of Nerds and Geeks (SONG).

"This is for real," said Kahn, who highlighted the pursuit of knowledge as the primary goal for this new group. "We must encourage the outside world to take more notice of nerds and geeks and to recognize our value."

Kahn decided that honesty was the best policy when he named the new club. "We could have called ourselves the Academic Intellectual Society but then everyone would have said, 'Oh, you mean the nerd-and-geek club."'

Kahn, who needed only 10 signatures to obtain a University charter that officially recognizes the Society of Nerds and Geeks, was pleasantly surprised at the turnout of 19 interested people.

"I came because I didn't have a problem set to do tonight, and I couldn't think of anything better to do," said Cabot House resident Allon G. Percus '92.

While most Harvard students organize study breaks, SONG members will organize party breaks and studyathon parties during reading period. BYOB will stand for Bring Your Own Books, according to group members.

"We want to promote the love of learning, be a social support group and also be a center for political and cultural action...I mean, how many U.S. presidents were nerds?" Kahn queried.

The first official items on the SONG agenda will be to institute a computer program that will match suitable "learning partners," and to set up discussion tables at which students will have the opportunity to engage in informal yet spirited debates with professors.

In addition, Kahn said the group plans to set up a procrastination hotline to offer support during exam time, and lobby for 24-hour library services as well as a late-night, early-morning pre-med shuttle to the bio labs.

Leonid Fridman, Mather House resident tutor and SONG graduate school advisor, stressed the importance of creating an atmosphere where learning is encouraged and fostered. "It's ridiculous that at a place like Harvard 'nerd' and 'geek' should be derogatory words," said Fridman.

The society's long-term social calendar already includes movie showings of Real Genius, Stand and Deliver and, of course, Revenge of the Nerds. Plans for an all-geek dance where only non-dance music will be played are also in the works.

One group member even suggested that the new organization stage a weekly demonstration at Widener or the Science Center, when all group members would stand quietly and simply raise their hands.

Gloria K. Park '91, curious about the new club, attended the meeting to find out more about it. "At first I thought it was a Lampoon joke or something, but I really wanted to see who would show up."