Short Takes

`Not a Sex Service'

"Young Men," the classified advertisement in recent editions of The Crimson reads, "Boston's premier social escort service catering to a discerning businessman clientele is currently interviewing attractive intelligent and personable young men. Call David after 4 p.m. daily."

The ad, which includes a phone number, has raised more than one eyebrow since it began running in The Crimson three weeks ago.

"David," who did not give a last name, said yesterday that he began the service to provide companionship for businessmen who are visiting Boston.

"We are not a sex service," he said, adding that there is a market for young men who will spend the evening with businessmen--"the young man takes you to dinner, out to a show, or shows you the clubs." The charge varies between $100 and $500 for each of the individual "packages."

David said he has advertised in other college newspapers in the Boston area, but has had unsatisfactory results. The business has been plagued by crank calls from people who think it is a sexual service or a prostitution ring, he said.

Approximately 10 Harvard students have called the service, said David, but "no one who called was serious--one or two curious, perhaps, just not serious."

"Harvard students also thought it was a sex service," he added.

Sgt. Ted Carlin of the Cambridge Police Department's vice and narcotics squad said, "I've never seen a male escort service before." Another officer said that the service might be targeting visiting businessmen who are afraid of the bar scene because of AIDS.

Student Fast for Hunger

Harvard students next week will give up a meal to assist people in the Third World who are trying to feed themselves.

The Phillips Brooks House (PBH) committee on the homeless and Hunger Action at PBH have scheduled the semi-annual event for Wednesday, November 30, said Hunger Action coordinator Douglas W. Marx '90. Hunger Action workers started signing up students Monday to fast, he said.

Participating students pledge not to eat dinner in University dining halls, and Harvard will donate the money it saves to a women's cooperative in Nicaragua and a group of farmers in rural Kenya, Marx said.

The funds will not actually pay for food, but rather will go to help poor people in those developing countries gain economic self-sufficiency, Marx said. "Short-term food aid has had a lot of negative effects," Marx said. "Projects that are self-perpetuating give a means of helping the people help themselves over the long term."

The Nicaraguan program, which is sponsored by a private aid foundation, the Overseas Development Fund, "aims to create economic opportunity for women," he said. The money donated will buy sewing machines and other materials to help the women of Las Herramades earn money to feed their families, Marx said.

The private African Children's Educational Support Committee organized the Kenyan project, which the Harvard fast will also support, Marx said. Organizers in Kenya hope to establish a profitable chicken farm there, he added.

Hunger Action hopes to get more than 50 percent of the student body to fast, Marx said. The level of participation will raise about $4000.

The PBH groups are also receiving matching funds from the Overseas Development Fund, Marx said. About 40% of the undergraduate student body participated in last year's fast, which raised $3400 for an Oxfamsponsored program to buy plows for Ethiopian peasants, Marx said.

Leverett Comedy Night

A Leverett House comedy night planned for this weekend remained up in the air last night after the Undergraduate Council's executive board decided not to cover any losses the event might incur.

Earlier yesterday, Gregory R. Schwartz '89, the Leverett House committee chairperson, said three house groups had agreed to provide funding for the event Friday night, after council social committee members assured him they would "sponsor a resolution that would cover our losses if there were any losses, which we don't think is going to happen."

It was unclear last night what effect the steering committee's decision not to insure the show would have. Schwartz was unavailable for comment.

The Leverett House Committee, Arts Committee, and Film Society had agreed to split the costs--paying $250 each--for the comedy night, Schwartz said.

The council Sunday night voted not to fund the event, even though social committee member Stephen M. Hearst '88-'89 had signed three Boston comics and begun postering for the show.

Hearst said he had the authorization of the council's social committee to coordinate the event, but council leaders said last night that the committee never gave Hearst the official go-ahead.

Schwartz said he expects about 200 people to attend the comedy night, if it takes place.