No Complaints

COMPLAINTS ARE FUN to write. Complaints are fun to read. Occasionally, complaints can even accomplish something. So The Crimson complains a lot. In the last year, we've complained about Derek Bok and Derrick Bell, Dean Epps and Dean Clark, HMC and MTV.

Praise, on the other hand, is pretty boring to write. Boring to read, too. And as far as accomplishment goes--well, praise tends to make the praise feel good. Otherwise, it doesn't do much. Consequently, The Crimson doesn't praise people very often.

But once every long while, someone extraordinary comes along. Someone absolutely unwilling to stand for the status quo. Someone resolutely determined to improve the lives of Harvard students. Someone truly committed to cutting through the bureaucratic bull and getting things done.

Director of Dining Services Michael Berry is one of those someones.

HARVARD'S FOOD has provided the material for many a Crimson complaint. Unappetizing, unpalatable, indigestible, gross--you name the adjective, we've used it in our staff editorials. They were fun to write. Perhaps they were fun to read. But they didn't accomplish diddly.

Then Berry took over. Suddenly, we began to see innovations. Frequent New York Deli Days with real brisket, real bagels, real Dr. Brown's Cream Soda. Italian Deli Days. Ballpark Day. Soup and Sandwich Day. The hot dog option. Better chicken. More waffle fries. The demise of fish pizziola.

Best of all, we began to see questionaires in the dining halls, soliciting student opinions about the food. And within 24 hours, any student who took the time to complain--or praise--received a phone call from dining hall management. Toto, we don't think we're at Harvard any more.

But we are. This is really happening. Somebody really cares about us. That somebody deserves our thanks. And he deserves our praise.

But about that curry lentil bake...