Students Bumped From Mem. Hall

The renovations to Harvard Yard done over the past three years have done more than exiled students to 29 Garden Street, they've also displaced student organizations from their traditional homes.

In particular, the renovations of Memorial Hall which began last spring have forced groups including the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, The Asian American Association and the Harvard Model Congress to negotiate with the University bureaucracy for new office space.

The piecemeal renovations of the Yard's dorms have also caused The Harvard Independent and the Peninsula to move their offices through the Yard.

Members of Peninsula, an organization that publishes a conservative publication, have found the University "extremely unhelpful" in helping their group relocate, said President Brent C. McGuire '95.

For three and a half years, Peninsula has been waiting for permanent office space. The group has been homeless since losing its temporary home in Cabot House last February, McGuire said.

It has been extremely "aggravating not to have an office," McGuire said.

Representatives from the Peninsula met with Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III last Thursday and were discouraged by the meeting, said McGuire.

The President of the right-wing publication said Epps suggested Peninsula was "about third in line" for office space, despite the University's supposed commitment to finding the group an office last February.

While the Asian American Association has office space, members complain of their crowded new surroundings.

Last spring, AAA moved from Memorial Hall to the basement of Thayer Hall.

"We are sharing a very cramped office space with the South Asian Association," said co-President Alex H. Cho '96. "But we are just happy to have office space-period."

Cho also complained that the basement of Thayer Hall gets very hot because it is next to the laundry room.

Despite problems with the new location, Cho praised the University for its help in providing assistance in the AAA's move.

And co-President Jennifer Ching '96 said she was hopeful that the AAA would have a larger home after Yard renovations will have been completed.

"We just don't have enough office space," she said.

Ching suggested moving several of the minority groups into Memorial Hall "to maintain unity and communication."

The Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra has faced several moves in the past year. The organization moved from Memorial Hall to Thayer Hall's basement to Canaday Hall's basement.

"The office still looks like a disaster," according to president Leora I. Horwitz '95.

Although the current office is smaller than the Orchestra's previous home, Horwitz said, "Nothing could induce me to move again."

Since all practices are still held in Sanders Theater, the move means that members must carry their instruments to and from practices.

But Horwitz says she "can't complain" about the group's space.

Another group forced to make multiple moves has been the Harvard Islamic Society, in large part due to the group's need for space to pray.

The group was originally located in the basement of Memorial Hall and was moved to Canaday A, then to Straus, and finally it is located in the basement of Canaday E.

"Ideally we'd like more space. It tends to be a bit crowded," said Mohammed Asmal '95, vice president of the Islamic Society.

Not all groups have faced problems with their moves.

Last spring Harvard Model Congress moved from Memorial Hall to the basement of Thayer Hall, and the group is "generally happy with the space," said co-president Jessica L. Levin '95.

"It's not as hot as Memorial Hall," Levin said.

For the Harvard Independent, the move was even a shorter hop--from the basement of Canaday G to the basement of Canaday A.

"The current office is smaller than our previous office, but the space is used more efficiently," said Independent President Ellie Grossman '95.

And she said the University was more "helpful than unhelpful.

But Horwitz says she "can't complain" about the group's space.

Another group forced to make multiple moves has been the Harvard Islamic Society, in large part due to the group's need for space to pray.

The group was originally located in the basement of Memorial Hall and was moved to Canaday A, then to Straus, and finally it is located in the basement of Canaday E.

"Ideally we'd like more space. It tends to be a bit crowded," said Mohammed Asmal '95, vice president of the Islamic Society.

Not all groups have faced problems with their moves.

Last spring Harvard Model Congress moved from Memorial Hall to the basement of Thayer Hall, and the group is "generally happy with the space," said co-president Jessica L. Levin '95.

"It's not as hot as Memorial Hall," Levin said.

For the Harvard Independent, the move was even a shorter hop--from the basement of Canaday G to the basement of Canaday A.

"The current office is smaller than our previous office, but the space is used more efficiently," said Independent President Ellie Grossman '95.

And she said the University was more "helpful than unhelpful.