A Fond Look Back

The time has come again for Nancy Raine Reyes' year in review; the column in which I talk about what has been thrilling, exciting, annoying and even particularly retarded about Harvard this year--the column which is clearly distinct from all of my other columns.

Each year, there is always a name or two that becomes a celebrity at Harvard. Last year, the name Gina M. Grant was especially popular as students participated in the eternal debate as to whether or not the elite Harvard should have admitted such a horrific crime-ridden person. Well, she wasn't admitted; but many years ago, Theodore J. Kaczynski '62 was admitted. He was a math concentrator, he graduated and when he grew up, he became the suspected Unabomber! A celebrity. There is something almost sickly refreshing about the fact that the Unabomber may have graduated from Harvard. I think it makes the school a little more diverse in a way that I wonder whether or not Professor Harvey C. Mansfield '53 would mind.

Another mainstay in Harvard politics is the annoying extensive coverage of a big campus issue which always involves just a minute fraction of the Harvard population but in which everybody and their mother needs to be involved. Last year (although it's been around this year as well), campus politics centered around the Core Curriculum. Students complained, professors complained and even administrators complained. But after everything the Core is still the same stupid and unfulfilling academic requirement. This year the futile debatable issue was the randomization process. Even after everyone stopped whining it still happened. First-years were randomized even though everyone else complained and advocated against it. These past two issues have made me come to love the overwhelming and scary power students can having and scary power students can have here. But as I am a junior, safely tucked away in Kirkland House, I really don't care about randomization.

The highlight in Harvard's yearly architectural venture has been Loker Commons. While I was one of the few to vehemently refute the purpose of this huge expenditure, I can now say that Loker is a pretty cool place, especially when you have that $100 thing going on your ID card and you don't have to pay a dime. But I already see this as a looming political issue next year as students may complain about having the $100 cost appear on the term bill. Can't wait.

And of course, I always have personal highlights as a Crimson writer. One is without a doubt the fact that this was the first year of my three years here that I have ever written about the Undergraduate Council. I have always just stayed away from the U.C. because Rudd Coffey has been involved and, well, enough said. But this year, I even picked a candidate I really liked. Yet, in the end Matt Bakal lost to Rob Hyman (who I wasn't that fond of, either); but the fact is I tried to become involved in that arena this year. I took a risk, and I should get an A for effort or a B for a nice try.

The other event which impressed me more than anything this year and which I was honored to write about was the spectacular PBH rally which occurred earlier this year. To witness so many students and faculty alike uniting for the purpose of saving community service from red-tape politics made me proud to say that I attend Harvard. A clear demonstration of what Harvard students and faculty can do when they unite and work together, the rally was an enlightening experience for all.

There are always, of course, issues and complaints which resurface each year and which I always believe students do not get riled up enough about, and thus they resurface. While the acquisition of a frozen yogurt machine is always something students can get together on and sign petitions about (don't get me wrong, I love a little French vanilla and Dutch chocolate after every meal myself), I don't see this kind of excitement and dedication for more important issues such as the reconstruction of the advising system at this school.

I can't wait to see what awaits me as a Crimson writer next year, my last year, when I will be even more hypersensitive to whining and complaining. For now, I will just relish in the thought that the Unabomber may have gone to my school.

This is Nancy Raine Reyes' last column of the year.