Boosting Dorm Room Start-ups

As the Internet continues to revolutionize the business world, Harvard is wisely keeping pace. Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 has proposed changes to the longstanding policy against students conducting any business from dorm rooms. Lewis' proposal, which allows undergraduates to conduct "modest levels of business activities," is welcome and timely.

If adopted, this change will expand opportunities for all students. The regulations delineated in the Handbook for Students--which expressly prohibited any kind of dorm-room business--were designed with conventional commerce methods in mind.

However, these days, most students who wish to run businesses are not setting up supermarkets in their common rooms. Instead, student entrepreneurs who maintain Internet start-ups are doing much the same work as other students who, for example, work term-time jobs designing websites.

This does not mean, however, that the College will be welcoming dorm-room businesses with open arms. While students are no longer forbidden from using University resources to run their businesses, they must still operate under legitimate constraints. Budding entrepreneurs must take care not to disrupt their roommates. Furthermore, the proposed policy, citing the University's non-profit tax-exempt status, warns against "excessive" use of resources. Business traffic on Harvard's computer and mail systems must blend in with normal use. Students are also prohibited from listing their Harvard e-mail addresses or phone numbers as business contacts.

As long as these guidelines are sufficiently liberal and the University is flexible as precedent is established, the changes should serve both students and the University well. Start-up businesses can foster unique educational experiences and function as a valuable creative outlet. They are as worthy an extracurricular pursuit as any student group or term-time job. Thus far, the College has had little problem with students who are already involved in business enterprises.

For the University, the change in policy might give fundraising efforts a boost. Lewis has admitted that it is sometimes difficult to solicit donations from now-successful businesses that Harvard originally discouraged.

Lewis should be commended for his open-minded proposal and we urge to Faculty to approve the change at its next full meeting.