More Pub Nights Planned

Harvard administrators have agreed to approve and fund four more Loker Commons Pub Nights this semester, and said that if these events are successful, the College will seriously consider making a recommendation to gut and renovate Loker Commons as early as this summer.

Earlier this year, Associate Dean of the College Judith H. Kidd held preliminary informal discussions with students about how to use Loker as a social space. Kidd also supported and helped organize the first Pub Night on Feb. 11, which met with enormous success, attracting almost 1,000 undergraduates.

Though the second pub night in Loker, held on Feb. 26th, was slightly less well-attended—with 300 fewer students present—Special Assistant to the Dean for Social Programming Zachary A Corker ’04 said this was merely a factor of low advertising and bad timing.

After both events, the collaborators from the administration, Harvard Student Agencies (HSA), and Veritas Records got together to discuss what went well and what didn’t.

After the second pub night, Corker presented a proposal for the Dean’s Office to sponsor Pub Nights for the rest of the semester, which was approved.

“The fact that the administration approved this shows that they are willing to put forth the time and financial support into these types of social events,” Corker said.

“It also shows that they trust the students,” he added, noting that there were no safety problems at either of the Loker events.

“The success of the Loker Nights shows a real collaboration between student groups and the Dean’s Office,” said Matthew L. Siegel ’05, co-founder of the student-run Veritas Records label. “Veritas Records and HSA came together successfully—prompted by the Dean’s Office.”

If the four remaining Pub Nights run smoothly and continue to attract large crowds, they will consider renovating Loker Commons, creating an on-campus pub for students, according to Corker.

“The administration is looking to make a serious investment,” said Daniel O. Rodriguez ’05, HSA Pub Night Event Manager. “It’s safe to say that we are talking about a potential million-dollar renovation.”

Crediting the administration with their eagerness to improve student social life, Siegel outlined what his conception of an ideal student pub would be.

“The ideal potential pub would be a social space shared by all that people would really want to spend time in and that would represent a strong alternative to current social options,” Siegel said. “It should be a space that Harvard students can identify with, and it needs to appeal distinctly to undergraduates.”

Siegel, Rodriguez, Corker, and Daniel J. Zaccagnino ’05, co-founder of Veritas, drove to the Middlebury College Grille and Bowdoin College Pub to see how successful they are and to talk to students. The trip was sponsored by the Dean’s Office.

“It was a great trip,” Corker said. “Since this is a student-led endeavor, it was great for the Dean’s Office to decide to educate the students that are producing this.”

The group may continue to scope out other campus hot spots in search of pub inspiration.

“I hear there’s a great one in Madrid,” Corker joked.

But, on a serious note, he added, “We’ve been working non-stop. These are fun to plan, and we are happy with their success so far.”

The four remaining Loker events will be March 18, April 8, April 22, and May 6. These nights will be free and open to all ages.

Corker mentioned that some plans for the future Pub Nights this term could include a Karaoke section, a Veritas record release party, a hip-hop theme with a “rap battle,” trivia games, and a “classy lounge night” with table service and a jazz band.

“I think it’s clear from the success of Pub Nights what people want,” Siegel said.

—Staff writer Nicole B. Urken can be reached at urken@fas.harvard.edu.