Currier Claims Mr. Harvard

While many students buckled down to study for upcoming finals last weekend, some Harvard men spent last Friday night parading in bathing suits, shaking scantily-clad behinds to the tunes of Britney Spears, and performing a racy striptease.

As part of the second annual Mr. Harvard Pageant, 13 Harvard hunks strutted their stuff in front of a packed audience of about 280 in the Science Center.

According to the event’s co-host Joseph P. Torella ’08, who is also a Crimson editor, the event raised about $1,200 for Cambridge Student Partnerships (CSP)—an organization that provides social services for local homeless and low-income individuals.

Gordon T. Kraft-Todd ’07 took the coveted Mr. Harvard trophy and crown home to Currier House, outstripping first runner-up John “Jack” P. McCambridge ’06 of Winthrop House and second runner-up John “Pat” P. Coyne ’07 of Quincy House.

Ten Houses, along with each the three Freshman yards, nominated a pageant competitor. Eliot and Pforzheimer, due to complications, did not send contestants.

Several Houses sent large contingents of vocal supporters to cheer on their nominees—Winthrop residents even brought along a canine mascot to escort McCambridge down the aisle during the formal-wear competition.

But Mather residents, who were among the loudest audience members, were disappointed that their nominee did not place in the top three.

Former Mr. Mather, Paul H. Hersh ’04, took home the Mr. Harvard trophy last year.

John “Sam” S. Workman ’07—this year’s Mr. Mather—said that Matherites are recovering well from their defeat.

“They were pretty bummed and sent out some e-mails over the open list about how we got robbed. But there are no hard feelings—I think we’re taking it well,” Workman said.

Contestants were judged in swimwear, talent, and formal-wear competitions.

Leslie A. Barkett ’08, the winner of the singing contest “Harvard Idol,” Undergraduate Council President Matthew J. Glazer ’06, and long-time CSP volunteer Patricia K. Foo ’05 served as judges.

Glazer, who said that he enjoyed his role in the pageant, explained in an e-mail that judges gave contestants points following each performance, and tallied these points to determine the winner.

Competitors went to great lengths to catch each judge’s eye.

Coyne, who is also a Crimson editor, pranced down the aisle wearing only clear tape and sparsely-distributed red rose-petals during the swimsuit competition.

Nathan J. Dern ’07—Mr. Leverett—somersaulted down the aisle stairways before stripping, while Kraft-Todd sauntered down the steps in a swim-diaper, pacifier, and floaties.

Some of the contestants’ antics shocked Hayley J. Fink ’08.

“Parts were kind of traumatizing,” she said. “It was very wild.”

One competitor even had to be escorted offstage while performing his talent, after an exaggerated lap dance involving an audience member got out of hand.

But Fink said that “most of [the performers] were pretty sexy—they got really creative. The talents were pretty amazing.”

Contestants’ talents ranged from singing to stripping. Mr. Adams, Thomas P. Lowe ’05, belted out the classic “New York, New York” before flinging off his blue jacket, while McCambridge gyrated and thrusted to work-out music along with Mr. Dunster, Dane J. Skillrud ’06.

The eventual victor, Kraft-Todd, danced and mimed to Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn.”

Most contestants opted for nontraditional formal-wear—Workman, clothed in denim shorts and a large black wig, was escorted down the aisle by a gorilla. Lowe chose to cavort down the steps in a glamorous drag costume, and McCambridge soared to the stage dressed as the Winthrop Superhero Mr. Incredible.

Following his crowning, Kraft-Todd attributed his victory to his sense of humor.

“I knew I had to make them laugh,” he said. He also ascribed the win to his friends, who nominated him and helped him prepare for the competition.

“I’m not a big competitor. I just wanted to bring pride to my House,” he said.

A gracious but disappointed McCambridge also emphasized House pride.

“Winthrop wanted this and deserved to win. But it’s most important that we displayed our sense of community,” he said.

But Hersh said that the title is not a big deal.

“I put it on my resume, it was a conversation piece, and friends used it to make fun of me,” he said.

—Staff writer Anna M. Friedman can be reached at amfriedm@fas.harvard.edu.