Police To Monitor River Run Activity

Freshmen who try to burn boats and call upon spirits in hopes of receiving blessings from the River gods this year will do so at the risk of getting arrested by the police, if plans discussed at yesterday’s Committee on Student Life meeting are carried out.

Committee members at yesterday’s monthly meeting approved plans to discourage the annual “River Run,” which they characterized as an unsafe, alcohol-laden pseudo-tradition.

“We’re trying to tell people they shouldn’t do it,” said Dean of Freshmen Thomas A. Dingman ’67 about River Run after the meeting. “For those who blunder ahead, they will be met by law enforcement.”

The Harvard University Police Department as well as other police agencies will be stationed around the River Houses and at the Charles River Wednesday night to discourage and monitor unsafe freshmen activity, Dingman said. Freshmen receive Housing lottery results the following morning.

“The HUPD as well other local police jurisdictions are aware of the event and will work cooperatively to ensure that next Wednesday night/Thursday morning is safe for everyone involved,” HUPD spokesman Steven G. Catalano wrote in an e-mailed statement.

The administration has asked House Committees to refrain from promoting their Houses in Annenberg Hall until Housing Day, as Dingman and others believe that such displays of enthusiasm may spur freshmen to act out during River Run.

But Mather HoCo Chair David L. Billing ’11 said these regulations are overly strict as House Committees are not involved in River Run activities.

“Mather HoCo has never had anything to do with River Run. We’re not involved with that in any way,” Billing said last night. “River Run is a tradition that freshmen hear about from upperclassmen, and they do it regardless of what HoCos do.”

Houses have also been asked to bar freshmen from entering courtyards and engaging in underage drinking the night before Housing Day, which prompted Adams House Master John G. “Sean” Palfrey ’67 to quip that some wholesome freshmen activity may be welcomed.

“From the House’s point of view, the message I want to get to the freshmen is that quiet prayer in the Randolph Courtyard will be greatly welcomed by Adams House gods, whereas drunken howling is one of the best ways to guarantee that you’re not getting in,” he joked.

In an attempt to divert freshmen from River Run, the Freshman Dean’s Office has prepared alternative programming, including a t-shirt making event at Annenberg Hall followed by a dance.

“The message from us should be that we love celebration, but it’s got to be the right kind of celebration,” Palfrey said.

The committee also reviewed the Undergraduate Council’s recommendations for January term programming yesterday.

Committee members voiced general support for the idea of expanding on-campus programming initiated by student groups such as the Institute of Politics and Harvard Undergraduate Television.

—Staff writer Danielle J. Kolin can be reached at dkolin@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Naveen N. Srivatsa can be reached at srivatsa@fas.harvard.edu.