Harvard's 375

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10.13.11 vol. xlii, no. 29

2 [email protected] 10.13.11 • The Harvard Independent

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Harvard’s 375thWhen: Fri 10/14, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AMWhere: Tercentenary TheatreWhat: Join your fellow Harvard community—students, staff, faculty,alumni, and invited guests — in celebrating Harvard’s 375th birthday. Special musical performances by Yo-Yo Ma ’76 and a birthday cake by celebrity chef Joanne Chang ’91 are some of the many highlights. Don’t miss out on this once-every-quarter-of-a-century event!

Artist Talk: Gary SchneiderWhen: Tue 10/18, 6:00-8:00 PMWhere: Harvard Art Museums, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, 485 Broad-wayWhat: Gary Schneider's photographs are as conceptually demanding as they are visually compelling; they challenge conventions ofportraiture and probe concepts of identity in the liminal spacebetween art and science. His enigmatic "Helen" (2000), a tenebristafterimage of an exchange between artist and subject, is currentlyinstalled in the first-floor gallery of the Sackler Museum, as part ofthe "Re-View" exhibition.

ArtisTalk is a new six-part series of lectures by and conversations with some of today's most thought-provoking artists. Artistic practice is an essential form of intellectual inquiry and cultural critique. Contem-porary artists have much to say and much to teach about the complex world in which we live.

Study Abroad 101: Getting Started with your Study Abroad PlanWhen: Wed 10/19, 3:00-4:00 PMWhere: OIE Resource Room, 77 Dunster StreetWhat: Get a head start on summer planning with Office of International Education (OIE). The advisers at the OIE guide students in selecting from an extensive list of excellent study abroad programs in over 70 countries around the world. The OIE assists students in applying to non-Harvard study abroad programs and in making an online applica-tion for the transfer of Harvard degree credit for courses to be taken abroad.

Harvard: 2036CCCLXXV6...5...4...3...2...1%

artS FirStParty in tHE yardBakinG HiStOryStarry niGHt

CrimSOn BaLLErS

[email protected] 3The Harvard Independent • 10.13.11

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It’s strange to think that my father was here the last time Harvard put together a big anniversary

celebration, way back in 2011. Perhaps it’s strange to think that it’s been twenty-five years since my father was in college. My birth and matriculation dates coincide almost perfectly (one might say conveniently) with this anniversary, for some reason.

My parents are staying at the Charles again —a fter all, with their Harvard degrees and the natural illustriousness that accompanies them, they can afford to buy the Charles. They just had to come for the big four-oh-oh. The Yard and the Square are crawling with alumni and tourists and have been for what seems like an eternity. It makes sense, though, this coming Tuesday should be one without parallel.

Grizzled old President Faust, still kicking Harvard’s ancient posterior into shape at 89, has really planned something special . Al l of the accomplishments our school has achieved since she came into office are to be showcased: Zuckerberg House and the Gates Library in Allston are having their formal opening ceremonies, the three co-ed final clubs are jointly throwing a huge party, and the student center Faust has worked so hard to build on the Square is almost finished.

Yet one can’t help but wonder if Harvard has become worse off in the few decades since it turned 375. Something is missing here: maybe the pervasive white male privilege, the Brooks Brothers catalogs, and the lavish treatment of our athletic department should make a comeback. Financial aid, drawn ad

infinitum now from Harvard’s $78 billion endowment, has turned this place into something that would have been unfamiliar to even the visionary Faust when she took her position.

Maybe it is time for us to hearken back to the glory days when there were 10,000 Men of Harvard, when we had the opportunity to take control of life like someone from the early-aughts classic Mad Men. We could grab life by the scruff of its neck and influence it until it did what we want. We could go back to the days of a dozen “bro”-infested old buildings and see what happens.

Or, you know, we could keep going on the positive track President Faust has pushed us along while she has been in charge. Perhaps that is the better way to go about this: to embrace a new Fair Harvard, one which really is fair, which treats all of its students with the same hand, which levels the playing field for them to achieve what and succeed

how they will, and which enables each of its graduates to be almost as successful as its dropouts.

When my parents and I file onto that old Tercentenary Theater, overlooked by the room in Thayer Dad spent his freshman year in, and steeped in four hundred years of history, we will be more excited than is probably warranted. Yet, again, it makes sense. Harvard has come so far in the last 25 years, in the last 50, the last 400. We are going to be celebrating the achievements we are already proud of, and the future that will surely make us more proud to be students and alumni of this great institution.

Gary D.J. Gerbrandt Jr. ’36 (garyger-brandt@college) will be a freshman concentrating in Cloning and Regen-erative Sciences.

By GARY D.J. GERBRANDT JR.

Harvard Turns 400Postcards from the future.

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1636

1650 1750 1850

1700 1800 1900

Founding (1636): The New College is founded by the Massachusetts Bay Colony as the first institution of higher learning in the US. 375 years of “first” (and best) are to follow.

Becoming Harvard (1638): On his deathbed, Charlestown minister John Harvard bequeaths half of his estate and his personal library to the New College. While today that wouldn’t even get you a dining hall portrait, John gets to name the place.

Recruiting Fail (1650): Harvard establishes its “Indian College”. Only five Native Americans attend.

John Adams (1755) graduates.

Harvard Hall Burns (1764): A fire consumes 5,000 books making up the core of Harvard’s library. A solitary tome, snuck out of the non-lending library by an especially bibliophilic student, survives and is returned as a reminder that not all was lost. The student is summarily expelled for his kindness.

The Great Butter Rebellion (1766): Harvard students, fed up with the poor quality of the food provided to them, rebel against the administration, crying for “Butter that stinketh not!”. When the dust settles, the rancid butter is expelled from the College, as are 155 of the student protestors.

Harvard Beats Yale (1852): Yale tries to prove its superiority over Harvard by challenging us to what would become the oldest intercollegiate race in the United States, the Harvard-Yale Regatta. Harvard wins, and continues to do so today, currently leading the varsity, junior varsity, and freshman series.

A Private University (1865): The power of the election of the Board of Overseers is transferred to the corporation. Harvard severs legal ties with the state of Massachusetts.

President Eliot Appointed (1869): Charles William Eliot’s forty years as President revolutionized Harvard, transforming the school into a world-class research university with a standardized admissions exam, elective courses, rigorous, performance-based grading, and a reputation for excellence.

Breaking Barriers (1870): Richard Theodore Greener becomes Harvard’s first black graduate. Today Harvard is approximately 12% black and African-American.

Harvard Beats Yale, Again (1875): Harvard thoroughly trounces Yale at home in New Haven, sparking the intense rivalry known best at The Game, in whose glorious name Harvard students still pretend to care about football a century and a third later.

Remember the Ladies (1879): The Harvard Annex is founded to provide a Harvard-level education to women. It is later named Radcliffe College, and a new genre of negative stereotypes about powerful, intelligent women is born. (“Radcliffy”, anyone?)

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1950 2011

2000

FDR (1904) graduates.

President Lowell Appointed (1909): Abbott Lawrence Lowell’s twenty-four year presidency, during which he establishes the very notion of concentrations and the House system, defends intellectual freedom, secretly purges the school of gay men, denies black students access to housing in the Yard, and implements policies to severely restrict the admission of Jewish students, begins here.

A Winning Brilliance (1914): ProfessorTheodore William Richards wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. A lewd number of Harvard-affiliated Nobel laureates are to follow.

The Stacks (1915): The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library is opened in honor of its namesake, who died in arctic waters when the Titanic mistook an iceberg for an ice cube.

House Life (1930): The opening of Dunster and Lowell Houses marked the beginning of the upperclassman House Plan as we know it, though housing would be selective and rooming would be based on ability to pay well into the middle of the century.

JFK (1940) graduates

IBM Mark I (1944) computer begins operation at Harvard.

University Hall Occupied (1969): On April 9th at noon Students for a Democratic Society forcibly take University Hall in protest against the Vietnam War and ROTC’s role on campus. Police forcibly remove them and a six-day academic strike commences.

Welcome, Indy! (1969): The Harvard Independent is founded by students and alumni who feel the campus needs an alternative to the left-wing editorial stance of the Crimson. Today the Indy has no political affiliation, but retains its independent spirit.

Gender Parity (1975): Women are admitted to Harvard as equal members of the student body, but retain a nominal enrollment at Radcliffe for another twenty-four years.

The Core (1978): Harvard adopts the Core Curriculum in an effort to produce academically well-rounded graduates. It succeeds in producing abnormally easy classes. Applause all around.

Scandal (2005): President Larry Summers receives a “lack of confidence” vote from FAS after insinuating that women are not naturally inclined towards the sciences.

Drew Gilpin Faust (2007) is the first woman appointed President.

ROTC (2010) is welcomed back to campus after Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is repealed.

The Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (2004 ) is launched.

Barack Obama (1991) graduates from Harvard Law.

The Facebook (2004): An awkward sophomore named Mark Zuckerberg launches Facemash, a web application allowing students to compare the hotness of their classmates, effectively crashing the server. After apologizing publically, he launches Facebook from his room in Kirkland, and a new social system is born.


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Admissions through the AgesHarvard's evolving admissions policies.

By CHRISTINE WOLFE

.0626 is a small number. according to the Harvard College Admissions website, 2,188 students were accepted for the class of 2015 out of 34,950 applicants (6.3%). The admissions rate has plummeted drastically since the advent of the Internet: with worldwide access to Harvard’s application, interest has cropped up from all corners of the globe. Information is the modern pandemic, transferring from person to person at the speed of light. It allows an impoverished American, an agrarian Russian, and an urban Kenyan to grab hold of opportunities never before available to them, and a world-class education is a prime motivator for the long journey to Massachusetts. However, the admissions pool to Harvard has changed significantly from that of fifty years ago, and that had changed from the many years before it, too. Harvard’s admissions policies have changed as well, shaping the composition of its incoming class. One can only imagine the difference between the class of 2015 and the class of 1815 — it is easy to guess which has 12% African American students and is roughly 50% female, and which contained someone named Elias and had never heard of nor even dreamed of admitting a student like W.E.B. Du Bois. There have been moments in Harvard’s past of which its current students would be ashamed of, moments that contradict our belief that Harvard should stand as an intellectual beacon in such troubled and frustrating times. As much as we might wish to believe that things have always been as they are now, our school’s honorable diversity recruitment policy and egalitarian treatment of all socioeconomic classes was not always held to the high standard to which it is today.

One of Harvard’s many reputations is that of an exclusive country club, populated by extremely wealthy white legacies who would rather throw the ol’ pigskin around on the Cape than read two chapters of a book. While certainly not an accurate description of the modern Harvard population, there is a sliver of truth in that representation when viewing Harvard through a time-specific lens. Harvard adopted multiple admissions practices in the past that decreased or eliminated certain groups from the applicant pool entirely. Most obvious was the extreme disproportionality

of white students at the college — in the 1960s, black students made up only 2% of the college population, and until Richard Greener’s graduation in 1870, a black student had never graduated from Harvard College. Of course, whether these statistics are due to Harvard’s racist policies or the lack of resources available to minority groups is debatable, but the most probable explanation is that the lack of communication went both ways. Harvard did take on one explicit policy, however, that picked out “unwanted” students from the applicant pool. Known as the “numerus clausus,” Harvard (and a number of other universities) began imposing quotas on their applicant pool between 1918 and the 1950s that limited the admission of students based on their race or religion. One of the most well known effects of these quotas was the diminished acceptance of Jewish students into Harvard College (and a few of our graduate schools). Not only did the numerus clausus decrease the number of Jewish students accepted to Harvard, but the policy of priority admissions for legacies and the incorporation of such vague terms as “physical characteristics” and “solid character” into the admissions qualifications also cut Jewish students out of the pool in which they had previously been relatively well-represented. In essence, Harvard was, disappointingly, a product of its time. Harvard did not rise above the political absurdity that has arisen over the past few centuries. The college did, however, always attempt to retain a significant portion of lower-income students in the spirit of promoting hard-work and self-betterment, and the proverbial “American dream”. Of all the values Harvard has represented over 375 years, a dedication to self-improvement through dedication certainly remains a steadfast hallmark of the Harvard experience.

Harvard has transformed over its last 375 years —from a small community of religious educators to a conglomeration of Ryan O’Neals, to a bastion of communism (I don’t know, ask Nixon), to the worldly and interesting student body of today. Facilitating a diverse applicant pool is Harvard’s stellar financial aid program: $154,500,000 in scholarship grants has been provided to the class

of 2015 alone. Low-income students no longer have to live in separate dorms (I’m so glad I don’t have to live next to the Coop), and our student body consists of 42% ethnic minorities (not including the international students — they make up 11%). Harvard hosts multiple admissions programs to assist first-generation and traditionally under-represented groups in delving into the admissions process with ease, including the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program and the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, not to mention all of the organizations on campus who make an effort to make their communities aware of the financial and administrative

assistance Harvard is willing to offer. It is refreshing to know that Harvard is continuously laboring to improve its admissions process — for example, the college has brought back the Early Action program due to sufficient interest, but they are making strides to ensure that low-income students have as much access to the applications materials as resource-laden students do. With Drs. Faust and Hammond at the helm, I can only anticipate smooth sailing.

Christine Wolfe ’14 (crwolfe@college) feels lucky to be counted in 2014’s diverse 6.9%.



It Is unfortunate that thIs week is Harvard’s 375th. I have to write about it because it is the

theme of our issue; otherwise, I would have made a point to ignore this unbelievable display of wealth. We get it Harvard. You’re really old. However, I find it hard to condone the University’s choice to waste what must be an enormous sum of money on this celebration. What’s that I’ve been hearing since I’ve arrived on this campus? Oh yeah, we’re out of money. Employees of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences have taken cuts. Every week ushers in a new labor dispute. Set your priorities straight, Harvard. We’re in a crisis, and this University should be a symbol of service, not decadence.

That being said, Harvard has lasted 375 years, and in that time, it has seen its share of success and failures. One arena that Harvard has constantly, though quietly, succeeded, is in the arts. It is useless to enumerate all of the famous alumni who went on to enrich society in revolutionary ways.

Why is it, then, that our University is known primarily for its contributions to the sciences, and not the arts? I would argue that it is symptomatic of a larger problem that infects American education — a disregard for arts education. The fact that Harvard, the most reputable university in the United States, and perhaps the world, has not led the way in the arts makes this issue all the more tangible and troubling. Regardless of the assertion that all disciplines are the same, there will always be a divide between concentrators in the sciences and those in the humanities. Such a disparity is anecdotal, I admit, but I have no doubt that others experience a similar disdain for the arts that occasionally rears its head in dining

halls and classrooms. I arrived at this school in the era of Drew Faust, who has undoubtedly reinvigorated passion for the arts, but I nonetheless see that Harvard is under the same spell that has mislead education in our country as a whole.

Facing unprecedented budget cuts, arts programs across the nation have been eliminated in favor of programs considered part of the academic core — math, science, grammar, and, more recently, test preparation. Restrictions on funding based on classroom performance have been handed to underprivileged and affluent school districts alike. The only schools that have recourse in this situation, unfortunately, are well-off ones. Underserved schools, on the other hand, have no choice but to offer the bare minimum, those lessons that prepare children well enough to secure funding. All of this also stems from the sad fact of the state of our economy. People are afraid; parents are scared for their children, a new generation that is growing up in a time of unprecedented unemployment and rising costs of living.

Some have seen charter schools

as the solution for failing public schools. For example, I was an intern with the Center for Public Interest Careers at Harvard this summer, and I had the opportunity to visit a KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) school. An extremely successful charter school in New York City, KIPP offers a multifaceted education, complete with opportunities for enrichment in the arts. Charter schools even have a purportedly fair admissions process that is determined by lottery. Still, this method favors those families who have means to research schools, time for an interview, computer access, and proficiency in English. Moreover, such schools divert government funds from community schools where they belong.

The fact remains that the arts are an integral part of education, from elementary school all the way to college. The chance to experience painting, writing, drawing, and acting helps the developing child advance in his or her expressive and adaptive abilities. Youth produce a creative piece of work that is entirely their own, a product of their imagination that boosts confidence in many areas of life.

Moreover, creative expression fosters the acquisition of certain defensive characteristics, like resiliency, courage, self-love, and personal awareness. Abstract benefits aside, the arts can undoubtedly enhance a young person’s performance in other disciplines.

What does all this mean to a Harvard University student? The fact is that we live in a world of expression. People seek to understand each other; people want to see and hear and speak in new and breathtaking ways. We need to be moved by beautiful prose, and we crave the joy that comes from an evocative poem. We need the inspiration that stems from the discussion of art and we must look to the realm of the arts to solve even the most puzzling problems of humanity. In order to be prepared for this terrifying world, we need to be able to look and read closely, speak and write with precision, and bring our emotionally potent observations about the world to a wide and eager audience. The arts break down barriers of class, race, gender, and sexuality, for expression is blind to the divisions of 21st century America, and it is our duty to learn how to utilize this all-encompassing means of

communication. Harvard is thus on

the edge of greatness. Our museums are world-renowned, our faculty is unmatched, and our newfound commitment to the arts holds great potential. We can reinvigorate the arts and employ our passion to inspire educators across the country to hold arts education in high esteem once again. We are in a position of leadership, something that is needed more than ever. Harvard 375 is a call to action. We have the opportunity to change education, and we have the key to reverse the damage that has been done.

Will Simmons ’14 (wsimmons@college) is pleased to have made a good rant out of a bad theme.

Where to go from here? Harvard 375 and arts education.

William Tell All

By WILL SIMMONS

Photo by wikicommons


If harvard were a human, I ImagIne it would be a cool old man. But since this institution has been

around for a long 375 years, one might disagree, thinking its golden age must be over and its descent into senility has already begun. One might think that with Harvard’s old age comes an inability to have fun: an old man would probably celebrate its late-life birthdays through a tame, boring gathering that involved Scrabble or game shows. Harvard, on the other hand, is celebrating its 375th birthday with a gathering neither tame nor boring. Despite Harvard’s old age, its birthday celebration will be on a scale unlike any you have been to.

On October 14 starting at 7:00 PM, thousands of individuals with Harvard affiliation — undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and alumni — will gather to officially kick off the celebration of Harvard’s 375th anniversary. Transformed by sensational lighting and special effects, Tercentenary Theatre will be the location of the celebration, one involving vivacious parades of Harvard alumni, all of the undergraduate houses, and all of the graduate and professional schools.

But making the event truly special will be the incredible musical performances. Grammy-Award-winning virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma ’76 will perform on the cello, and the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra will perform with a chorus of Harvard students. Various dancers, a capella groups, and soloists will perform throughout the evening. And when the celebration comes to a close as the hour comes closer to

midnight, a live band will perform and a dance party will take place.

Accompanying the musical events will be a delicious array of food. All in attendance can enjoy the huge, H-shaped birthday cake made by award-winning pastry chef Joanne Chang ’91. In addition to the cake, other elegant desserts will be served by a variety of local vendors. Guests will also have the opportunity to try Taza chocolate and see ice cream being made with liquid nitrogen.

Of course , Harvard ’ s 375 th anniversary could not possibly be a mere one-day event. On the same day as the kickoff festival, there will be a symposium entitled “Molecules, Movement, and Motors” and a tour of the Harvard Yard Archaeology excavation. On Saturday, the Philips

Brooks House Association 2011 Robert Coles “Call of Service” Award will be presented, and Dorothy Stoneman ’64, the founder and president of YouthBuild U S A , w i l l give a lecture. Similar events in honor of t h e 3 7 5 t h anniversary will take place throughout October and

continue until May 2012.Parades, musical performances,

and delicious food, followed by several months of celebratory activities: Harvard’s 375th anniversary certainly beats an elderly gathering with Scrabble and game shows. Harvard makes it abundantly clear that even an old institution can have a youthful spirit. I do have to admit, though, that despite its ability to host a fun-filled celebration, Harvard does show a negative sign of old age. While I picture Harvard as a cool old man, it is an old man that can be a bit creepy. Anyone who has heard the trees talking in the Yard would surely agree.

Curtis Lahaie ’15 ([email protected]) is looking forward to the events that the cool old man named Harvard can pull off.

Photo courtesy of http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/bios_detail.jsp?id=24300205

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/afagen/539790896/

By CURTIS LAHAIE

A guide to the kickoff of Harvard’s 375th anniversary.

Getting Old, Not Boring


for the last two weeks, anyone walking across the yard can see that something special is

in the works. As each day passes, Tercentenary Theatre becomes more and more crowded — with tents, lights, wires, and staging — yes, we are getting ready for Harvard’s 375th anniversary celebration.

With a festive and historical dinner featuring such traditional favorites as cornbread, chicken pie, and Welsh Rarebit, an open bar, procession parades to the yard, delicate desserts, live bands, a special performance by Yo-Yo Ma, and a shout-out from a popular TV show, it is bound to be a night of classy celebration.

What I (and a considerable portion of the student population) am most excited about, however, is Harvard’s two thousand-pound cake, made possible by the leadership and culinary chutzpah of Joanne Chang ’91, a Harvard graduate who left a lucrative career in management consulting to follow her passion in food. Working her way up as pastry chef in numerous restaurants including Cambridge’s Rialto and Boston’s Mistral, as well as New York’s acclaimed Payard Patisserie and Bistro, she opened her own Flour Bakery + Café in 2000 in Boston’s South End, later expanding to the Fort Point Channel Area in 2007, and finally to Central Square in 2010. Her bakery has been

featured in numerous magazines and newspapers, including Gourmet, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and the New York Times. Her famous, gooey, oh-so-sticky sticky buns won the Bobby Flay showdown on the Food Network. Seeing her rapid success and the constant growth of her bakeries (and newly opened Chinese restaurant, Myers + Chang), I am constantly inspired by her focus, initiative, and enthusiastic personality. To be perfectly honest, I aspire to be just like her.

I am a statistics major, so here are some numbers to get you excited about the cake. It is composed of 60 sheet cakes, 278 pounds of butter, 1000 eggs, 1100 cups of cake flour, 16 gallons of buttermilk, 125 cups of cocoa powder, 25 cups of salt, 24 cups of vanilla extract, and 16 gallons of crème fraise. That is going to be one big cake — red velvet, of course, to represent Harvard’s colors. So, this Friday, no matter how much work you have and regardless of other plans you may have, don’t miss out on being a part of this celebration. Be there for a timeless opportunity, and be there for your share of eighteen by fifteen feet of red velvet glory.

Celia Zhang ’13 (celiazhang@college) is ready to swallow her pride this Friday, her Harvard pride, that is.

By CELIA ZHANG

Let them eat cake: nothing says “school spirit” like red velvet.

Food for Thought

Photo by wikicommons


If you’ve ever heard the sweet strains of “Maria”, watched the thrilling stunts of Jason Bourne,

or laughed at the biting satire of a particular Late Night Talk Show host, you’re admiring the work of our very own Harvard alums. Here is a glimpse into Harvard’s illustrious alumni in the arts…we know that we have missed a lot of storied figures, but hey, it’s Harvard after all!

Michael Crichton – Class of ’69. One of the most prolific authors of our time, Crichton had, above all else, foresight. He wrote about almost unimaginable heights of genetic engineering in The Jurassic Park. In The Andromeda Strain, he explored nanotechnology even before it was a thing. Crichton used thrilling backdrops while making very relevant social commentary, and he taught us about the importance of respecting nature and being weary of human nature through otherworldly adventures that always struck a fear and perhaps a little guilt in our hearts. We will miss this great talent.

Conan O’Brien- Class of ‘85. Starting his illustrious career as the president of the Harvard Lampoon, he was also part of the teams that brought you Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. For sixteen years, NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien kept America rolling with laughter with his quick wit and biting sarcasm. With his move to TBS, Conan has marked a new chapter in his memorable career, and we, along

with the rest of the United States, just can’t get enough of the man who makes us laugh at ourselves and love it.

Natalie Portman- Class of ’03. This resident of Lowell House stole our geeky hearts as the stunning Padmé Amidala in Star Wars. Her acting prowess has shone through in every subsequent role. She was the quirky, lovable Sam in the indie-hit Garden State. Her edgy transformation as Evey in V for Vendetta proved that she could tackle intense, dramatic characters as well. Last year, as the torn wife of a soldier away in Afghanistan, she connected to the nation’s soul in Brothers. Her crowning achievement to date is perhaps her turn as a schizophrenic ballerina in last year’s Black Swan, which resulted in an Academy Award for the leading lady. Natalie Portman is in her prime, and we wait with bated breath for her to keep us engaged with her versatility.

Leonard Bernstein- Class of ’39. Bernstein was a prolific music conductor and composer. He shot to fame when he was appointed the conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and amazed the world with his sudden debut on national TV at Carnegie Hall. His music thrilled us in productions such as West Side Story, Candide, and Wonderful Town. He was instrumental in adapting classical music for the masses and informing the public about them through television lectures. He won multiple Grammy Awards and

a Tony Award, and he will always be remembered as one of America’s foremost musical visionaries.

Darren Aronofsky- Class of ’91. Aronofsky has been one the most innovative, albeit underrated, directors in Hollywood. He rose to fame with the controversial Requiem for a Dream. He later followed it with emotionally complex cinematic works such as The Wrestler, which rejuvenated Micky Rourke’s career. Last year, he directed what in our opinion was one of the best movies in recent times, Black Swan. Famous for brilliant cinematography and unconventional narratives, we cannot wait for what this master storyteller will bring us next.

Rivers Cuomo- Class of ’06. Cuomo is best known as the songwriter of the alternative rock band, Weezer. He always had an interest in music and performed in many rock bands before founding Weezer, a widely popular band that has produced 8 studio albums and toured around the world. Cuomo is also in a metal band called Avant Garde and a country group called Homie. Like the typical over-committed Harvard student he once was, he also works with Scott Murphy of Allister on a Japanese album.

Yo-Yo Ma- Class of ’76. This virtuoso, cellist, and composer came to Harvard after leaving Juilliard and attending Columbia briefly. As a child prodigy, he performed for presidents John F.

Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower. At Harvard, he was a member of the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra. He gained his fame through recordings of Bach’s Cello Suites in the 80s and 90s and captured our hearts with his work on the soundtracks of Seven Years in Tibet, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Memoirs of a Geisha, among many other successful albums. He has produced over 75 albums and won over 15 Grammys. Yo-Yo Ma now tours with his Silk Road Ensemble around the world.

Matt Damon- Class of ’92. Matt was a wide-eyed Harvard freshman in 1988 before he followed his dreams to Hollywood only a semester away from graduation. The rest, as they say, is history. The Bourne Series. The Departed. The Ocean’s Trilogy. Saving Private Ryan. And the list goes on. He has not only conquered the box office, but has also been lauded by critics, with his awards including an Academy Award for his role in Good Will Hunting. To top it all off, he was People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2007. In short, he has it all—money, talent, a Harvard education, and that crooked smile that makes our hearts swoon.

Angela Song ’14 (angelasong@college), Sayantan Deb ’14 (sayantandeb@college), and Curtis Lahaie ’15 (clahaie@college) are waiting for their turn.

By ANGELA SONG, CURTIS LAHAIE, and SAYANTAN DEB

Harvard’s Walk of Fame.

Harvard’s FinestPhoto courtesy of clipart.com


indySportS

By MICHAEL ALTMAN

Harvard athletes who have made their mark.

Game Changers

Charles W. Eliot, Class of 1853 Before he became president of

Harvard in 1869, Charles W. Eliot was a student and rower at Harvard College. Although his ability as a rower is mostly unknown, Eliot did make what could be considered the greatest contribution to Harvard athletics in the past 375 years: the color crimson. Back in Eliot’s day, colleges didn’t have official school colors. To distinguish the Harvard rowing team from those of its opponents, Eliot passed around crimson scarves to Harvard’s rowers. In 1875, crimson became Harvard’s official color and has been a tradition ever since.

Theodore Roosevelt, Class of 1880.Despite being sickly and asthmatic

childhood, Teddy Roosevelt was a boxer and rower during his time at Harvard College. In addition to his rigorous physical activities, the future U.S. president was a member of numerous prestigious academic organizations. Although his doctor told him to avoid strenuous activities due to heart problems soon after he graduated, Roosevelt continued with his active lifestyle. Roosevelt’s physical abilities were on full display during the Battle of San Juan Hill in

1898. Afterward, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor, and was awarded it posthumously in 2001.

Bobby Jones, Class of 1924Though he is famous for being one

of the greatest and most influential golfers in the history of the sport, Bobby Jones also claimed degrees from three schools: Georgia Tech, Harvard College, and Emory University. While at Harvard, Jones earned a B.A. in English literature and was a member of the Owl Club. Despite a string of major tournament victories from 1923-1930 (including the elusive grand slam) that made him one of the most famous athletes in the world, Jones never became a professional golfer. Instead, he spent the rest of his life as a lawyer, golf instructor, and designer of Augusta National, the current location of the Masters Tournament.

Milton Green, Class of 1935Milton Green rose to fame when

he equaled the world record of 5.8 seconds for the 45-yard high hurdles during a track meet against Princeton and Yale. In 1936, Green tied another world record, this time for completing the 60-meter high hurdles in 7.5

seconds during an Olympic trial run. Although he was a shoo-in for the 1936 Olympics, Green decided not to attend and instead boycotted the games since they were being held in Nazi Germany. Green was inducted in the Harvard Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961 and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Class of 2005Fast-forward several decades

to Harvard’s current shining star in the world of pro-sports, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Before becoming an NFL quarterback, Fitzpatrick led Harvard to an undefeated season (10-0) during his senior year. Upon entering the NFL draft in 2005, Fitzpatrick had a near perfect score on the Wonderlic Test and completed it in record time. Because of his intellectual prowess, Sporting News ranked him as the fifth smartest athlete in 2010, the highest rank among the Harvard athletes on the list. Currently, Fitzpatrick is quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and is potentially on track to lead the

disappointment-prone franchise to a successful season.

Jeremy Lin, Class of 2010When Jeremy Lin entered college,

he was not drafted or offered any athletic scholarships. Out of options, he had to settle for Harvard. While playing for Harvard’s basketball team, Lin established himself as a top player and potential NBA draftee. By the end of his college career, Lin became the first Ivy League player to score over 1,450 points, having scored 1,483. Lin is currently playing in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors and is the first American in the NBA to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Shortly after being signed by the Warriors, Lin said that he hopes he can break the stereotypes about Asians in basketball.

Michael Altman ’14 (maltman@college) is looking forward to more Crimson domination in the world of sports.


captured & shotBy MARIA BARRAGAN-SANTANA

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