<p>Excellent letter to the Deans, Gadad. It echos the concerns I have since reading about these two particular budget cuts in The Crimson last week. My s will be headed to Currier in the Fall and I lament the fact that the quad library is now earmarked for ‘social space’ and that late-night shuttle service will be curtailed.Your point that these two cuts are mutually-irreconcilable is spot on. Thank you for leading the charge here, and certainly I will follow up with a letter to the Dean.</p>
<p>Gadad,</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the letter and the contacts. We will also write a letter expressing our concern. Our daughter, who will be in Currier next year, called us last night and told us of the announcement. She and her blocking group are VERY upset over these cutbacks. I can’t understand why an area that will indeed compromise students safety is on the chopping block!!</p>
<p>Gadad, your letter was wonderful. Thank you for sending it immediately. I think that other things could be discontinued instead of the shuttle service. I don’t thinks it’s necessary for students to receive $65 per semester to be used at dining halls. They also could cut out Brain Break. Students should be responsible enough to have snacks on hand and not count on a full meal to be provided. anyway, thank you again!</p>
<p>I agree, shuttle service is a necessity - not only for quad houses but Mather/Dunster, as well. I think all students should be provided safe transportation when studying late.</p>
<p>Is it worth it to buy a freshman register? Did any parents here find that they or their kids used it at all?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I don’t know how much my DD has used her copy–she usually just uses the online Harvard Facebook at the FAS site. However I’ve used mine frequently for the past two years. DD is quite sociable, and when she shares stories of classmates, blockmates, teammates, dates, and housemates, it’s very nice having a face to associate with the name.</p>
<p>Our family purchased 1 copy. My son did not take it to school with him. We kept it here at home and just like the previous poster, we occasionally look up the new names my son brings up. Nice to keep along with scrapbooks</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the lead on this Gadad. I understand the difficulty that the University is experiencing, but cutting in the area of safety doens’t seem prudent. Does anyone know how widely the bus was used? What other study resources are available at the Quad, now that the library will be closed? My husband and I will write as well.</p>
<p>We did purchase one, more for the souvenir benefit that actual use. Disapointingly, they did not print my daughter’s photo, as what she had provided did not comply with their specifications—she didn’t understand them. No effort was made to explain. So, frankly, it was a bit of a let-down even as a souvenir.</p>
<p>“Does anyone know how widely the bus was used?”
This is really the key question, or more precisely how much it was used during the hours where service is being canceled. I wish they had announced that information when they announced the cutbacks!</p>
<p>D will be in Dunster next year and sometimes stays at the Crimson till 3 or 4 am when she is editing. I was concerned about that and not sure how far the Crimson office is from Dunster.
Even now when she walks back to Weld that late, we worry. She probably thinks we’re paranoid but I really am looking for a solution to this.</p>
<p>I don’t think you have anything to worry about- the Crimson is located on Plympton St, only a few short blocks to Dunster. It is an area with almost all student foot traffic, much safer than going through Harvard Square, or towards the Quad. Just remind her to use the “student designated” route (i.e., not public streets to the east). There is an HUPD substation at Mather, right next door to Dunster for added security.</p>
<p>(You might suggest she have a little mace or alarm device on her key ring if you are still paranoid.)</p>
<p>fauve,
Thanks for the suggestion. I feel much better knowing that the Crimson office is not too far from Dunster and will pass it on to her. I think she carries mace in her purse.</p>
<p>lousyanamom - I don’t have kids at Harvard, but I know that Yale provides a security escort to any student who needs one any time. I looked up Harvard and it looks like there is one available until pretty late:</p>
<p>Harvard University Campus Escort Program (HUCEP) (38) 4-8237</p>
<p>HUCEP teams, who are trained and supervised by the HUPD, provide walking escorts to students, faculty, and staff seven nights a week during the academic year and cover the Yard, River, and Quad areas. Teams are identified by their brightly colored vests, labeled HUCEP. Escorts respond to calls for service through the HUCEP hotline [(38) 4-8237 or (38)-HUCEP], and can be flagged down by students, faculty, and staff in need of an escort. Escort teams also are encouraged to ask solo walkers if they would like an escort to their destination.</p>
<p>The hours of operation for HUCEP are:</p>
<p>10:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. , Sunday through Wednesday, and 10:30 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. , Thursday through Saturday.</p>
<p>Thanks, Yalemom!</p>
<p>yalemom2,
Thanks so much for this information. It was really nice of you to look-up this info and post it. I am e-mailing your post to D and myself for future reference-in the fall. She usually ends up leaving at 4am. One time she finished at 2 am. We’ve asked her to walk back with other students but they probably live in other dorms or houses.</p>
<p>lousyanamom and gadad - you’re quite welcome! Maybe in light of the cutbacks in bus service they could be persuaded to expand the escort service hours? Good luck!</p>
<p>I guess they’d have to figure out if it would be more cost effective to have extended shuttle service hours or to expand the escort service hours.</p>
<p>Since Harvard has a decentralized campus - spread from the far River Houses (Dunster/Mather) to the Quad - in order for the students to form friendships and study groups that are not house or location specific, the shuttle needs to remain in operation. Harvard is known for the outstanding commitment to extracurricular activities - it’s not unusual for musical groups, theater groups, etc. to run practices until midnight or later. Thus, study groups often meet after midnight to accommodate members. The escort is not a reasonable alternative since many students are embarrassed about calling the escort, others hate to wait for them and would rather walk. It would be unfortunate if a student’s residence became the defining variable for forming study groups or the limiting factor in friendships. Even more unfortunate would be an injury to a student forced to walk during “non-shuttle” hours. This isn’t just a quad issue - actually the science building and other common meeting rooms that used to be perceived as late night midpoint meeting areas are actually closer to the quad than some river houses. And, during pre-frosh last year, the students housed at Dunster/Mather were warned not to walk back alone. The shuttle needs to remain in service for all Harvard students.</p>
<p>What do you think? I live in a three bedroom 2 bath home in the Boston area – historic area – easy access into city (bus out front door runs all day – to subway with full city access and easy 15 - 30 minute commute to most schools by car - depending on time of day). My daughter will be in school in the Los Angeles area next year. I wondered if there are parents interested in housing short term. I considered renting for a week in socal at the end of August to purchase dorm stuff and move my daughter in (rather than shipping everything coast to coast). Also thought we could become more familiar with the area. I am wondering if anyone with a child moving West to East from Socal is interested in the same thing. Though I’m not sure the exact logistics needed to manage this, this is a way to begin a conversation among parents. There is much “relocating” about to take place among our children. Thoughts?</p>