10.01.15

ET E SECR TH F LIVES O NTS STUDE

Inside: Seeking Happiness, the Latest Apps, and Poetry 10.01.2015 The Indy can’t believe 10.01.15 it’s already October.

THE SECRET Vol. XLVII, No. 3 LIVES OF S STUDENT CONTENTS

Inside: Seeking Happiness, the Latest Apps, and Poetry Cover design by Anna Papp

President Anna Papp '16 3 A Happy Status Editor-in-Chief Shaquilla Harrigan '16 4 Great Wall of Ivy Director of Production Sean Frazzette '16 5 Great Wall of Ivy News Editor Aditya Agrawal '17 6 Ding, Dong, Duh Forum Editor Eloise Lynton '17 Arts Editor Michael Luo '16 7 A Phoenix Rebirth Sports Editor Caroline Cronin '18 Design Editor Anna Papp '16 8 A Phoenix Rebirth Associate Forum Editor Caroline Gentile '17 9 An App for That Associate Arts Editor Andrew Lin '17 Illustrator Yaara Yacoby '17 10 Rushing to See Rushdie Designers Alice Linder '17 11 Words of the Night Abigail Parker '17 12 Tales from Gridiron Staff Writers Albert Murzakhanov ‘16 13 Tales from Gridiron Whitney Gao '16 Manik Bhatia '16 14 Courting Other Players Terilyn Chen '16 Yuqi Hou '15 15 Fresh Look on Facebook Chloe Li '16 As Harvard College's weekly undergraduate newsmagazine, the Harvard Dominique Luongo '17 Independent provides in-depth, critical coverage of issues and events Orlea Miller '16 of interest to the Harvard College community. The Independent has no Carlos Schmidt '15 political affiliation, instead offering diverse commentary on news, arts, Frank Tamberino '16 sports, and student life. Jackie Leong '16 For publication information and general inquiries, contact President Madi Taylor '16 Anna Papp ([email protected]). Letters to the Editor and Shreya Vardhan '17 comments regarding the content of the publication should be addressed to Peyton Fine '17 Editor-in-Chief Shaquilla Harrigan (editorinchief@harvardindependent. Ritchey Howe '17 com). Hannah Kates '18 For email subscriptions please email president@harvardindependent. Chris Riley '17 com. The Harvard Independent is published weekly during the academic Andrew Adler '17 year, except during vacations, by The Harvard Independent, Inc., Student Sally Yi '18 Organization Center at Hilles, Box 201, 59 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA Hunter Richards '18 02138. Copyright © 2015 by The Harvard Independent. All rights reserved. Farhana Nabi ‘16

2 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 INDY FORUM “How was your day, Harvard?” A social media campaign for social change. By CAROLINE GENTILE “How was your day?” lives to know I’ve been there too, and so your day, Harvard?” Facebook page, I felt It’s such a simple question, but has everyone. Pictures on social media do as though I had been given a glimpse into sophomore Taylor Ladd saw the importance not properly encapsulate a life, with its the lives of others. I was now privy to their in asking it. This fall, she launched a social natural ups and downs, excitements and inner struggles, and it was eye opening. media campaign, called “How was your day, disappointments, and you should never People I knew—people with whom I was Harvard?” to encourage more people to ask measure yourself to the standard of a friends or perhaps just acquaintances— the question. profile picture.” who seemed perfectly happy, had struggled Mental health has recently been at the Since its launch on September 16th, with mental health issues. forefront of issues at Harvard, especially “How was your day, Harvard?” has received Not all of them had been clinically in light of the tragic suicide of sophomore 858 likes on its Facebook page and depressed, per se, but all had feelings of Luke Tang at the beginning of this school countless personal posts. Harvard students inadequacy or overwhelming anxiety as year and the recent release of the sexual have used the page to share the stories of a result of being in an environment in assault survey results. Whether it’s their solitary struggles with depression at which everyone attempts to project a shiny, helping students who are dealing with Harvard; through this online forum they perfect version of themselves. depression, anxiety, or trauma, many hope to remove the stigma that often comes While Harvard does offer a multitude have asked if Harvard is doing enough to with talking about mental health. of services for students to seek help with support students who are struggling with At first, I have to admit, something about mental health issues, none of these services their mental health. Some support already this movement really didn’t sit right with address our problematic environment. exists on campus. Forty to fifty percentme. That people were sharing the details The “How was your day, Harvard?” of Harvard students have sought mental of their darkest moments on a public movement encourages people to ask about, health services at Harvard University platform like the internet seemed more listen to, and share their struggles, along Health Services at least once. In addition like an attention-seeking behavior than with their successes, with the hope that to mental health services at UHS, Room one that brings about social change. Was students who are battling inner demons 13 gives students an alternate avenue for this really the best way to de-stigmatize will not feel alone. seeking help. Another student-run group, mental health, or was it just a ploy to rack Ladd’s movement puts the responsibility Student Mental Health Liaisons (SMHL) up likes? on us to not only candidly share our stories, seeks to publicize where students can seek I read through the posts on the page, but to also ask and to care about others. help on campus. The #peoplebeforepsets at the end of each Still, despite these resources for Harvard each followed by “#howwasyourdayharvard post reminds the reader how we become so students, Ladd did not seek help when she #peoplebeforepsets consumed with our work, that we forget to was depressed. “There are many resources check in on our friends. for mental health at Harvard,” she admits. #tellmeaboutyourdayatharvard.” Each The “How was your day, Harvard?” “However, when I was depressed last year, story was so deeply personal. After the first movement reminds us that how we interact I didn’t use any of them. I couldn’t figure few that I read, I felt the same way that with each other determines the sort of out how to make an appointment with a I feel when somebody on Facebook posts a community in which we live. We live in a therapist at UHS, and I didn’t want to go to (very flattering) picture of themselves with community where struggling with mental Room 13 and risk running into someone I a recently deceased grandparent, and then health issues is common, and that means knew. The only thing that eventually made proceeds to get 100 likes. The idea was that we have to talk about them more. me feel better was talking to others who good, but it seemed like a cry for attention. Obviously, each of us wants to be a part felt like I did, who also felt inadequate in But, with mental health, I think of a vibrant, welcoming, mentally healthy a community as competitive as Harvard.” that’s the point. Mental health demands community. To get there, though, it all “My goal is to create awareness for attention, and social media is the means starts with each of us asking each other the issue of mental health on Harvard’s by which people attract attention in this questions as simple as “How was your day?” campus,” Ladd writes on Facebook. “I generation. I realized that I had the initial and actually caring about each other’s want social media to become a tool that reaction that I did likely because I am a answers. can support those who struggle with product of a society that stigmatizes mental mental health, rather than something health issues to the point that sharing stories about them seems more selfish than Caroline Gentile ’17 ([email protected]. that perpetuates negative feelings. I edu) is a neurobiology concentrator in Kirkland want anyone that is feeling badly about selfless. Reading the posts on the “How was House who really needs to get off Facebook and themselves, their grades, or their social actually be a productive member of society.

The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 harvardindependent.com 3 INDY FORUM Pressure from 1.4 Billion People A look at the rigors of the Chinese education system. By SOPHIE WANG

s China has increasingly be- come a world power, it some- Atimes surprises me how little people actually know about what’s going on there. Of the many con- versations I’ve had in Annenberg, I’ve learned that many know that Facebook is blocked in China, but few seem to think that China would have its own social media platforms. Air pollution, another hot topic, when brought up, elicits more smirks than signs of empathy. “China is polluting the world!” is a phrase spoken with no sympathy, no understanding of how the very real consequences this problem creates in the very country that causes it. To demand some pathos, I throw out statistics like: “breathing the air in Beijing for a day is the equiva- lent of smoking 40 cigarettes,” or you have for SATs and APs?” I ask. ing the tune on the piano. However “on the worst days in Beijing when “Cheating is rampant too. Just like talented these kids are, they will the PM2.5 exceeds the max of 500 you might scribble the definitions of have to drop these activities during and shoots up to 1000, the visibility a few SAT words on the margins of middle school or high school—that’s on the roads is no more than 2 to 5 your desk before the test, students when everyone gives up most oth- meters.” If the conversation has pro- write down ‘Left 1, light brown, left er things, for the college entrance ceeded thus far, I am already satis- 2, light yellow etc.’ on their palettes exam, which we call “Gaokao,” the fied. If anything, it is a sign thatto make sure the colors they use to one thing that will determine the people care and might want to hear draw an apple are ‘correct.’” trajectory of their lives. more. All of this is to say that in this On other occasions, I give my Before I flew to Boston, my cousin, article I proceed with one issue I am take on the notorious college en- who’s my age, told me about her 12th relatively well versed in: the educa- trance exam and the Chinese edu- grade Gaokao experience in China. tion system in China. cation system. My sister, who is “I would wake up at 6:00 to study I like to talk about my experi- in fourth grade, is taking Olympic and eat breakfast. My mom would ences in one of the well known “art Math two times a week, and she drop me off at school at 7:00 for prep schools” in China if whomever already knows her x’s and y’s. Her morning recital and classes would I’m talking to seems like an artist best friend in class, who is 10 and begin at 7:20. We had four classes in of some sort. “Have you heard that has never been abroad, speaks Eng- the morning, each 40 minutes, with there are such things as standard- lish without an accent and can sing 10-minute intervals in between. ized test prep for drawing, the kind Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” while improvis- continued on pg. 5

4 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 INDY FORUM Pressure from 1.4 Billion People continued from pg. 4 By SOPHIE WANG

“My sister, who is in fourth grade, is tak- efficiently so Isystem is infamous for) and more started sleeping critical thinking with a global per- ing Olympic Math two times a week, at 1:00am.” This spective. In order to score high on and she already knows her x’s and y’s. daily schedule of the Gaokao, and quite possibly in hers, when told life, students now need to know that Her best friend in class, who is 10 and to students here they aren’t just citizens of China, has never been abroad, speaks English at Harvard, of- but citizens of the world. ten stirs in- People here talk about thinking crit- without an accent and can sing Ke$ha’s tense emotional ically all the time, but how often do ‘Tik Tok’ while improvising the tune on responses that people respond critically when I tell run the gamut them about real things happening the piano.” from pity to dis- to real people? Has it ever crossed belief to horror, people’s minds that there are 1.4 reactions that billion people in China and only one As soon as class ended, students are almost too Peking University and one Tsing- would swarm in front of the teach- serious for Annenberg. People don’t hua University, both of which are er with questions. So there really know how to respond to something ranked far behind “the Ivies” glob- weren’t any breaks other than the so foreign and out of touch. As an ally? In America, the population is two P.E. classes we had each week, act of guidance, I gently remind far lower than in China, yet all the which in the end, weren’t really them that yes, this was indeed the best Universities in the world con- breaks anymore because we had to reality for my cousin, and is still the gregate here. With less resources run laps the whole 40 minutes in reality for millions in China. and more people, it comes as no sur- preparation for the senior year uni- For someone who knows no other prise that students in China have to fied P.E. test. We then had lunchsystem, my cousin says she is really work extra hard to get into equally period for an hour and a half, but thankful for the experience (“It was good schools. Yet, discussion often most of my classmates skipped an once in a life time opportunity!”) comes to an end because people do lunch to line up in the teacher’s of- and learned a lot from this process. not know how to respond or talk ef- fice for questions. We had four more She said the Gaokao taught her fectively about what is happening classes in the afternoon, which con- that the only way to succeed in an globally. Harvard is, first and fore- sisted of doing multiple mock tests. incredibly competitive environment most, an American University, but These were graded immediately is, paradoxically, to refrain from it is also a global name, college, and after, with rankings posted on the comparing yourself to others all the resource. Only if students start re- corridors before evening self-study time. Despite the rigid and repeti- alizing that Harvard is one of the period, which began at 6:00pm and tive schedule, and the narrowness best universities in the world, will ended at 9:00pm. I would run out of in vision it generates, the Gaokao we go on to be truly great leaders. class as soon as the last bell rang, trained her to be able to withstand and my mom would pick me up and enormous pressure and stress. In Sophie Wang’19 (sophiewang01@college. the recent years, the Gaokao has harvard.edu) hopes students will take a great- drive me home. I usually eat a little er interest in issues affecting China. snack and then study until 1:30am. been evolving. The newly revised During the second semester, I real- version demands less rote memori- ized I needed more sleep to study zation (what the Chinese education

The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 harvardindependent.com 5 INDY FORUM Reconstructing the Final Clubs A response to The Crimson’s ‘Don’t Dismantle the Final Clubs.’ By SHAQUILLA HARRIGAN

Black Students Association to name a few. me to the one opinion you make in your Dear Mr. Dong, The Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Catholic, article with which I agree. “The adminis- Protestant, Hindu students all have their tration maintains that House life should I hope this letter may serve as some affinity groups. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, be sufficient social life for its students. reading material as you continue to so- transgender students have a group.”) have But while that is a good starting point, journ in your favorite armchair within the memberships that are closed to individu- Harvard should be all about providing Fly. I’m writing to you because I have a few als who are not invited to punch. Members many options to students.” A tiny subplot points I’d like to make in response to your do not even have to have the same identity to the epic narrative of Khurana’s sweep- article in The Crimson earlier this week of the group in question; they just have to ing changes to the final clubs is the fact where you pleaded that Harvard shouldn’t be allies. These organizations also do not that the college is trying to build commu- dismantle the final clubs because “there have the same ability to control space or nity for students by creating more house is an important social role for final clubs access resources as the final clubs. common spaces. However, the administra- at Harvard.” While I appreciate your at- You also argue that students who are tion should be trying to make more stu- tempts to salvage your glory days and invited to punch have to prove their worth dent common spaces. Final clubs have the preserve an institution that has benefit- by competing on “social merit.” While I can power and appeal because the students ted you greatly as both an undergraduate see schmoozing as a talent, I don’t think control and own the space. If the control of and graduate, your arguments are weak the social merit you speak of has a lot to space on campus was disaggregated, more at best and continuously try to compare do with speaking skills. It is more about students would be able to have their own apples to oranges. who one knows and how one will fit in with parties and take ownership of their so- I do admit that the dismantling of the current membership, which can inevitably cial scene. The overwhelmingly privileged final clubs isn’t the only (or even correct) mean continuing to let in people who will members of final clubs shouldn’t be an oli- solution to Harvard’s severely lacking so- espouse and carry out the same limited garchy of space at Harvard. cial scene. Nor does it necessarily solve social values of previous members. “Social In closing, I think that final clubs all of the problems Dean Khurana and his merit” cannot be put into the same context shouldn’t necessarily be dismantled, rath- colleagues say it will. However, I find some as comping a newspaper, auditioning for a er than be made more irrelevant to the of the points you make in your plea to be a show, or trying out for a team. student population. I think college admin- gross underestimation and even a misrep- A theme I notice as I read your suppli- istrators should do more than use the final resentation of the implications final clubs cation on behalf of the final clubs is that clubs as the sole example of everything have on campus. you continuously compare the male final that is f*cked up about Harvard (but I will First of all, you cannot, under any cir- clubs to other organizations on campus. admit there are a lot messed up things cumstances, compare the ‘exclusiveness’ And boy are these comparisons a stretch. about the clubs). This is not to discredit of cultural and gender-identity organiza- You wrote that other single-gender groups the experiences people have and continue tions on campus to the exclusivity of final like fraternities and sororities (which also to have (positive or negative), but instead clubs. How you can even think to compare aren’t recognized student organizations) to think of what Harvard could and should organizations that sprouted out of the are on the rise at Harvard and there- look like a more equitable social scene. need for traditionally marginalized stu- fore final clubs shouldn’t bear the brunt Mr. Dong, you may not even read this dents to come together in order to make of Dean Khurana’s ire. However, none of letter, but if you do, I hope that you at Harvard more hospitable for them to final those organizations control as much so- least see reasons people want to see the clubs, bastions of traditionally white male cial capital as the final clubs, specifically end of final clubs. privilege, is beyond me. Especially when the male final clubs. In addition, the final you list the exclusiveness of BGLTQ orga- clubs are not accountable to anyone except Sincerely, nizations on campus that accepts people each clubs graduate board, and I guess oc- from all gender-identities whereas finalcasionally the Cambridge Police Depart- Shaquilla clubs operate on a binary that reifies tra- ment when they decide to act instead of ditional presentations of gender. Addition- look on the brick mansions with disdain. ally, none of the organizations you men- Fraternities and Sororities are account- Shaquilla Harrigan’16 ([email protected] tioned (“There is the Chinese Students and able to national PanHellenic boards. vard.edu) has a whole lot more to say on this issue Scholars Association (I was a member), the This notion of controlling space brings but not enough space in this paper.

6 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 INDY NEWS Ex-Phoenix Alumnus on a Mission Dr. Tim McCarthy spills beans on club workings as he crusades against assault on campus. By ADITYA AGRAWAL

he door to Tim McCarthy 93’s join the club his cloistered Quincy office proclaims junior fall. Even Titself, in rainbow colors, a “safe after he graduated, zone.” Yet, the man himself had long he says he went been a participant, a proponent, and a back to the club living emblem, in fact, of spaces that “only as a young were anything but safe. And on a sunny alum,” and only September morning last Thursday, he on occasions such had his personal reckoning: twenty- as the Harvard- five years after graduation, McCarthy Yale game or renounced his membership from the Commencement Phoenix S.K. Club in a widely publicized when “other address delivered at Memorial Church. alums were in McCarthy was riven by the town.” He declares contradictions that had come to define defensively that he him. He directs the Sexuality, Gender hasn’t been back in and Human Rights program at the “many years” and has never donated to undertakings. Kennedy School, and is a trained the club. But the halcyon days of free dinners feminist. Students and colleagues He has no qualms in admitting and exclusive parties are well past found it hard to reconcile his mission that he gained from his Phoenix him: the dilemma is resolved. The on campus with his involvement in a membership, both during and after sagging wire is taut once more. And club built on exclusivity, elitism, and his time at Harvard. He always had now McCarthy has his own agenda. male privilege. Conversations took a place to crash, a place to “take [his] He hopes to use his public presence on on tinted tones, glances shifted, and friends to” and party every weekend. If campus to provoke an open discussion attitudes changed. anything, he quite “enjoyed” the access on everything that is wrong with Final The tipping point came when to the physical space and the social Clubs and Harvard’s social scence. Harvard released the results of the privilege the club afforded him. Upon What then is his vision for these clubs campus-wide Sexual Conduct Survey graduation, the perks continued in –would he dismantle them? this past Monday. The administration more subtle ways. Not quite. But he wants to “provoke chose to suppress the precise figures “While at grad school in New York, I a reckoning” within these clubs of their for how final clubs were contributing to gained access to parties I would never role in supporting sexual violence and sexual assault on campus but the clues have been invited to through friends inequality on campus. He wants to were clear: the numbers were bad. at the Phoenix; wealthy acquaintances change the way they “constitute their Bad enough to get a administration at the Phoenix picked up the tab at membership” with a more transparent hamstrung by years of apathy and dinners,” McCarthy says. punch process that is open to all inertia to wake up and take notice; to While the Phoenix did not open genders and backgrounds. “The day put, in the Crimson’s words, the 8 all- any doors for him as in the world of for unaccountable, single-sex clubs is male Final Clubs “on notice.” academia, he has “no doubt” he would over,” says McCarthy. McCarthy’s dilemma was years in have benefitted immensely off hiscontinued on pg. 8 the making. He dropped out of the club network had he opted for finance, punch process sophomore year only to consulting, or other entrepreneurial Photo courtesy of scholar.harvard.edu

The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 harvardindependent.com 7 INDY NEWS Ex-Phoenix Alumnus on a Mission continued from pg. 7 McCarthy, who has been on both have argued that the exclusivity of these sides of the table as a punch and a social clubs mirrors the exclusivity of By ADITYA AGRAWAL ‘puncher,’ says the process is anything religious groups or sporting teams on but equitable. “When we make campus. To McCarthy, the lines are decisions, we do not discuss their clear: final clubs, unlike the latter, are social merits. We talk about how cool unaccountable to the administration. dealings with the clubs, arguing that the guy is—how he is on my sporting “These clubs luxuriate in the privilege no option is “off the table.” McCarthy, team, or how he went to my school,” he of not being held accountable by who claims to have been contacted by a explains. Harvard,” he says. “wide range of people” after his address This admission resonates with The 153 year-old Spee Club’s went public on the Crimson website, widely entrenched suspicions that decision to go co-ed may have seemed declined to confirm if these included the punch process is designed to work to herald a new era, but McCarthy President Faust, Dean Khurana, or against undergraduates who did not stays unimpressed. Allowing a handful their merry band of officials. attend prestigious high schools or of women into what has historically But the hug could have symbolized hail from low income communities; been an all-male bastion would pave the beginning of what may prove to be undergraduates who, in other way for “neither equality or safety.” a potent partnership in the struggle words, do not mirror the traditional Dean Rakesh Khurana sat in the against sexual assault and exclusivity demographics of the clubs. “From front row at Memorial Church as at America’s oldest university. getting punched to getting in, there is a McCarthy delivered his address and toxic self-selection at work,” McCarthy embraced the Phoenix-renouncee Aditya Agrawal ’17 (adityaagrawal@college. asserts. as he walked away from the lectern. harvard.edu) would support Dean Khurana Opponents of final club regulation Khurana has been unrelenting in his for a 2020 Presidential nomination.

his chart was cre- Tated using data from HUPD's online public police log. The graph covers the time period from 9/17/15 to 9/26/15. The "other" section in- dicates incidents in the categories of "fire," "field investigation," motor vehicle accident," and "threat." These incidents were grouped together because they occurred only once and were not considered crimes that put the undergraduate population in immediate danger.

8 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 INDY NEWS College Life On The Go: Harvard’s Mobile Applications A burgeoning field and its place on Harvard College’s campus. By DANIEL UM

including dating where instead of physi- interfaced much with the administration cal appearance as the initial appeal, one’s yet, but the app’s entire online platform personality can shine as users share funny has given administration little reason to stories, news, and experiences. intervene. In addition to Bonu, the Masquerade Another upcoming student-developed team consists of Elliot Safo’17, growth team application is “Drizl.” Founder Ryan For- lead, Jason Dong’17 and John Stubbs’17, tin’16 and head of development Mitchell members of the growth team, and Mark Foster’17 describe the app as “a piggy bank Yao’16, development lead. Before the with a math degree.” It is a mobile budget- launch, Bonu and his team advertised with ing application designed to help one man- a booth set up at the activities fair and dis- age loose change from debit or credit cards. seminated fliers during CS50’s and EC10’s Fortin says it is “similar” to Bank of Amer- first lectures. Although numbers remainica’s ‘Keep the Change’ program, but is op- confidential, Team Masquerade is optimis- timized for Harvard students. With Drizl, tic about its future. “We have been thrilled “loose change from transactions will be put by the app’s engagement and reach ¬¬from into a user’s app.” Massachusetts to Texas and everywhere in The inspiration for the application came between. The feed is full of banter and rev- from a conversation between Fortin and his elation,” says Bonu. mother, who believes college students are Bonu is pleasantly surprised by the too “loosey goosey” with their money. She kshar Bonu ‘17, who launched his campus receptiveness to Masquerade say- asserts that spontaneous purchases and iPhone app Masquerade on Septem- ing that students have been “very enthu- subscription-based products are the big- Aber 1st, says he was “pleasantly sur- siastic” about the app. Claire Spackman‘19 gest obstacles college students face when prised” by the overall campus receptive- says that the application is an “innovative budgeting. The app is targeted at all young ness to the app. However, he is not the only and entertaining way” to get to meet new adults in order to help them budget and Harvard undergrad to find app success. people as “it is likely that you share some manage their money. With its low cost and high profits, mo- common interests with your match-up.” Fortin said that in recent years, Harvard bile app development is fast evolving as an Nate Hiatt‘19 also thinks that the app is an has become a great place to launch projects appealing option for college-aged entrepre- “interesting concept.” However, he says he and ventures. He is currently enrolled in neurs. At Harvard, many students across won’t frequent the application until more a startup class that is offered in the engi- all years are hard at work, developing of the Harvard student body is hooked. neering sciences department and has con- applications for community members on Interestingly, this is not the first time sulted with numerous professors regarding campus. With the rapid evolution of Sili- Bonu has launched an iPhone app. In his idea. Bonu has also taken the course. con Valley and the “start-up” as central fix- spring of his freshman year, he launched Fortin sees Harvard allowing him to re- tures in our collective imaginations, many Instanomz, a student-run food delivery ceive credit for the class as indicative of have argued that institutions like MIT and service that provided late-night fast food how “dedicated” the administration is to Stanford, with their emphasis on tech en- from Felipe’s, Pinocchio’s, and Shake Shack improving startup culture. Furthermore, trepreneurship, are all set to be the educa- to freshmen living in Elm and Ivy Yards. he feels that students “seem very inter- tional Meccas of the 21st century. It is only Unfortunately, Instanomz ceased operation ested and excited when presented with appropriate that Harvard is following suit after an unresolvable conflict with Har- startup ideas,” putting the startup culture and students are leading the charge. vard administrators and Harvard Student in the 02138 in a “pretty good place.” Masquerade allows you to chat anony- Agencies (HSA). There was a breakdown of mously with people on campus. After chat- negotiations with Harvard Student Agen- Daniel Um‘19 ([email protected]) ting for indefinite periods of time, the ap- cies and administrators said that the app hopes to have his own app start-up in the near fu- plication allows you to reveal your identity. must partner with HSA in order to oper- ture. This platform could serve many purposes, ate on campus. Team Masquerade has not

The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 harvardindependent.com 9 INDY ARTS An Evening with Salman Rushdie The Indy reports on the world famous author’s recent visit to Harvard.

By PULKIT AGARWAL

tanding before a church gathering and read them the entire book. No reader’s voice humor. Rushdie’s replies were as pithy as asking people to “treat religion with the can ever be as captivating, No one’s pauses ever. Scontempt it deserves” is not everyone’s are as perfectly timed and understanding Was there a basis to Ayatollah Khomeini’s cup of tea. Unless, of course, you are Salman quite is as profound as Rushdie’s was that threat to him? “Fact is, I don’t care. If some- Rushdie. one wants me dead, I’m not going to ask Last Monday, Cantabrigians had the them if there is a basis for that,” he said with chance to spend an evening with the Booker- complete candor. Prize winning author, as he read excerpts And of his love for humor, he said that he from his new book, Two Years Eight Months hated books that weren’t funny, which—giv- and Twenty-Eight Nights. en his ability to include a funny note in all Rushdie makes for a highly contentious his works—is entirely unsurprising. “It has figure in the part of the world from which I got me into trouble,” he admitted to a laugh- hail. It is rare to meet an educated Indian ing audience, “but it’s worth the risk!” who takes to Rushdie’s work with little heed. His depiction of magical realism coupled Some take a particular dislike of him as he with his unfailing ability to stay in the news is not one to hold back on his opinion, regard- has earned him renown across the world. less of how offensive it may seem to others. While Rushdie attended the other Cam- Others still, worship him for his unflinching bridge (what he quipped to be “the real honesty in pointing out the illogical, irratio- Cambridge, the university that is 900 years nal, and superficial. In light of the Charlie old”), last Monday confirmed that there is no Hebdo massacre last year in Paris, for in- dearth of his fans in any corner of the world. stance, Rushdie had accused institutional- He once famously said of his home coun- ized religion of being nothing but a “medieval try, “No people whose word for ‘yesterday’ is form of unreason,” one that deserves “our the same as their word for ‘tomorrow’ can fearless disrespect.” It is statements such as be said to have a firm grip on the time.” And these that give us a glimpse of what consti- while it is unfortunate that an Indian fan of tutes Rushdie’s legacy (one of which I’m sure Rushdie’s has to travel halfway across the he is proud!). world to catch a glimpse of the maestro, I His demeanor throughout the event was hope there is a brighter tomorrow ahead par excellence. When introduced as having wherein the Rushdies of the world can enter been born a Shia Muslim in Mumbai, he had any country they wish without having fun- no hesitation in correcting the speaker on the damentalists cry foul. spot. “Nope. Sunni. Sunni Muslim,” he said evening. But, as of now, the search for that tomor- with a smile. You can trust Rushdie to ex- “It was almost as beautiful an experience row beckons. press himself freely and break the false sense as a parent reading a bedtime story to their of propriety at the very outset. It gave listen- child,” said Elias Tuomaala’19, a freshman Pulkit Agarwal ‘19 ([email protected]) ers a sigh of relief and a gentle breather right who bought a ticket to this event on his third is now a proud owner of a signed copy of ‘Two Years Eight at the beginning, most of them already find- day at Harvard. Months and Twenty-Eight Nights’. ing themselves at the edge of their seats—in- As the reading drew to a close, eager fans cluding yours truly. lined up to ask him questions. The pitches He then went on to read in an awe-inspir- came fast, interesting and unforgiving— Photo Courtesy of Pulkit Agarwal ing style to an audience listening in utter ad- while one person asked him about the Ira- miration. Many in the church that evening nian death fatwa that hangs over his head, would tell you that they wished Rushdie had others asked him about his fascination with

10 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 INDY ARTS Moonlit Poetry The Indy reviews Speak Out Loud’s ‘Celestial Open Mic.’ By AUDREY EFFENBERGER

semicircle of cold faces, cold at a particularly absurd line before ers and doubt oneself silently. But toes, and cold fingers. A cold driving forcefully into the next. A the support of the SOL community A night across the concrete of the few gesture, point out their heart encourages writers to embrace their Science Center observatory. Faces or put out their hands or pull down vulnerability. If a poet prefaces their shadowed by rear floodlights, faces the stars. One even stomps with his work by saying they’ve just written lit by the waxing moon and a single words. The poet is alive, and the it, the board members cheer “New smartphone screen. A voice. A mic. poem lives through the poet, breath- shit!” If a poet presents a piece from A quiet murmuring of snaps, rising ing and growing in every moment months or years ago, they cheer, against the stillness. with its audience. A line break be- “Old shit!” Yet it is always a friend- Spoken word is a powerful thing. comes a caught breath. A cascade of ly cheer, and the snaps, cheers, ap- From formal speech and rhetoric to assonance tumbles faster and faster plause, and heartfelt comments en- song, theater, and simple dialogue, from the poet’s tongue. One speaker thusiastically offered to every poet the capacity to communicate and reads an excerpt from her short sto- ultimately affirm: Your thoughts are connect through sound resonates ry, and the prose becomes magical, valid and important to me. You are throughout our culture. Harvard too. important. In that moment, every- Speak Out Loud (SOL) knows this Beyond the beauty of raw artistic one belongs there. well. SOL provides safe spaces—no connection between poet and listen- At the very end of the night, on the judgment is passed and no names er, open mic makes room for difficult too-bright canvas of my phone, I put leave—for student poets to read topics. The first poet of the night into words some thoughts and shak- their favorite work throughout the tackles body image, listing the ways ily take the makeshift stage. Finger- year. With the help of the Student in which an eating disorder once tips numb around the mic, shivering Astronomers at Harvard-Radcliffe cocooned over her. Another gives a with nerves and cold, I speak. (STAHR), SOL hosted a “Celestial powerful performance on bodily in- Spoken word is a powerful and ter- Open Mic” event on Friday, Septem- tegrity, weaving powerful metaphors rifying thing. The artist is actively ber 25th. First-years and seniors alike of dogs and wolves and light and red. forging the relationship between the stood with their backs to the Boston From queer desire to racism, from art form and its audience, and it’s skyline reading original works as fist-bumping a hook-up to saying hard to create a connection so per- well as favorite pieces from books, “goodbye, grandma” one last time, sonal without flinching. It’s hard to smartphones, and personal jour- the artists who speak share a truly hear one’s own thoughts so frankly nals. Among the pieces of astrologic wide and diverse range of thoughts, at first, and to be heard by so many. equipment scattered across the roof, experiences, and feelings. Yet every poet leaves with relief in their audience cupped hot chocolate This is the gift of the safe space; their heart. and listened with awe. I settled my- its freedom brings poets out and au- A voice, a mic, a word. It reso- self against one of the steel beams of diences closer because we can choose nates. It frees. the Science Center facade to watch. to let out the things that make us Distinct from pure poetry, spo- think. It can be so hard to present Audrey Effenberger ‘19 (effenberger@college. ken word is an art form with its one’s thoughts so openly, particularly harvard.edu) is working on speaking a little own rules. Half word-smithing, half in a place as storied and established louder. performance, the aesthetics of each in the American academic firma- poem is brought to life in the execu- ment as Harvard. Eye contact—hu- tion; each word grows in sound and man contact—is difficult to find or sight and feeling. Some poets stut- create in day-to-day contexts here, ter; some stumble, some shake. Some let alone such personal performanc- pause to laugh with their audiences es. It’s easy to pull away from oth-

The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 harvardindependent.com 11 INDY SPORTS Splendor on the Grass Field notes from Harvard-Brown. By JESS CLAY

y five o’clock, the Harvard-faithful surged down JFK far. A century later, his city bore a university of its own, and Street. They came in loosely packed shuttles from the it was this university which on Saturday had sent its sons BQuad and in tight-knit droves from the river houses, and daughters back to the Bay State. By the time the stock and at the confluence of JFK and Mt. Auburn the channels of the Puritans arrived to pitch their tailgates, the city on a merged and streamed across the river. When they crested hill had been invaded by the libertines from Rhode Island. Anderson Bridge, some people wanted cheap sunglasses to The heirs of Roger Williams seemed worthy of their heri- block out the still-bright sun and the glaring river, but by tage. They liberally poured libations into their red plastic the time they reached Cumnock Field they’d decided they cups, and they consumed a liberal number of these cups, didn’t need them. and by the looks and smells of things they had embraced a A handful of well-contained tailgates formed alongside particularly progressive drug policy that bordered on liber- the access road to the fields. Here, old men drank Sam Ad- tarianism. They were conservative only in dress, but this ams out of the backs of hatchbacks, looking austere in their seemed purely the result of their school’s name and color. pleated khakis and navy windbreakers and ball caps. Also Even this rule had its exception, though, and it came in the nearby there were young families with small children, and form of a particularly addled character. He was clad in a Ha- you had to be careful not to swear when cutting past them. waiian shirt and uncomfortably short shorts and a bucket There were girlfriends in from Worcester for the weekend hat, all of them psychedelically colored so as to lend him the and girls up from Wellesley, but the telltale promise of the general appearance of a Jefferson Airplane concert poster. day lay in a group of kids wearing Boston College gear. Af- An anti-narcotics campaign should have photographed him ter all, their school had a real football team, ACC and every- for a poster of their own, and captioned it “This Is Your Ivy thing, and they’d even had a game earlier that afternoon. League Student On Drugs.” He established a habit of mock- But here they were anyway, albeit a little off to the side of ing the Harvard passerby for their fashion choices, and in so the main event. They must have had high hopes for Har- doing served as a distillation of much that is wrong in this vard-Brown. The game was Harvard-Brown—that much world. He made one long for the stocks and pillories and was sure—but the tailgate was Brown-Harvard, at least in facial brandings and other public shaming that were the its early stages. The visitors had come to Cambridge with glory of the Massachusetts Bay colony. When he called out a vengeance, and perhaps it was not unmerited in light of a Harvard man for wearing a white collar over a crimson their ancient history. sweatshirt, he ended his sartorial review with the phrase It dated back to the early decades of the seventeenth cen- “That is whack, man.” But at this particular moment the tury, when Cambridge was still Newe Towne, and the col- universe saw fit to dispense a certain measure of justice, for lege was but a twinkle in John Harvard’s distant eye. There the Harvard man stopped in his tracks and stared at the was in Massachusetts a relatively progressive clergyman Brown kid. “And you look like someone ate a box of Crayolas by the name of Roger Williams, who among other things and shit them out,” he said drily. disdained the King of England and suggested paying the One would hope that there were a number of hostilities Indians for their land. It was a strange time, for the gov- of this nature, for great games and great tailgates are made ernment of Massachusetts hated liberal public policies, and of such stuff. When the sight of an opponent’s colors makes they exiled Roger Williams. In due time he established him- people see red, then Harvard will know football. There was self along the Narragansett Bay, and he named his settle- one student who was on the receiving end of both schools’ ment after the Providence which had brought him safe thus wrath. He wore a grey sweatshirt with HARVARD embla-

12 harvardindependent.com The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 INDY SPORTS Splendor on the Grass, con. Harvard-Brown Highlights zoned across the front in brown letters. drinks than anticipated. For many, it · September 26th marked the It was reminiscent of those concussion was the first tailgate they had ever at- 115th meeting of Harvard and baseline tests and public art projects tended, and they were quite taken with Brown in Football which feature words like “BLUE” in it. But there were also a pair of juniors · QB Scott Hosch’16 was named green letters. It was easy to see why who had tailgated every home game the College Sports Madness Ivy it bothered people, and the general ef- last fall, and even they trilled at the fect seemed to annoy the Harvard fans sight of this one. Evidently they used League Offensive Player of the who were not colorblind, and upset the the word “tailgate” very loosely, because Week. Hosch closed the game Brown fans who were not illiterate. their pregame festivities had consisted with 151 passing yards. However, there were also more cordial primarily of splitting a handle of cheap · Harvard defeated Brown 53-27. exchanges. One Brown fan wanted a bourbon in a dorm room on the river, Brown did not score until the beer so badly that he swore some rap- then heading over to the game. But this, third quarter. idly formulated and administered oath this was the real McCoy. And nowhere · RB Paul Stanton Jr.’16 came in about Harvard being vastly superior to was that more evident than on the face with 89 rushing yards. Brown. He then mentioned that he was of a former Harvard football player. He · Harvard had zero turnovers, Brown undergrad but was now going had stopped playing before his senior while forcing four out of Brown. for a Ph. D in economics here at Har- year on account of concussion troubles, vard, and what did the beer-giver think and Harvard-Brown marked the first of that, and, well, actually the only rea- game he would enjoy purely as a stu- Other Wins from this week son he was wearing Brown apparel at dent and a spectator. And for him the · Field Hockey versus Colgate (3- all was because his girlfriend had told pregame was proof enough that maybe, 0) on 9/20/15 him to. At this point he was given an- just maybe, the football team did mat- · Men’s Water Polo versus MIT other beer oath-free and settled down. ter. (15-9) on 9/20/15 By now the sun was setting, and the At a quarter of seven the police · Field Hockey versus Yale (2-1) cold beer was getting warm and the fla- started moving the good-timers toward on 9/26/15 vored vodka was finally cooling off in the stadium and was met with general · Women’s Soccer versus Penn the evening air. The Brown crew had success. Some students had crisp clean (2-0) on 9/26/15 long since peaked, but Harvard’s own tickets, but others had only their Har- entered their zenith as they finally had vard ID’s, and these were rebuffed by the numbers and fortifications to make the security guards who told them to go Upcoming Home Games the tailgate their own. There was an over to will call. Somewhere amidst the · Men’s Tennis versus MIT on admitted lack of games and grills, but growing din, the referee placed a whis- 10/2/15 it was probably for the best that open tle to his lips and the crowd buzzed · Football versus Georgetown on flames were kept apart from the teeter- as college football returned to the old 10/2/15 @ 7:00PM ing masses. A cacophony blasted forth warhorse of a stadium for the first time · Women’s Rugby versus Princ- from the assembled speakers of rival since The Game. eton on 10/3/15 @12:00PM tailgates, and kids gyrated in the bed of At halftime, Harvard was up by thir- · Field Hockey versus Penn on a pickup truck, and people made vain ty-seven points, and by most accounts 10/3/15 @ 12:00PM attempts to find each other. Some stu- the game was over, and the home crowd · Women’s Volleyball versus Penn dents had come only to get free Boston forged back across the Charles and lost on 10/3/15 @ 5:00PM Calling tickets, but had decided to stay themselves in the night. Men’s Soccer versus New for the free drinks. Others had come for · the free drinks and had decided to stay Jess Clay ’17 ([email protected]) eagerly Hampshire on 10/6/15 @ because there ended up being more free looks forward to more home games this season. 7:00PM

The Harvard Independent • 10.01.15 harvardindependent.com 13 INDY SPORTS Man Down With Siyani Chambers out, the Crimson’s status remains uncertain. By RAMTIN TALEBI

n early September, the Harvard bas- I think we should be fine.” When asked he and senior captain Evan Cummins will ketball team received some devastating about who would assume the starting point rally the team together, Okolie affirmed, Inews: they would be losing senior point guard position, Okolie responded, “We don’t “We’re just telling them that everyone has to guard and co-captain Siyani Chambers to really know yet. We haven’t really had our be ready. Upperclassmen are taking a larg- an ACL tear. Chambers will take the 2015- first official practice so the lineup is pretty er leadership role. Evan, Corbin, Zena, and 2016 year off both academically and athlet- unclear. Obviously, Tommy’s a point guard, I have just been more vocal in the weight ically to recover from the injury, retaining but we’ll see.” room and during practice. It’s going to be his last year of eligibility. The Crimson, who Tommy McCarthy was one of Harvard’s a tough season, but everyone has to seize last year shared the Ivy League title and backcourt recruits this past year and could the opportunity to show people what we’re advanced to the NCAA tournament after prove to be key in making up for Siyani’s made of.” Junior point guard Matt Fraschil- a playoff with Yale, will have a tough time absence. A 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard out of la could see increased minutes with Cham- filling the place of Chambers. Senior Agun- La Costa Canyon High School in Southern bers out, as could freshmen shooting guard wa Okolie agrees, “[Siyani] was our most California, McCarthy averaged 19.6 ppg, Corey Johnson. Sophomores Chris Egi and important player.” On a team predicted on 4.4 apg, 4.1 rbg, and 1.3 spg in his senior Andre Chatfield could have breakout years, their ability to defend on one end and take season, according to MaxPreps.com. As fate and the Crimson might need exactly that care of the ball on the other (Harvard gave would have it, his freshman year at Har- in order to retain their Ivy League title in up only 7 turnovers compared to UNC’s vard is shaping up to be just like Chambers’. a conference that is as competitive as ever. 18 in their two-point season ending loss in In 2012, starting point guard and senior “Every Ivy League team will give you the first round of the NCAA tournament), Brandyn Curry announced he would be tak- challenges. Every team does something es- Chambers was at the helm of it all. ing that year off of school, and so a young pecially well,” Okolie admits. “Each game In 2014-2015, Chambers averaged 9.9 Chambers filled the spot that was left. In comes down to your team and how you play ppg, 4.3 apg. He had a team-high 34.5 min- his first season, Chambers became one of on that day. We’ve just got to stay true to utes per game and was the Crimson’s lead- the most pivotal players for the Crimson. our system and execute.” With the caliber ing free-throw shooter at 81.4%. The ques- He averaged 12.4 ppg and a team high 5.7 of conference players like reigning MVP tion now stands: who will fill the void left by apg on his way to an Ivy League title and Justin Sears’16 of Yale and reigning scor- Chambers? an incredible tournament run that saw a ing leader and point guard Maodo Lo’16 of Okolie doesn’t feel like it will be one No. 14 Harvard upset No. 3 New Mexico. Columbia, the Crimson will undoubtedly person. “You can’t really replace Siyani be- Chambers hasn’t slowed down since, be- have a tougher time this year getting to cause of the impact he’s had since he’s been ing the team’s second leading scorer the the NCAA tournament, especially without here. It’ll be a team effort to fill his shoes.” past three years. When asked about the Chambers. Okolie admits, however, that the Crimson parallel between the two players, Okolie But Okolie remains steadfast looking will miss Chambers on the defensive end. answered, “[Tommy] has the opportunity to forward, “Our goals haven’t changed. We “We’ll lose a little bit of quickness.” Cham- do the same thing as Siyani and play really just have to stick to our principles and focus bers averaged 1.5 SPG last season, second well. I’m looking forward to seeing how he on ourselves. If we do that, everything will to only Wesley Saunders (who has since grows.” take care of itself.” graduated), but Okolie remains hopeful Nonetheless, with Chambers gone, the that the Crimson will keep their defensive Crimson will be without all three top scor- Ramtin Talebi ‘18 ([email protected]) poise. “We’ve got to communicate. Obvious- ers and minute-getters from last year wishes luck to both the team in the upcoming season and ly we’ve got to stay in shape as well. But as (Steve Mondou-Missi and Wesley Saunders Chambers in his recovery. long as we stick to our defensive principles, both graduated in 2015). When asked how

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by Albert Murzakhanov in London, England