Walking
into a brisk and somehow intelligent breeze, the sputtering splashes of water
on the Charles waving hello, a writer strolls onto the infamous Harvard
University. With a mind to pocket quotations, two such statements appear in
mind walking into the picture of history that is Harvard.
“Harvard...where the very rich and the very poor come to
play.”
The first
landmark to feast your eyes upon walking out the Harvard Square T stop is,
homelessness. A man with curly, untamed hair styled in grease longingly stares
back at you, requesting your extra coins and spare sympathy. Cardboard signs
inscribed with permanent marker which say“down on my luck,” “spare change,”
and, even comically, “yes, it is for beer” line the rosy brick sidewalks of a university that yields
students like Barack Obama and George Bush.
In 2011
alone, there were 346 adult individuals without permanent housing in the city,
according to The Cambridge Homeless Census. Including children, the total was
471. Between legal disputes, moral opinions and political standings,
homelessness plays a star role in the performance which is Harvard College.
In rush to
the “swanky” Starbucks to pick up the daily caramel macchiato before Slavic
Language Lecture, a tall brunette in a cherry red jacket drops a few quarters
in a plastic cup for regular street sitter, Joe. While some see the girl’s
action as being generous, others feel the most fitting thing to drop in Joe’s
cup is a job application and a zesty speech on self-sufficiency.
Some of
the Harvard population view homelessness as not only a nuisance, but a danger.
In Cambridge, 170 street robberies were reported in 2006, numerous cases in
Harvard Square being linked to homelessness. With a stolen smartphone and a
bruised face, one can understand the disgruntled expression when one, two or
ten homeless “Joes” ask for spare change.
The
Harvard culture will ever be diverse in the dealings of philosophy and
politics, a constant seen through the lens of homelessness, and its due
reactions. Liberally, there are students and faculty alike who paint the picture of charity by giving their “2 cents” at the times that they are able.
And conservatively, a different kind of “2 cents” is given out in the form of a
firm walk by, in the name of defending capitalism.
“Harvard...where promising minds, at times, have no mouth.”
Attending
a social event at Harvard is...an experience. You run into some smooth talkers.
You know, the ones in Armani suits who interned for Goldman Sachs last summer. They speak of economics,
politics, religion- all the hot topics normal people would not poke with a 5
foot stick. And, after an hour paroozing the room in observation, you find
yourself drawn back to these people, because the others are something quite
different.
The social
picture at Harvard is an extremist image. There are the bright, blossoming
people with outstanding oral skills. Red might be their color in a painting.
While vividly alongside, there are lighter colors to the spectrum. Unkempt
hair, a face without makeup, a voice that has yet to be considered heard---
this is how the other half lives. You have your big shot law students who are
sure to make a splash in politics in the next 20 years, in the comparable light
of a 5 foot red head who cannot seem to put a sentence together for a simple
conversation, and looks like a fashion show from the 1990’s hit sitcom, Friends.
We all
remember that guy from high school.
The one you could never imagine getting married, or even kissing anyone for
that matter. His clothes were simple, usually out of style. The weekends he
spent were over books, rather than parties. He rarely spoke, and when forced,
it was a grand embarrassment. But every so often, you would look over his
shoulder to check his test scores. 100%, 95%, nothing lower than an “A.” This
is the kind of kid who becomes valedictorian, and after a horrible going away
speech, is going away to Harvard College.
The magic
of Harvard is the collaboration of these two personalities. No successful
business was ran entirely by over-talkative suits with wild ideas. Similarly,
no venture into profit was made led by white labs coats. Harvard is a place
where the great talkers and great thinkers come together to enrich every
project they can grasp. It is a blossoming ground in wanting for innovations
like Facebook, Microsoft and Apple.
“Harvard...where the Charles river never disappoints and the
history dresses modern.”
Riding
into campus from Boston, you pass over the shimmering Charles River, a sight
many are quick to adore. You then ride through Central and Kendall square, and
on your way to Harvard.
But, wait!
The train suddenly slows and makes a worrisome screeching noise before you get
to the Harvard stop. Turns out you get to experience a little of the College
before you get there.
The MTBA
is required by Harvard to reduce its speed through this stretch of the track,
for sake of its libraries, one of the largest
in North America. Had the “T” kept going at the same rate the books
would be shaken around, falling off shelves causing danger to those inside. So,
remember when you hear the screeching, Harvard is close by. And, the buildings
are waiting for you.
Perhaps
the most stunning site on the campus is the magnificent Memorial Church. The
chapel was built by President Abbott
Lawrence Lowell in commemoration for those who perished during World War One,
in the Harvard community. The building is a massive four-pillar statue in the
heart of Harvard Yard, the center of campus.
In fact, a
number of memorials stand on campus, in remembrance of wars or other tragedies.
The campus is full historical gems, as its doors have been open since the
charter was approved in 1650, even before the American Revolution. You can feel
the legacy, how it envelops Harvard, as you walk the brick sidewalks that have
seen the fatigue and triumphs of a country. Those who live it day in and day
out breath the history in for years and never seem to breathe it out.
Leaving
Harvard, you feel a sense of something great being left behind, as if seeing a
grand monument fleeting into the distance. As you ride into the city, past the
Charles, you re-enter a life beyond the grand and proud enigma that is Harvard
University.
“Robbery.”
City of Cambridge, MA, web. 20 Mar. 2012
“The
Memorial Church Harvard University.” Harvard University, web. 1 Apr. 2012.
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