Graffiti breeds a kind of rude comaraderie among the authors. With a frankness they wouldn't approach in person, Harvard students advise, commiserate with, or rebuke each other in writing. Mostly, they rebuke:

"Help! I'm caught in a love quadrangle!"

"Sorry. Change games."

"Move to the river."

"Jump in the river."

* * *

Naturally, intellectual banter also finds its place among the authors of Harvard's least conventional writings:

"This is the boringest stall! Strain your wits, women!"

"That's the worstest grammar!! Strain your English, woman!"

"I got an 800 M 800 V on my SATs."

"So what? I got an 800 on the SATs and I'm an alcoholic and a pervert."

This last carrel--on the ground floor of Lamont Library--proceeds to display a running list of more than 30 students' SAT scores. The math scores are consistently higher.

Religion sparks a plethora of comments as well, including some of a surprisingly serious nature:

"Jesus loves you!"

"I know--it's the only way I can get through this place."