These private studies have extra advantages. Few of them actually take place in William James Hall--which must make them fabulously expensive for the examiners. For the convenience of those students who live on the river, the department owns a few posh labs on Mount Auburn St.

The benefits of taking part in such an exclusive series of experiments are so great that the department does not want to publicize them. Most subjects are notified by an envelope slipped under their door at midnight.

In addition, few are allowed to participate immediately. The screening process continues through a number of experiments that--while kind of fun--don't really count for anything (and don't pay either). The experimenters say that the purpose is to help the subjects get to know each other better and maybe do some male bonding.

Participants say that male bonding is the most important justification for the experiments, even more than the tremendous job opportunities available through alumni.

When the screening sessions are complete, those subjects accepted to the final experiment are expected to indicate their formal willingness to participate by giving a letter of acceptance to a department official.

In previous years, the experimenter would meet the participants at the Hasty Pudding Club for a drink or two, but all that has stopped since Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III decided that mixing academics with socializing is not appropriate.

Epps occasionally still meets with members of the department on issues of mutual concern, but officially the University lets the department go about its business without bothering it at all.

You see, elite psychology experiments are part of a grand tradition of Harvard scholarship, and the University should not try to change them in any way.