Crash Derby

Crimson Newscar One, a white 1987 Ford Tempo, suffered a damaged front axle and a flat tire while in hot pursuit of search committee members during a rain shower. The driver--who hoped the escapade would reveal the committee's meeting place--miscalculated the proper speed for a turn on a ramp at New York's LaGuardia Airport and the Newscar slammed into a curb. The reporters continued the chase on foot.

"Take his film."

--Search committee member Robert G. Stone Jr. '45, instructing a security guard to confiscate the film in a Crimson reporter's camera. Stone was photographed leaving a search committee meeting in New York City on March 13.

"I am shocked and appalled that a senior member of the Corporation would say such a thing."

--An indignant Harvard administrator, commenting on the Stone incident.

It's Epps!

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III seemed especially pleased to see the news about Rudenstine in The Crimson before spring break. Passing Crimson President Rebecca L. Walkowitz that day, Epps tipped his distinctive hat and said in his distinctive accent, "Congratulations, President." He later made a rare visit to our offices and purchased four copies of the newspaper, saying to a reporter, "I hope you're right."

Crash Derby II

Crimson Newscar Two, a red 1987 Subaru station wagon that rode like a dream, was lost in the line of duty in an accident on I-95 South in Fairfield, Conn. In the accident, two Crimson reporters narrowly escaped death when a roll of insulation fell from the back of a red Chevrolet pick-up truck driven by Brian J. Mola of Norwalk, Conn.

The Newscar swerved to avoid the insulation and smashed into and bounced off a Jersey barrier, spinning across three lanes of oncoming traffic and coming to rest against a wire guard rail in the breakdown lane.

One of the reporters, shaken, asked the other, "Are you OK?"

But singleminded in his pursuit of the story, the second's only response was to ask, "How are we going to get to New York?"

A Connecticut state trooper responded to a call from The Crimson's cellular telephone.

The car ended up at Circle Towing in Fairfield. The intrepid reporters walked two miles to reach the nearest train station and reached New York in time to cover a search committee meeting.