But Coffey has insisted publicly since before the commons opened that this approach would not draw students to the commons.

And the students--including the ones who frequent Loker--seem to agree.

"[Loker Commons] is not the booming social center that the administration thought it would be," says Dunster House resident Michael P. Spence '99, who had dropped by a sparsely-populated Loker on Friday night to grab pizza with his roommate.

Students say the problem is that there simply isn't enough to do at Loker aside from eat--and, of course, study.

In general, there's too much studying at the commons, students say, and the space runs the risk of becoming the latest addition to Harvard's world-class library system.

"The administration needs to decide whether or not [Loker Commons] is going to be a social center or a study center," says Aaron D. Rosenberg '99, a Lowell House resident.

Rosenberg says he sometimes observes situations in which people who come to Loker Commons to study become perturbed with people there socializing.

One of Rosenberg's friends, who declined to give his name, was even less generous in his critique.

Pointing out that the intent with which Loker Commons was created was wonderful, this student says, "Loker is just one more piece of evidence of how out of touch the administration is with its student body."

Cillin J. Perera '99 touches upon a popular topic of discussion regarding Loker Commons: the idea that it doesn't appeal to the entire student body.

"[Loker Commons] is mainly a Quad hang-out," observes Perera, a Winthrop House resident who says it might be more convenient for students in the Quad to catch the shuttle there and back.

Other students say that because of its proximity to the Yard, Loker Commons functions primarily as a first-year hang-out.

Spence complains that, in addition to its lack of musical stimulus outside of the coffee shop and its lack of entertainment outside of the light board, Loker Commons is "filled with mostly first-years."

Another student says Loker appeals to a more diverse set: "It's an interesting dichotomy between grad students and freshmen," says Spencer G. Rhodes '00.

Asked about the stereotypes often associated with the Commons, Condenzio replies, "Loker can be a center for students, faculty, staff and grad students. There's room for everyone to be a part of the space down there."