But scoping doesn't just occur at unofficial Harvard hang-outs--indeed, Harvard's architecture, old and new, often dictates preludes to sexual encounters. The recent switch from the Union to Annenberg Hall is cited as a good example of this.

While Annenberg was hailed by administrators and some students as an improvement in the dining aesthetic, many first-years agree that the change from the Great Hall to a more spacious facility struck a major blow to socializing.

What with multiple entrances and exits to the serving area and the "scatter system," which eliminates a single path of mealtime traffic, first-years say meals are no longer a chance to keep tabs on prospective flings.

"My friends and I hung out in the Union for hours checking out all the girls. Annenberg sucks," complains one first-year male.

But others cheerfully say that scamming has not been eliminated--merely relocated.

Loker's half-hidden booths, glass walls and long runway furnishes students with an opportunity to see and be seen.

Though students say that the depletion of Crimson Cash has begun to transform Loker from a social hangout to a study hall, some remain optimistic.

"In a few years, Loker is going to be Union-level scamming material," predicts Sean H. Cohan '96.

Other University buildings are used for similar activities. Libraries, in particular, hold a unique place in Harvard's current hook-up scene and in its more traditional mythology.

Lamont is oft-cited as meeting place for first-years and Hilles had special meaning for many Radcliffe alums, particularly in the days of parietals.

But the most famous spot for sex, of course, is the bowels of the Widener stacks. Despite its hard floors and cramped aisles, the tradition lingers.

In an informal poll of 100 seniors conducted over the past week, six percent said they have had sex in Widener's stacks. One woman even boasted that she has had sex in all of the University's libraries, "including the Houses."

Small Beds, Thin Walls, Fat Consequences

While students say that Harvard's grandiose libraries and dining halls can provide a terrific chance to scope out potential partners, most agree that the architecture of dorm rooms can be downright prohibitive.

Walk-throughs, doubles and thin walls often eliminate privacy and romance, and can increase the tension of a situation. Though cynical students suggest that the dorm rooms are part of a larger conspiracy to keep Harvard sex-free, the layout of most River House rooms is merely the product of an architectural generation gap.