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

But the Administration has had to struggle with finding a common ground for Loker that appeals to the greatest number of students.

"We're trying hard to make Loker Commons a destination, as opposed to just a crossroads," Lewis said earlier this academic year.

HDS said it is working to change Loker's image to accommodate all types of student patrons.

"Loker can be a center for students, faculty, staff and grad students," Condenzio said. "There's room for everyone to be a part of the space down there."

The Long Road

As part of the ongoing campaign to revitalize Loker, administrators sent a 50-question survey to all students Feb. 10 to solicit opinions about possible improvements to the Commons.

"The purpose of the survey is to find out what the majority of students feel about some of the important issues at Loker," Kouril said.

According to Kouril, there was a higher response rate to the survey than expected, with about 9 percent of students' returning their surveys.

In the survey, undergraduates requested the addition of a TV lounge, brand-name fast food, more computer terminals and a pool table in Loker.

The inclusion of a name-brand fast food vendor among the Loker eateries seemed to rank high on the students' list of suggestions, said Catherine D. Rucker '99, chair of the Campus Life Committee of the Undergraduate Council.

"There are two things that people say would draw them to Loker--one is alcohol, and the other is fast food," Rucker said.

Since the Administration decided that the College would not allow a bar to open in Loker, the next best solution appeared to be fast food.

After the survey results were released in early April, Condenzio said that getting fast food in Loker as early as the fall semester of next year was high on his agenda.

However, disapproval from competing businesses in the Square diminished the possibility of Harvard's signing on any of the big-name brands, such as McDonald's and Taco Bell, suggested by students.