Student Outrage
Shopping period is such a valuable part of the Harvard school year that students say they are wary of any proposed changes.
When Fagen proposed a non-binding preregistration to the Undergraduate Council's Student Affairs Committee in February, committee members expressed concern that a non-binding system might eventually lead to the end of shopping period.
"I'm strongly against getting rid of shopping period," says Adriana E. Abdenur '97.
Even math and science concentrators, who tend to have a more rigid set of required courses for their concentrations, say that they find shopping period invaluable in selecting Cores and electives.
"Even as an engineering major I've been able to use shopping period," says David A. Sobel '97, who was a Crimson editor, adding that he found it especially useful when selecting Core courses.
Students say that although they acknowledge the inconveniences that result from shopping period, they are not sympathetic to instructors' complaints.
"God forbid that the teachers should make a sacrifice for the undergraduates," says Elizabeth R. Beasley '98.