Dorm Crew No Excuse for Student Slobs

To the editors:

The subject of your story on Dorm Crew (News, Nov. 8) may have nominally been the shortage of workers, but what I really came away with was a greater appreciation of one of Dorm Crew's saddest effects: the inability of Harvard students to clean up after themselves.

An overflowing garbage can? Is that really too much for us to handle on our own? Maybe Ec 10 should be transformed into home ec. Sounds like we could use it.

Ben A. Railton '99-'00

Nov. 8, 1999

Beliefs Not Justification for First-Year Room Change

To the editors:

What Hugh P. Liebert has in essence said (Column, Nov. 9) is that Christianity can be used as a legitimate justification for "deep-seated moral qualms about homosexuality" and thus Christian students should not be forced to have gay roommates, for reasons of "potential sexual attraction and its attendant discomfort."

I am gay and my roommate, who is an Orthodox Jew, is not. This does not mean that I am attracted to him, nor do his religious beliefs stand as a barrier to our communication about issues of sexual orientation.

In fact, we are constantly debating these issues, and this is exactly the kind of dialogue that the Freshman Dean's Office envisions when it puts students together with incompatible and not simply neutrally "different" beliefs. In my rooming situation, religion and sexual orientation may not make a perfect fit, but this tension does not make a case for switching rooms.

The Freshman Dean's Office should change its policy of granting rooming changes. Homophobic students, devout Christians or otherwise, should not receive special considerations here at Harvard, because gay and lesbian students certainly do not.

Adam Christian '01

Nov. 9, 1999

Bybee Glaring Omission From 'Hottest Professors'

To the editors:

While reading your rundown of Harvard's hottest professors (Fifteen Minutes, Nov. 4) I was dismayed to find a glaring omission: Keith J. Bybee, Associate Professor in the Government Department!

Professor Bybee has been well-noticed on the Harvard campus for years now, first catching attention with his impeccable sartorial style and then keeping it with his inimitable wit and charm. He is also known for hiring fairly good-looking, albeit immodest, teaching fellows.

Gene Koo '97

Nov. 9, 1999

The writer is a TF for Professor Keith J. Bybee's course Gov. 1341, "Civil Liberties ."