"I think that if we can have larger Harvard parties, we can negate some of the ill effects of final clubs," she continues. Redmond and others say the lack of large social spaces at the College stifles the social scene.

"There are a lot of people at Harvard I would like to meet that because of the lack of social venues I don't have the opportunity to meet," Cheng says. "But that's also coming from someone who lives off campus."

Students did suggest solutions to their sense of social fragmentation that do not involve private clubs.

As McComma Grayson '00 says, a student center might go a long way toward bringing together students that might not ordinarily run into each other.

"I see a student center serving as a gathering ground for people to meet, talk and chat at various points during the day and the afternoon," Grayson says. "Some people go to bars and like to drink, and others don't. This might be a way to foster a rapport from ground zero."

Other students had proposals that were a little bit more imaginative, such as Perez's suggestion that The Crimson make an effort to advertise campus social events.

In addition to expanding House institutions like the well-loved stein clubs, Redmond suggested campus-wide parties outdoors with DJs and alcohol.