If the rules are not the problem and costs--while high--have remained fairly steady over time, the decline in movie showings may be a result of fewer student groups willing to undertake a venture inevitably spoiled by a small turnout.

Costs include $300 for a Harvard police officer to monitor ticket sales, another $300 for the projectionist and the machine and upwards of $1,000 for the actual film. Usually, the more popular the film, the more the distributor charges.

"You want a blockbuster, but the new movies will run you about $800. It all depends on how much you're willing to lose," Levine says. "You'll make about $200 to $300 on a good weekend."

With no guarantee that the money will be recouped, movies are a gamble some groups experienced with the process are now less willing to take.

"Usually organizations only charge around $3 per student, which means they need at least 280 viewers to break even, due to poster costs as well," Yang says.

Still, for some groups such as the Intercollegiate Model UN team, there is little choice in fundraising options.

"For an organization like ours, it's one of the only ways we have to raise money," Gilbert says. "I think we may have to only because we're desperate."

In the meantime, Smith suggests an extensive renovation of College facilities to make the Science Center a better draw for student audiences.