Only a decade or two ago it was normal for students and tutors to relax in the Junior Common Rooms of the Houses and chat after eating; this was a natural pairing of convenient physical space and the downtime between meals and evening work which drew members of the community together. Bringing back this custom would be an excellent way to create solidarity through already existing and conveniently located physical resources.

The midnight snacks program in the dining halls during exam and reading periods brought students out of their rooms several times a week and down into the dining hall to chat while grabbing snacks and getting a needed break from cramming, and students chatted or studied with the housemates and friends they might have missed at meals. Hopefully the new late night snack provided by Harvard Dining Services will continue to have this effect throughout the year.

Similarly, House events draw students together and cut across the usual dividing lines of blocking groups and extracurriculars. While it would be beyond difficult to get enough money to build a new student center from the Harvard administration, these sort of institutions and events are comparatively inexpensive and can easily be organized and funded.

The supporters of a student center rightly remind us of the need for institutions to bring Harvard students together. But by persisting in an unrealistic desire for a new building, we neglect the many ways that we can improve the environment we already inhabit to support student groups and strengthen our community.

Charles C. DeSimone '01, a Crimson editor, is a government concentrator in Dunster House.