Laundering the Money

To the editors:

Lauren E. Baer's column last week (Opinion, "Washed Away with the Tide," Feb. 14) was a well-researched and informative article on the source and distribution of laundry revenues that the budget-constrained House Committees receive. Her conclusion that "funneling laundry revenues through House Committees is not an equitable method of redistribution," however, was not as convincing.

A majority of House Committee revenue, roughly 60 percent in Quincy House, comes from the revenues received from the laundry machines. This money, which equals about $8,500 annually, is used to subsidize House formals, dances, tailgates and just about all other House-related activities. Incidentally, Quincy House does not operate Stein clubs and happy hours, where Baer claims most of this income is inequitably spent.

In a conversation with the Mac-Gray representative who handles the Harvard laundry account, I was informed that the company receives 50 percent of all laundry revenues. Of the remaining 50 percent, the House Committees receive about half, leaving the rest to the water and electricity costs of the College. If these costs are already covered by the "Student Services Fee" as Baer asserts, the Masters and Deans should increase the percentage of revenues the cash-strapped House Committees receive from the laundry machines.

Brian R. Smith '02

Feb. 15, 2001

The writer is a former Quincy House Social Chair.

A Laundry Proposal

To the editors:

Last week's column by Lauren E. Baer brought attention to the fact that the high laundry fees are in fact a regressive tax.

Hundreds of (usually affluent) students pay $360 per year for Harvard Student Agencies' laundry service rather than using House laundry facilities.

This means that they don't contribute to House Committee or Freshman Dean's Office (FDO) programs that are financed by laundry money. Why should less-wealthy students subsidize FDO and House Committee activities for rich students?

The Undergraduate Council is funded by an optional fee on term bills. Why not use this same even-handed, consensual system to pay for the programs currently funded by laundry machines?

Benjamin M. Wikler '03

Feb. 14, 2001

The writer is a member of the Undergraduate Council.