Harvard Has Protected Its Stingy Reputation

To the editors:

Today a story about one in six American children living in poverty made headlines in mainstream media across the country. The Boston Globe and your paper, however, were the lone media voices to carry full mention of the story of the living wage sit-in at Harvard (News, “PSLM Members Storm Mass. Hall,” April 19). These students are actually trying to address the issue of those who work full time and still live in poverty, in this case while employed by the richest university on the planet.

In a response to e-mails sent to support the sit-in, the administration claims that “only 400” workers earn less than $10 per hour. If so, several million dollars could easily remedy the ridiculously low wage scale.

If Harvard wants to cement a reputation as the Nike of the Ivy League, it need only continue on its present self-righteous path. Last time I checked, Harvard was a nonprofit educational institution. Where is the leadership?

Andree Pages ’77

New York, N.Y.

April 19, 2001

Peace, Quiet and PSLM

To the editors:

I will withhold judgement on the merits of the living wage campaign. I’ll even withhold judgement on President Neil L. Rudenstine’s general policy of permitting protestors to occupy his offices and then not punishing them.

But as the proctor in Massachusetts Hall I must complain when the protesters are permitted to chant outside this residential dorm until after midnight, preventing students from studying, relaxing or sleeping. Wasn’t this a case of disturbing the peace? Why did the protestors’ “right” to go unmolested and unaccountable trump my students’ right to peace and quiet? Why weren’t the protestors dispersed by the police?

The innocent students of Mass Hall and Matthews now reap what the administration’s policy of non-confrontation has sown.

David J. Meskill

April 19, 2001