“I can handle the cold,” he said. “It’s finals that I’m worried about.”

After the recent rash of gropings on Harvard’s campus—including one in the Yard—some students expressed concern that the spectacle might draw further incidents.

Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) spokesperson, Steven G. Catalano, wouldn’t comment on how many officers will patrol the area.

“Our hopes are that the sub-zero temperature will keep students from taking part in this tradition,” Catalano said.

In the Houses

The recent dip in the weather has prompted dozens of students to post complaints over open e-mail lists about insufficient heating in the Houses.

The Mather House open e-mail list, in particular, has experienced an avalanche of complaints from students who say they’re so cold they wear coats and mittens while studying in their rooms–and even while eating at the dining hall.

“I saw many people eating with their coats on,” said Julio E. Guzman ’05, a Mather resident who for the past few days has noticed a thin coat of ice spreading across his window. “It’s not cold in my room anymore, but in the communal areas it’s still chilly.”

Mather House superintendent Miguel Castillos said that he was initially unaware of the problem because students posting complaints on the open e-mail list did not call his office with reports.

Castillos said that he attributes most of the heating issues in Mather to the single-pane glass windows, a feature that Mather shares with Leverett Towers.

Leverett House superintendent Paul J. Hegarty agreed that the sprawling windows tend to allow cold air in, and advised students to keep curtains shut.

According to Hegarty, the University has a policy which dictates that housing must be kept at a room temperature of 68 degrees during the day and 64 degrees at night.

House superintendents are first in command when it comes to addressing heating problems, and they say that the source of complaints can often be remedied at an individual level–rarely, they say, does the heating conflict arise from a system-wide failure.

Improperly closed windows, blocked radiators and incorrect use of the heater dials are common culprits, Hegarty said.

“If it does appear to be a mechanical problem,” Hegarty said, adding that he only received three calls yesterday, “we call the Control Center.”