2000-2001

September

Newly arrived first-years are surprised when the ceiling of Stoughton Hall North 29 collapses causing three minor injuries and forcing the evacuation of both Stoughton and Hollis Halls. Although residents of the bottom three floors are able to return to their rooms that evening, first-years living on the fourth floor of Stoughton are housed overnight in Loker Commons.

The harvard endowment reaches a record of $19 billion, an increase of 30 percent. “It was a great year,” says Elizabeth C. “Beppie” Huidekoper, vice-president for finance.

Harvard announces that it will not block access to Napster. Daniel D. Moriarty, assistant provost for information technology, will send a letter to Dr. Dre and Mettallica attorney Howard E. King informing him that Harvard has refused his request to restrict access to the music-sharing service.

October

After months of negotiation, Harvard acquires the Hasty Pudding building owned by the Institute of 1770. Harvard hopes to be able to renovate the theater for use by other student organizations. The annual Hasty Pudding burlesque will continue to be staged in the theater, for at least the immediate future.

After taking police on a high speed chase through Brookline and ending near the Malkin Athletic Center, Wilson J. Hunt Jr. ’65-’69 assistant director of the Office of Career Services is arrested and charged with assault with attempt to murder. Please see related story.

November

Institute of Politics (IOP) Director Sen. David Pryor announces the dissolution of the group’s Student Advisory Committee to the shock of many members. He desires to change the IOP to attract a more diverse group of undergraduates.

Members of the Class of 2004 vote in their first ever presidential election and witness the television networks first call Florida for Gore then for Bush. The final result of the election was drawn into the courts and thirty-six days later Gore concedes defeat.

Despite a valiant effort by the Crimson, Harvard falls to Yale 34-24 in the 117th Harvard-Yale Game. A strong Eli defense and turnovers sealed the Crimson’s fate.

December

In their first major protest of the year, the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) living wage campaign stages a mock Christmas pageant entitled Neil Rudenstine‘s Christmas in Jail to protest Harvard’s lack of a living wage.

Harvard College announces a ban of alcohol kegs at future Harvard-Yale tailgates parties and inside the Harvard Stadium.

Paul A. Gusmorino ’02 and Sujean S. Lee ‘03 win the presidency and vice-presidency respectively of the Undergraduate Council after defeating four other tickets.