('

{shortcode-6b93b3c8d54f1ce3b753a0a26e7e1082db8e0a11}It creates a certain amount of cognitive dissonance when we find ourselves, at a hallowed institution, co-existing with vermin. They shit, for one thing, and we do not want to live in buildings where shit is not swiftly flushed into some larger body of water. This is fair. Additionally, their mere existence inspires in us a fear predating the Black Plague, and we cannot be blamed for our human instincts.

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But we must admit that rats, in a Kondo-ian sense, are necessary. For some, they spark joy. During the Head of the Charles, I was walking on Mt. Auburn St. trying to avoid tourists, when one lady who managed to cross my path noticed me dodging a sizable rat.

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“Was that a giant rat?!” The question sounded like an existential plea; she was incredulous that we would tolerate such a thing.

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“Yep,” I said, making quick, proud eye contact before scampering to my dorm. I couldn’t help but feel pride that my psyche was impervious to something so disturbing to her. “A rat is no big deal,” I thought. “I see them every day.”

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And indeed I do, especially as it gets darker earlier. We live in a city, after all. It’s comforting to watch a rat frolic through a decrepit stone wall as I take a quieter alley from Mass Ave to Mount Auburn. Their unwarranted hurry makes mine feel more worthwhile. Even the tiny creatures of Harvard get things done. Like our men in suits, even our rats have their clubs — I often see them outside our beloved 14 Plympton St.

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Why, after all, do we hate rats but love squirrels? A squirrel is a rat wearing a Canada Goose jacket. Cantabrigian rats probably far outnumber Cantabrigian squirrels, and yet tourists take photos of one and shriek at the other. Have they not the same illnesses, the same temperaments, the same size? Just because only one species has a propensity for climbing trees does not mean that they are inherently better than the other.

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I feel solidarity with the rats. They walk the same streets we do. They live in the same buildings. They eat the same food, as we have seen in many of our dhalls. Rats fight each other, they have turf, they ostensibly copulate. I bet rats have imposter syndrome too.

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In the old ideal of Harvard, rats were conspicuously absent. But today, rats are here. They have clawed their way to the Ivy League in a way not so dissimilar from our own aspiring academics.

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In a way, are we not all the rats of Harvard?

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{shortcode-778f342420ef116d8d758469980b39f23190196b}To be honest, this article has been a long time coming. It all started when my friend, an Architectural Digest subscribee and suburban mother-aspiree, sent me this article titled “The 17 Most Beautiful Brutalist Buildings in the World.” And truth is, to save you the trouble of looking, they’re all really ugly. Even the 17 most beautiful brutalist buildings in the entire world are butt-ugly.

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Ever since I came to live in the concrete wonder of Mather House, I can’t help but wonder what happened in the ’70s to make people think that brutalist architecture was, in the words of Lady Gaga, “brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, totally unique, completely not ever done before”? I mean, the last two are technically true, but clearly, there is a pretty good reason for that.

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Before you call me a house traitor and hater, I LOVE MATHER HOUSE. I love my room in the tower, the beautiful view of the river, the big windows in the dining hall, the community 🥺— you get the idea. But if you ask me, I’ll agree that she’s pretty ugly from the outside. And Mather doesn’t appear in Harvard postcards, so clearly, Harvard agrees too. In fact, every time my parents visit and we walk by Dunster, they ask me, “So why couldn’t you live there?” And I have to explain that beauty is skin-deep and whatnot, and yes, the random housing lottery is actually random.

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This is all a roundabout way of saying, Harvard is ~beautiful~, but it also has some ugly buildings. And that’s ok! These ugly buildings have character. They take the hate, shake it off, and still stand tall. They make the beautiful buildings look more beautiful (would Dunster really get so much love if Mather wasn’t always chilling beside it?). They’re a historical reminder of architectural mistakes choices that were made. So without further ado, here it is: Flyby’s round-up of the ugliest buildings on campus (in no particular order), and why we still love them:

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Mather House: See above. Ugly building, really good house.

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Lev Towers: For all the hate that Mather gets, the Lev towers are pretty ugly too. And what’s up with the weird triangles on top? Are they solar panels?? Alien communication device? Straight-up weird decor? But residents get the same perks as living in Mather — big rooms, good views, and (mostly) working elevators.

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New Quincy: Same as the previous item. It’s practical, I get it. The duplexes are nice. The windows are big. But you have to agree — it’s not particularly nice to look at. At least it makes Stone Hall look prettier!

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Currier House: Kinda square looking? Windows are pretty tiny. Dining hall food is >>> but seating area vibes give retirement home. Again, no Currier hate — after all, the house is named after some pretty badass women. But unfortunate they didn’t get a prettier building to be remembered by, no?

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William James Hall: If you’re not a social science person, you’ve probably never had reason to set foot in this building. But you’ve definitely seen it because WJH sticks out from the Harvard skyline like a sore thumb. Granted, this is why there’s such a fabulous view of Cambridge from the 15th-floor deck, but the tradeoff is the ivory concrete tower you have to traverse to get up there.

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The Carpenter Center: Is it insensitive to call (according to its website) “the only building in North America designed by Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier” ugly? Maybe* my taste isn’t refined enough to appreciate this building that is home to the AFVS department (because if the artists chose this building it has to be kind of pretty right? Or at least edgy in a cool way?). But having never been inside, I’ll say it: the Carpenter Center is pretty ugly.

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Note from the editor: *Definitely

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Graduate School of Design: Like the Carpenter Center, since some of the best architects in the world study in this building, I’m sure there are many nuanced ways in which it is beautiful. But in the opinion of my ignorant self (also never having been inside), I just don’t see it.

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QED. I have no more to say on this topic. Understanding and appreciating architecture is not my forte. But if someone can explain to me why any building on this list is somehow tastefully beautiful, I am very open to learning — @flybyblog’s dms are always open.

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{shortcode-22028567888b9eb4954a5639d727e504b3d9ba2a}You may have heard that the Barker Cafe recently reopened for the first time since the pandemic started. So, you may be tempted to go. But I’m here to warn you — do not, under any circumstances, visit the Barker Center’s picturesque, sun-dappled, caffeine-oriented rotunda. If for some reason you won’t take my word for it, I’ve compiled a list of reasons why you should avoid the Barker Cafe at all costs.

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The Drinks Are Too Delicious

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Coffee can be addictive, which is why it’s good that it tastes so (pardon my French) yucky. But for some reason, the masterminds behind the Barker Cafe have found a way to make their espresso deliciously smooth. This is catastrophic for the stellar young minds of Harvard College, which, as we all know, are not yet addicted to the fatal siren-song of caffeine. Save yourself!

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The Space Is Too Beautiful

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If you think you’ll get work done in the Barker Cafe, you couldn’t be more wrong. You’ll be too busy enjoying the space to think about, I don’t know, economics or whatever. You can’t think when you’re surrounded by windows — that’s a fact.

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The Baristas Are Too Cool

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Baristas are always overly cool, but the ones at the Barker Cafe are even more intimidating than the average barista because they’re also Harvard students. Imagine messing up your order and then seeing that person in your class later. Scary! Flyby can definitely confirm this because one of our writers is a barista there too, proof enough that the Barker Cafe is too cool for the average plebeian.

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It’s Too Expensive

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You can’t afford to spend so much money on coffee! You — wait. I’m getting word that you can use BoardPlus there. Shoot. Shoot shoot shoot.

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Humanities Students Gatekeep It (but not me though)

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Okay, I totally promise that this isn’t why I wrote this article. That would be absurd and a waste of my time. But all those other artsy students definitely will shun you if you didn’t take Hum10. You’ll be a coffee pariah. Best to stay away. I definitely will. Definitely.

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Okay, fine. If you’re so determined to visit the Barker Cafe, do it. But if the line is long, don’t blame me. I tried my best here.

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{shortcode-e2dd38f686219ed0b7b8a0689dbf5c45e955e6f6}Death By Fire

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Halloweekend.

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It’s chilly, baby.

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I warmed you up;

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The heater burned you cold.

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Death by Rain

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Hydrated queen.

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I water you with White Claw.

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Suddenly you’re drowning,

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and I miss you.

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Death by Love

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Her name is Hermione,

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bellis perennis.

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She gave her life

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to be a bouquet.

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For a pre-med

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Who didn’t want me back.

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Death by Silence

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Why didn’t you call me?

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Ask for water?

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Ask for food?

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You used to BeReal,

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And now you BeDead.

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{shortcode-4395d6958a7a8f1cb392f24ce1699cf52ea0f2a7}Over 600,000 people have fallen in love with Yale senior Emme Zhou '23’s TikTok account, which documents her college experience and highlights her dining hall adventures. Over the Harvard-Yale weekend, Flyby brought her and her friends to the hallowed Adams House dining hall to learn how HUDS compares to Yale dining (Hopefully, it fairs better than our football team). After completing the classic Harvard introduction (Emme is a senior in Pauli Murray College studying Econ and Art!), we got to the juicy questions.

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Harvard vs. Yale Dining

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HUDS Pros

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While Emme’s questioning of the mysterious beige sauce in the sandwich bar did not bode well for us, she noted many pros of the Harvard dining experience.

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While Yale may have the better football team, they apparently do not have trays. Emme joked that “trays are a game changer.” But, honestly, making multiple treks around the dhall would certainly increase your chances of ~coincidentally~ running into your House crush.

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Beyond trays, there were many other HUDS dhall staples that Yale doesn’t have (#losers #stayjealous). Emme noted that the “sandwich bar is something we don’t have,” and there are “so many milks.” Notably, the chocolate milk did bump the Yalies’ overall HUDS rating up from a 6.5/10 to a 7/10.

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Max, Emme’s boyfriend, also commented on the cereals. He stated, “I like how proud they were to have the knock off cereals. We have knock off cereals, but they just call it Cinnamon Crunch. But, you guys [are] like ‘this isn’t Fruit Loops this is Veggie Rings.’” They’re right — something about eating cereal called Apple Zings or Marshmallow Mateys makes the culinary experience so much more fun.

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The Yalies were startled by a group of students who had lugged in a TV to watch the World Cup. We then explained that the seating area never closes. Turns out, at Yale the “you can’t be in [the seating area] unless it’s dining hours,” a change that would unfortunately force students to watch the World Cup in their room, the more standard location.

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Honorable mention to the crunchy peanut butter.

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HUDS Cons

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However, the Yalies noted some aspects of the HUDS experience that could be improved.

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Emme commented that the signs explaining the ingredients in each HUDs dish are small. This was especially relevant given that Emme is vegetarian. While enlarging all the HUDS signs may seem like a daunting task, if we can make the turkey mascot happen, we’re confident we can get this ball rolling.

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Emme also stated that at Yale the kitchens are more visible where “most of our students will be like ‘Oh hi, Joe! Hi, Frank!’ and greet our dining hall staff. It’s definitely a different experience here.” More love to HUDS staff seems definitely doable as well <3.

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How About Yale?

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Emme and her friends also talked about their experiences with Yale dining (spoiler alert: they’ve been pretty freaking great).

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When asked about her favorite Yale meal, Emme described “chocolate chip or multigrain pancakes with cardamom whipped cream and coconut flakes. Scrambled eggs with melted cheese and pesto parm crusted potatoes on the side… And I always get 2% milk.” Next Harvard-Yale, we will be going straight from the tailgate to the Pauli Murray dhall.

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Emme also described the variety of offerings at Yale. She explained, “I grew up in a Chinese household and most of the time we just ate Chinese cuisine. Yale dining has introduced me to a lot of cuisines… We have a variety of food that I would never have eaten if I was just at home.”

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While maintaining the motivation to create can be difficult, Emme states that she “truly enjoys the [Yale] food,” and describes that “what keeps me going is a genuine interest in what I’m filming.”

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Q&A

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Question: Based on vibes and name alone, rank the given past and present Harvard dhall offerings.

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Answer: Fogbuster, Red’s Best Catch, Blueberry Pork, Shrimp Pancakes, Beef Fettuccine Alfredo.

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Question: You make Yale food look so good. Any tips for romanticizing your life?

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Answer: Plating is so important. If you really want to level up your dining experience, please make sure your food does not touch.

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{shortcode-2a52dfecf1e6019a106ad654a5b9b826bdbee946}

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Following the scoreboard, perhaps the second most horrifying thing from The Game was the wild turkey mascot we all saw running through the stands. Sure, it was funny in the moment to pose for a selfie with it, but imagine if our new game day mantras become “Go Turkeys!” or “Gobble Gobble”… yikes!

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For a school that prides itself on having highly competent students, we sure are lacking talent in the mascot selection department. I remember looking up the Harvard mascot after Admissions Day and feeling sorely disappointed when greeted with the following Google search result:

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{shortcode-b5c88ed440407b60b4b187882d87c86a437d569d}

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What does that even mean? Are we the Harvard Pilgrims? The Harvard John Harvards? And we soon might be the Harvard Turkeys but I’m not sure if that’s even better. No wonder everyone just sticks with a classic “Go Crimson!” at games...

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To remedy Harvard’s subpar school spirit situation, here are some alternative ideas to consider for a new mascot:

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Hedgehogs

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Who doesn’t love a good alliteration? Plus, being cute but also a little standoffish and prickly would fit the vibe of a standard Harvard student. Other alliterative options include the Harvard Horses or the Harvard Hamsters. Pick your poison, I suppose.

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Remy

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He’s already basically the informal mascot of Harvard, so why not just make it official? His orange fur color is almost Crimson anyway (right?); and then we could chant “Go Cats!” in response to Yale’s mediocre “Go Bulldogs!”

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Rats

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I don’t know about you all, but any time I step into the Kirkland or Eliot dhalls, I always see a little friend crawling around by the back walls. Let’s give these loyal companions a shoutout by featuring them as our mascot. We always thought “Le Festin” would be a great walk-out song, Harvard Athletics! Alternatively, we could also become the Harvard Roaches or Centipedes for similar reasons.

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David Malan

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This might be a bit of a controversial choice due to CS50 now being offered at both Harvard and Yale, but we know that David Malan reps Cambridge over New Haven any day. Harvard Shop, if you’re listening, the “I took C50” shirts could become the new game day merch.

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Snakes

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Between some of the club comp processes, blocking group drama, and the recruitment hustle, Harvard students can definitely be snakey at times. But why try to hide it? Let’s own our ruthless, cold, and cunning personalities with pride. In a stunning turn of events, this could be our most honest option yet.

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Although Harvard beats Yale on basically every front, even I must admit that they have a leg up on us in the mascot category. With this diverse array of mascot picks, though, those bulldogs won’t stand a chance against us next year! Roll Crim!

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{shortcode-b6847130714afe3191999578be920afecf4f58bd}POV: Two wayside Midwesterners with South Asian heritage are so moved by the joys of H Mart that they are inspired to become playwrights. Find Flyby’s original off-Broadway debut below:

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Character List

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Maya: a Flyby writer and first-year from Kentucky, has never been to an Asian grocery store other than Patel Brothers (an iconic and chaotic Indian grocery store) and is hoping to find snack paradise in Central Square.

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Sneha: a Flyby writer and first-year from Indiana (and also tangentially Kentucky), has a pan-Asian grocery store back home and believes that makes her an expert on H Mart without ever having visited.

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SCENE 1

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WE OPEN on a bustling Massachusetts Avenue that cuts through the heart of Central Square as two overly excited Flyby compers, Maya and Sneha, emerge from the dark depths of the T stop across from H Mart. As they jaywalk across the street, Maya and Sneha discuss their destination.

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Maya: This is a general Asian grocery store right? Like a bunch of different types of Asian foods?

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Sneha: Yeah, I think so.

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Spoiler: It was not, in fact, a pan-Asian grocery store.

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Sneha: This is way bigger than I expected. I’m getting Patel Brothers vibes.

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For those not in the know, Patel Brothers is an Indian grocery store chain that sells spices and yummy snacks to the masses starving for food with flavor. It is, however, rarely owned by brothers with the last name Patel.

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Maya: It’s way too organized to be a Patel Brothers. (Maya stops in front of a fridge.) SNEHA, LOOK! (points excitedly to a Yakult drink) I’m having my Lara Jean (of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) moment.

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Sneha: (picks up Aloe water) How much aloe vera juice should you drink?

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She gets no response.

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END SCENE

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SCENE 2

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THE TWO WANDERING FRESHMEN find an aisle in which to take aesthetic pictures to commemorate the moment. Since we last left them, Maya and Sneha have figured out camera angles and are orienting their phones to conveniently avoid capturing the other H Mart visitors in their photo evidence. Maya and Sneha are currently positioned next to jars of cabbage and hot sauce.

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Sneha: POV: you beeline to find the pickle aisle.

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Maya: Look!!! SRIRACHA! This is, like, everyone’s introduction to Asian culture. Imagine if you brought this into Berg.

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Sneha briefly contemplates this idea and then concludes that giving the people what they want — i.e. seasoned food — would cause spontaneous combustion from happiness and give the Cambridge Fire Department more trouble than the kids in Matthews on Friday night. She’s not sure she wants to be like the kids in Matthews. She slowly places the jar back on the shelf and walks further down the aisle.

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Maya: (looking around at more East Asian products) I think we’re the wrong brand of Asian.

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Sneha: I know, right? I don’t know what half of this stuff is. And where’s the Maggi?

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A helpful introduction for those who haven’t heard of Maggi before: Maggi is an addictive Indian ramen. Sneha is regularly berated by her friends for eating such food that damages her liver, but frankly she doesn’t care because it tastes so good.

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Maya: There has to be one packet… somewhere…but we’ve already been down every aisle twice

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Maya and Sneha spiral through the five stages of grief as they try and fail to find Maggi in H Mart.

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Maya: It has to be here. It has to be here.

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Camilla Cabello’s “Crying in the Club” plays in the background.

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Sneha: Where is the Maggi? They have twenty types of pasta that’s not even Asian. They must have Maggi. There’s no way they don’t have it.

\r\n\r\n

The two are still in denial.

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END SCENE

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SCENE 3

\r\n\r\n

MAYA AND SNEHA again get lost in H Mart. (Insert a “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” style montage here. Highlights are featured in the scene below.)

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Sneha: (gesturing at a wall of seaweed) AH SEAWEED!!

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Maya: But what are all these flavors?

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Sneha: (attempting to Google Translate the labels on the seaweed packets) How is something sunshine flavored?

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Maya: (distracted by another aisle) Wait, look at these tiny utensils!

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Maya and Sneha contemplate getting tiny teaspoons they will never use. Yes, they each buy a set.

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Maya: (gesturing at a section of flavored ranch): What Asian food requires ranch?

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*in Spongebob voice: sOmE hOuRs lAter*

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Maya finds some slimming tea, marketed “for both men and women,” and begins cackling. It’s perfectly understandable; they have wandered into this aisle ten times now.

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Sneha: I think this entire place is mostly beverages.

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Maya: Is soy soup a tea? Why is it next to the tea when all the other soup is in the next aisle?

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Sneha: All soup is tea.

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END SCENE

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SCENE 4

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THE H MART NEWBIES decide that their journey has come to an end and exit H Mart, musing on their experience.

\r\n\r\n

Sneha: This was like if Aldi and Trader Joe’s had a baby and raised it in Asia.

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Maya: (trying her Yakult) Wait, this tastes like Gogurt but better!

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As Maya looks for her Peter Kavinsky, she and Sneha walk to the T-stop and descend out of the brightness of H Mart into a dark world once more.

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FIN.

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{shortcode-b43a6443348f3f2f21da54f06ae3f182d117e16d}This week, as the pre-Thanksgiving break assignments pile up and the sky fades into a daunting darkness before dinnertime, only one thing manages to pierce through the clouds of students’ burnout and exhaustion: a rowdy anticipation for the annual Harvard-Yale football game.

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On H-Y eve, a strange phenomenon graces this small liberal arts school in New England: we transform into a student body with spirit, flair, and an undying interest in athletics. In effect, we become unrecognizable, channeling the most spontaneous and *gasp* fun versions of ourselves for one weekend of the year.

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So, here’s an in/out list to remind everyone to make some questionable (but tasteful) choices this H-Y weekend. Have a fantastic time and #rollcrim.

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In:

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  The enemies-to-lovers arc

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  Waking up at the crack of dawn (for unhinged purposes only)

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  Sleeping on the floor (queue The Lumineers)

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  Selling your ticket to the highest bidder (rip Yale)

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  Getting posted on Dean Khurana’s instagram (the ultimate win)

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  The buddy system

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  Practicality (it’s 35 degrees — you can only look so presentable)

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  Our team’s running game (idk what this means, but a Crimson Sports editor told me to add this)

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  Pretending we’ve won no matter the outcome

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  Bringing your own toilet paper (BYOTP)

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  Experimenting (make of this what you will)

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  Hot breakfast

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Out:

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  Actually going to the game

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  Rain (I’m manifesting)

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  Calling Yale a safety school (cringe and pretentious, sorry)

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  Opening your computer at any point during the weekend

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  Facepaint (never looks as cool as you think it does)

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  Mansplaining what a touchdown is

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  TGMOs (tailgate make-outs)

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  Dehydration!!

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  The term “Yalies” (makes me sick)

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  Dangerously intoxicated alumni

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  Having a mascot (lame and overdone — and the new turkey mascot debut cannot convince me otherwise)

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  Assigned seats in the stadium

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('

{shortcode-fe25af1343b341746db7006d220d58f394abf2be}Yalies — welcome to Harvard! It’s that time of the year when bulldogs and crimsons (?) get together to tailgate and watch some mediocre football together. Let’s face it, college campuses are confusing. At last year’s game, I felt completely lost in New Haven — why was the stadium so far away? Why are all the buildings so much more hawkish than Harvard’s? Why was everyone staring at my “yuck fale” hat? All this to say that a guide to Yale would have been helpful. So, if you are a bulldog feeling a bit lost in Cambridge, read through this ultimate guide to Harvard, catered completely to you.

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Food

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For breakfast before the big game, the Square has a few options. Head to Tatte or Bluestone Lane for a ~bougie~ brunch (though don’t be surprised if lines are long and tables are all full, because that’s the case on a regular Saturday, let alone Harvard-Yale Saturday). If you are feeling adventurous, you can always sneak into a dining hall on campus for Saturday brunch — check out how HUDS and YUDS compare. Just in time for your visit, a brand new Starbucks just opened in the Square this week. The last one was replaced by a merch store. It’s fine (it’s not). CVS is always a good idea, and it offers unlimited snack options, 24/7. For late-night treats, try Pinocchio’s, Jefe’s, Felipe’s or Insomnia Cookies. Nothing quite like a hot slice of pepperoni pizza, an overflowing burrito, or a melty cookie to sustain your drunken stupor.

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Places to Party

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This is a tough one. Tasty Basty is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. What’s Tasty Basty, you ask? Flyby’s got you covered (link to Corinne’s article). As for Finals Clubs — I wish I knew what they are going to be up to H-Y weekend. If you aren’t on their list, you can always vibe along to their thumping music as you make the humbling trek to the new Jefe’s by the Red Line.

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The Shuttle

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Ah, the shuttle. This one is a sore spot for a lot of Harvardians. The Harvard shuttle is run by the University to help students get from place to place, because this campus is huge and Massachusetts is cold. The shuttle has different routes, and to get to the stadium (that’s the giant, concrete, Colosseum-like building across the river), you’re going to want to get on one that says “Quad-SEC,” “Allston Loop,” or “Quad Stadium Express.” Sometimes the shuttle comes. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s all an adventure, really. My personal suggestion is to walk places — this way, you’ll know you’ll eventually get to where you have to go. Whatever you do, don’t try to use the shuttle’s app, Passio Go.

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The Quad

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Harvard randomly splits undergraduates into 12 upperclassmen houses at the end of their freshman year. Three of these dorms are in a place called the Quad, which is a bit farther away from the Square. Relative to the stadium, the Quad is on the opposite end of campus. So, chances are you won’t have any reason to visit, unless you are staying with a Harvard student who lives in the Quad. In that case, again, good luck to you. The good news is that you will get to shake off the hangover and fit some extra steps in on your way to the stadium.

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Why everyone is so excited the Game is happening at Harvard this year?

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It’s been a while since Harvard has hosted Harvard-Yale (re: 2016!). The Game was hosted at Fenway when the stadium was being renovated (in 2018), then Covid-19 hit (2020), and then it was Yale’s turn (2021). So, Harvard students and alumni alike are super excited about this year’s game. Chances are some fun alums will be dotted around Cambridge this weekend — keep your eyes peeled for a Zuckerberg, Conan O’Brien, or Matt Damon sighting.

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Hopefully, this crash course to Harvard was helpful. Use this information to get around Harvard’s campus, impress your weekend crush, or make yourself feel better about having chosen Yale — jk, that last one is impossible.

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{shortcode-df7c2e2bba212f5bd8ab02e1be6fd55d8aa12d18}Let’s be real. You’ve been planning your outfit since the last Harvard-Yale. You’ve been prepping your Liquid IV. You’ve had the route planned. It’s pretty easy to slay the biggest game day of the year when you’re vibing at your beloved Yale Bowl — but what about when you’re wandering around Cambridge, lost and drunk out of your mind, and someone tells you to “Roll Tasty Basty”? Yeah, that’s what I thought. We’re here to help.

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How do I get there?

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Walk. Here at our perfect school, there’s no such thing as shuttling to the football field and waiting in hour-long car lines for The Game.

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I’ve gotten a total of two hours of sleep on a random person’s floor on the sleeping arrangements I definitely planned in advance. Where can I get caffeine?

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Harvard Square has no shortage of places to get your caffeine fix: Dunkin, Peet’s, Capital One Cafe, Tatte, Flour, Darwin’s, the fridge in the back of CVS that has the Celsius. If you’re across the river by the stadium and need to refuel, there’s a Starbucks and Swiss Bakers around the corner. And if you’re really desperate, chug some Trader Joe’s cold brew concentrate.

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Where is the tailgate?

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Like most tailgates, it’s on the field outside the stadium. Fields don’t change no matter where you are, so don’t wear sneakers you like.

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Where is the stadium?

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Look right… No, your other right. The giant Colosseum-esque structure across the river is our beloved Harvard stadium — though no gladiators have died there, many an athlete has (metaphorically) passed away from deathly workouts. Being an Institution with a Storied History and Past, Harvard doesn’t disappoint with the inside of our stadiums — in fact, we’re throwing it alllll the way back to the Stone Age by having no seats entirely.

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Where is the postgame??

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Your beloved postgame #slice can be found in the form of a pizza square at Pinocchio’s (dubbed “Noch’s”). Does it compare to Yorkside? Pepes? Sally’s? Tbh probably maybe not. But it’ll do the trick ;)

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Do all roads lead to Toads?

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No… but we do have the following: Jefe’s, final clubs, Tasty Burger basement, Grendels, Mather JCR (Mather is ugly and tall just like Morse). Choose your fighter. Disclaimer: These were listed in no particular order although the JCR is superior <3

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Who is your Handsome Dan?!?!

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Settle down, Yalie. Harvard has Remy — an immortal orange tabby cat that will either be skipping the game and hanging outside of Lamont Library or will make an appearance on the field mid-game. There is no in-between for Remy (except maybe a Turkey???).

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Are we allowed to do the Saybrook Strip when the Game is at Harvard?

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I mean we can’t stop you……

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{shortcode-f29b065dafd43c0c2e3d80fb8a112588a33f6290}Flyby Blog's first ever Harvard-Yale feature is here!

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11/17 — Harvard-Yale: The Pregame: Our first ever Harvard-Yale feature kicks off with all you need to know before the big Game. Whether you know what a touchdown is or run your own fantasy league, read on for never-before-seen coverage of the last time Harvard-Yale was actually at Harvard six years ago, a quick history of the Game, and how to successfully achieve NARP status.

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-f29b065dafd43c0c2e3d80fb8a112588a33f6290}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.thecrimson.com/photos/2022/11/15/150639_1359667.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

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{shortcode-162b85d90fb3a9f02a2f8b76bb6117d8a0379ab6}If you’ve had even one conversation with me, you know I’m not into sports. But from that one conversation, you will also discern that I hate being left out. So, yes, you will find me in Allston’s pseudo-Colosseum on November 19. And if you, like me, don’t know what constitutes a touchdown nor why so many non-foot limbs are involved in football, read on for ways to not be mind-numbingly bored during our sporty storied tradition.

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Make a bingo board

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If you *peruse other Flyby articles,* you’ll see that there are certain things that happen at every Harvard football game. A sign referencing Legally Blonde, at least forty people in one section wearing the free One Crimson sweatshirt, a sign referencing Gilmore Girls and… the list goes on. If you can think of 25 of these things, put them all into a bingo board, and you’ll be entertained for hours! The secret is to include one thing that absolutely won’t happen so that the bingo game lasts the whole football game.

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Listen to a podcast

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Covertly slip an earbud in under your hat and listen to something that can actually entertain you. Serial is back these days, and I was riveted by season one. I also enjoy Normal Gossip and Las Culturistas. You could even listen to a New Yorker short story. Who said sports weren’t intellectual?

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See how many waves you can start in a row

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This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Fool everyone into thinking you have school spirit, then laugh at the sheeple.

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Pick one player’s jersey number and follow them the whole game

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It’s not stalking if you’re watching a spectator sport. Just choose a random number (I favor the date of my birthday) and silently root for them. Follow their ups and downs. Construct an imagined narrative of their psyche. Are they a first-year looking to prove themselves? A senior desperately fighting for their last chance at victory? Sorry, my English concentration is showing. This one is extra juicy if you choose someone on the opposite team, so you end up either happy your school won or happy your player won.

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Calisthenics

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People exercise by running up and down the stadium’s steps every other day, so why not work out on Game Day? Maybe some people on the team are benched, but not you. Do a plank between two bleachers. Do a headstand. Go wild. And you can even get extra calorie-burning action from fighting against the current of students who are just trying to watch the game in peace.

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Photoshop yourself into your friends’ photos and take the time to do your homework on an otherwise silent campus

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Ok. I know I said I’d go to the game. But just imagine an empty Loker Reading Room. An abandoned d-hall. AN EMPTY YARD. If there’s photo evidence of you at the game, who’s to say you weren’t there? …no, I’ll go. I’ll go. But this is always an option…

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… you know, inebriate yourself (responsibly).

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But you didn’t hear it from me.

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Try these on November 19, and thank me later NARPs. Who said jocks have all the fun?!

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{shortcode-052a0fa5f45b389f54e6686aab8f41f165a1f486}Besides being an excuse to party for 24 hours straight, there’s a bit more to Harvard-Yale. With the 138th annual Harvard-Yale Game approaching (and the first time it’ll be played at Harvard in six years!), let's take a trip through the ages to rediscover the history of “The Game” and get to the bottom of the strange turn of events that somehow ends with you drinking your Truly and freezing your butt off this weekend.

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As one of the oldest ongoing college football rivalries in the U.S. (second only to Lafayette/Lehigh), The Game never fails to lure Harvard and Yale alumni back to their old stomping grounds to relive the good ol’ days. Harvard-Yale is the final match-up of the football season for both Harvard and Yale, fueling the rivalry with what is the most anticipated game of the season (aka the single day we turn into Harvard State).

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To throw it all the way back, the first game was played on Nov. 13, 1875, at New Haven’s Hamilton Park. Roughly 2,500 fans pulled up to observe the first match-up, and tickets were sold for only 50 cents (in contrast to the $200 tickets being flipped on every mailing list rn #yikes). Apparently, Yale promised to pay Harvard $75 to play the game (lol Yale, you had to pay us to play you??). Rules for the game were adapted from soccer and rugby, and each team played with fifteen players (for perspective, that is roughly 1/7th of the size of Harvard’s football team today). Harvard won 4-0, but don’t get too excited, because that would be Harvard’s last win for eleven years #rip.

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The best part is that after the game, seven Harvard students were arrested in New Haven under the charges of “hooting and hollering in the streets.” Each student was fined a whopping $5.29, equivalent to ~$114 today — that’s 12 whole burritos at Jefe’s.

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Then, in 1876, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia founded the Intercollegiate Football Association and adopted new rules. The shape of the ball also changed from round to oval.

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The Intercollegiate Football Association was dissolved in 1894, the same year that the “Springfield Massacre” or “Hampden Blood Bath” took place. This game was named for the violence that broke out between the schools; nine Harvard and Yale football players were removed from the game, either due to injury or to fighting with the opposing team. Both schools blamed the other for the violence and didn’t play each other again until 1897 (Harvard banned football as a whole). Though our rivalry doesn’t come to hits and blows anymore… at least I hope… Yale better be ready for us to wipe them nicely this year.

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In 1898, the term “The Game” was coined and lives on today. The former Harvard football captain A.F Holden wrote in a letter that the match-up makes “the Yale-Harvard game the game of the season,” giving Harvard and Yale students an annual excuse to tailgate and to post Instagram stories captioned “biiiiig football school #yuckfale.”

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Currently, Yale leads all-time wins with 67-61. We’ll let the Yalies enjoy it while it lasts because we’re confident that this year will change it to 67-62 #rollcrim.

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{shortcode-4dbc3860c3973a36dd30a3c28a444aa38d9f9464}Harvard-Yale is happening this weekend. At Harvard. It’ll be a solid two days full of Jefe’s, muddy shoes, getting lost in Cambridge, touchdowns (hopefully), and “yuck fales”.

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Or so we think. Because the last time we had an actual Harvard Yale at Harvard was 2016. Between the stadium being under construction and a little global pandemic, it’s been a while since we’ve had a true Harvard-Yale experience on our home turf. So we chatted with two members of the Class of 2020 who were more than willing to give us a play-by-play of their gameday experience in 2016 — which was their FRESHMAN year. Time, what a crazy concept.

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Anyways, read on to find out where to be, where not to be, and all the other essentials to having a good time this coming weekend. We chatted with two friends-that-go-way-back Lydia L. Cawley ’20, former Flyby chair, and Priya Gill ’20-’22, former Flyby editor to give you the scoop:

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The Night Before

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ESD: Harvard-Yale has not taken place at Harvard since 2016 when you were freshmen. [Give us] a rundown of the experience, starting with the night before. Where are the spots to be? Where are the spots not to be?

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LLC: I feel like partially this is not gonna be accurate, because Harvard has changed so much since 2016. But back in my freshman fall, people were going to final clubs. I'm pretty sure I went to a final club the night before — it was a much more open door policy.

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Looks like there was no #gatekeeping, gaslighting, or girlbossing back in 2016.

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~Now, a brief but important interlude on the subject of parties~

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JS: Are you familiar with the words Tasty Basty?

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LLC: Tasty Basty? Ohhhh yeah, Tasty basement. Yeah…. it was a thing.

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~Sorry, Class of 2025. Tasty Basty was a thing long before you got here.~

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Back to HY stuff now:

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PG: We [also] went to the Annenberg thing the Friday night before, and we met two handsome Yale rowers, remember?

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Take notes, @Harvard men’s rowing.

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LLC: Yeah, we met handsome Yale rowers, apparently. Because of the Yale people, there was a line around the block to get into Annenberg. Maybe the event was just for the freshmen — I think it was a first-year committee thing. We wore Crimson crop tops and choker necklaces, because this was 2016 — I’m not recommending that.

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PG: You actually wore a velour crop top.

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On an unrelated but important note, let the record reflect at this point that during her time at Harvard, PG coined the phrase “river daddy” to denote an individual who can be relied on for a good night’s sleep by the river A legacy worth mentioning.

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PG: But yeah, after [Annenberg and a final club], I think we bounced around. Actually, just find a picture. We probably have such hilarious pictures.

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*Scrolls infinitely through camera roll*

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*Shows us picture*

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ESD: Um. That's a door.

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LLC: Where is this? Oh, this is Tasty Basty

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That’s right. TBB strikes again. And turns out it was a FLYBY BLOG party in TASTY BASTY. We stay winning. You stay jealous. Unless you comp Flyby ;)

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The Tailgate

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LLC: People went pretty early. I don't know when the actual game is scheduled to happen but we were at the tailgate by 10:30. Definitely wear shoes that you don't care about. At Harvard it's great, because your commute [to the tailgate and stadium] is easier.

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Yeah,,, yikes. Imagine having to take a bus to get to your stadium.

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LLC: And Priya at the time made a sign called “Yale Boys, DM me” with her Instagram.

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PG, you are an icon.

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PG: It's quite chaotic. It's kind of like Harvard-Brown. But it's just bigger, because people get more crazy. And it was divided by final clubs. You had the Spee car with their little flag. You had the PSK, [etc.]

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LLC: Yeah I don't know where they got trucks from.

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The origin of the tailgate trucks will forever be a mystery.

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LLC: Oh, also EAT FOOD. If you see food at the tailgate, eat it. There'll be some groups of alumni—older alumni like parent vibes. They'll still be drinking, but they'll have barbecue and burgers. So if you see any food from them or Harvard, eat it or stash it.

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Like any true Flyby writer past, present, or future, LLC is a lover of free food.

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The Game Itself

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LLC: We did indeed go to the stadium inside to see the game. The ticket-collecting thing was quite annoying, but I might be confusing it with Yale. I’m pretty sure everyone takes a nap after. Whether it’s because of your substance intake (if you’re 21+ obviously) or you just woke up really early for the tailgate.

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The Evening/Day After

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LLC: Everyone is so exhausted afterward that Saturday night is quite dead. If you do go out on Saturday, a big meal and a nap is mandatory.

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LLC: But the biggest recommendation I have is the Saturday or Sunday after Harvard Yale, just leave. Unless you actually have an exam (which is so rude), there’s no point in school that Monday and Tuesday.

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You didn’t hear it from us, but if you haven’t booked your ticket home for Thanksgiving yet 👀

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Final Words of Wisdom

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JS: And do you have any final words of wisdom?

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LLC: Make it into the stadium. Get enough sleep. Pace yourself. It’s a really fun experience to watch the game, and this might be the only time that a lot of Harvard students actually go inside!

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In the wise words of LLC, stay hydrated and stay happy this fine weekend when H-Y finally returns to our hallowed halls. Who knows — maybe in 4-8 years, you’ll be interviewed by us too :)

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{shortcode-217137a538669bda4c7cd332cff3636c4958c74b}Let’s face it, it’s hard to find gratitude when you’re swamped with p-sets and papers while the ever-present cold? flu? unknown-disease-that-leaves-a-monster-cough makes its annual circulation across campus. However, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought it would be an appropriate time to take a step back and try being thankful for the little things in life.

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Biking Along the Charles

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I have no idea why I never tried this before, but during the short period of time when 45-minute Bluebike rides were free due to the Orange Line shutdown, I biked along the Charles for the first time and it was LIFE-CHANGING. The wind in my hair, the beautiful scenery, the endorphin rush from pedaling. It was absolutely perfect and a must-try experience. Maybe there will be a few more global-warming-days for you to try before the semester ends.

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The Yard Foliage

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New England’s finest and prettiest season has made a return. Is it concerning that the Yard trees are still a little green? Yes. Is it a problem that it has been 75 degrees in the middle of November? Also yes. However, I will take whatever color I can get before we face five months of winter where the Yard turns into a bare pit of mud and naked trees.

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Taylor Swift

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Ms. Taylor Alison Swift is truly a mastermind. Midnights has single-handedly pulled me through midterm season. I may pull up to class with bedhead and sweatpants but I can still make the whole place shimmerrrr. You know I’ll be bejeweled at her upcoming tour concert (if I can even get my hands on tickets — I know all of you waiting in the ticket queue are the reason the wifi is acting up).

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Sunday’s Sundaes Sundaze

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If there is anything that brings me joy, it’s alliteration. Sure, the ice cream with chocolate syrup, crushed Oreos, and sprinkles are great, but the fact that this weekly treat is referred to as “Sunday’s Sundaes Sundaze” is simply the cherry on top. Whoever came up with the name deserves a gold sticker and all the ice cream sundaes in the world.

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House/HUDS Staff

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BIG thank you to the House and HUDS Staff who feed us and keep our communal spaces clean and running. I admit, I do actively complain about the menu constantly. However, I can’t stress enough how extremely thankful I am that I’m not responsible for making my own meals. I can’t even say I have the right to critique the food quality because I can barely make toast. Point is, I really do appreciate all the work and effort the staff put into maintaining our community.

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You

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No, not the TV show. I’m talking about you ;) I’m thankful for everyone who read this article. I appreciate you. Please take care of yourself and find time to enjoy life. It’s hard out here, but remember, some people go to Y*le.

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It’s been a fun reflection to name a few of the things I’m grateful for. Am I going to go back to complaining about every little inconvenience that comes my way as soon as I finish writing this? ABSOLUTELY. But at least I tried, in the spirit of this season of giving thanks. <3

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{shortcode-27936a178c38fd996b7170107c4bc634106677a9}Dear Homesick Students…

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Whether you’re from Australia, Argentina, Afghanistan, or Alaska (just me?), we love you! You’ve got this. And even if you don’t live halfway across the globe, it’s okay to miss home — I’m (slightly enviously) talking to you, Bostonians. With the holidays around the corner, it’s that time of the year when we start to crave the comfort of home and non-Harvard life just a tad more than usual. But don’t give up now! We’re in this together, and the finish line is in sight. And if you’re close enough to be going home for Thanksgiving, you lucky, lucky, ducky.

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But if you can’t go home for the holidays, try to bring some home to campus (cheesy, I know). But for real, I have a picture hanging on my wall of some mountains from home, and whenever I see it, there’s a 50 percent chance it will brighten my mood. Even simpler for all of you who like blank walls — call/FaceTime your friends and fam from home for a little chat. Hopefully, their words can be of even more comfort than mine :)

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And if you’re feeling retro, write a letter to someone you miss. If you send mail, you’re more likely to receive mail, and who doesn’t love getting mail?! PSA: Trader Joe’s has fun cards for $1 or you could even get crafty and DIY orrrr just tear out a piece of paper from your pset notebook and throw it in an envelope. Did you know you can send outgoing mail from the first-year mail center? (But make sure you buy a stamp, or that letter’s going nowhere!)

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And can we just commiserate for a sec about food homesickness? I’ve heard that food is one of the main reasons people start to feel homesick, and boy, do I concur. Whether it’s something your family makes or a familiar restaurant back home, it can be tricky to replicate what you’re missing with what we’re working with in the dhall. Name a better excuse to grab a couple of friends and go into Boston to treat yourself to something that will fill your belly and heart. Or if you’re feeling really ambitious, channel your inner Gordon Ramsey and reserve one of the kitchens in your dorm/house (or make friends with someone who lives in Dewolfe).

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Hopefully, you can find solace in the fact that going home is going to be 10000x more rewarding after being in the trenches for a semester. Whenever I go home, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have such a sick home (pun intended). And let’s face it, when you go home, you’re probably just going to start missing school anyways. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, even for Tasty Basty. Though Taylor Swift might think differently, we promise — you’re not on your own, kid. Hang in there!

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With a gentle kiss on the forehead,

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Flyby <3

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