It has always been against Harvard policy to stand on fire escapes, but perhaps it’s time to amend the rule so that it’s illegal to stand underneath them, as well.

On Saturday evening, Baris C. Ercal ’10 and Parker A. Lawrence ’12 were sitting on the front steps of Claverly Hall and watching the 100^th anniversary celebration at the Lampoon when pieces of dirt and rust started raining down from above. A few seconds later, a piece of a railing from the top balcony of Claverly came crashing down. The blunt object ricocheted off the ground, cracked the steps, and gashed Ercal in the leg and bruised Lawrence on the calf.

Though the students—who are both fine now—didn’t have a groundbreaking (no pun intended) revelation à la Isaac Newton, they did seem to gain a newfound appreciation for life and a deprecatory attitude towards Harvard’s historic (read: dilapidated) buildings.

“It’s pretty terrifying,” said Lawrence. “I stared death in the face last night.”

And in true Lampoon fashion, the party raged on at the castle even as HUPD cars and ambulances swarmed the scene.