Campus

‘Occupying Harvard’ (But Only If You Have A Student ID)

The Occupy Wall Street movement has camps in many American cities. And a large number of the protesters appear to be young, college-age folks. So it should not be a big surprise to read that students at the prestigious Harvard University have also gotten involved in these protests.

However, “Occupy Harvard” was late to the OWS party. As Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park was filling up in mid-September, tents only started springing up in the historic Harvard Yard on November 9th. Oddly enough, this was the same day that Occupy Berkeley set up camp across the country.

While Occupy Berkeley has been the site where thousands of students have gathered, at times clashing violently with police, Occupy Harvard remains a small and rather exclusive club. At the moment, fewer than two dozen tents are pitched on the lawn in the middle of the famed campus, and they are protected by 24-hr a day security and gates that prevent non-Harvard types from invading.

The students living in the mini-tent city on Harvard Yard are not pleased about their protected state.

Occupying Harvard An Exclusive, Gated Community

On Monday, November 21st, Occupy Harvard released a statement about the lockdown;

OVER 100 HARVARD FACULTY VOICE SUPPORT FOR OCCUPY HARVARD; YARD LOCKDOWN WIDELY CONDEMNED

Cambridge, MA — When Occupy Harvard set up camp on 9 November in Harvard Yard, University officials responded by placing the campus on “indefinite” lockdown, allowing entrance only to those with Harvard IDs. Students, faculty, and staff have joined together in condemning the lockdown, some voicing their opposition through open letters to University President Drew Faust. Additionally, more than 100 faculty have signed an online petition in support of Occupy Harvard.

Reading the Harvard Magazine story online, one can’t help but point out the irony of students “occupying” Harvard Yard in their brand new Coleman tents, surrounded by metal gates and camping out under the watchful eye of campus security. (I must admit that the scene in the photo below had me flashing back to a summer night in the suburbs of Chicago when a few young friends spent most of the night in a tent pitched in the back yard – with dad keeping a watchful eye on the young adventurers.)

Occupying Harvard An Exclusive, Gated Community

Occupy Harvard as seen @HarvardMagazine.com

Additionally, as you scroll down the online story about this fight of the alleged 99%, railing against the unfair advantages given to the 1%… HarvardMagazine.com’s web pages are riddled with pop-up ads trying to sell some pretty high dollar Harvard trinkets. For example, these fine looking, commemorative etched glasses, perfect for sipping a single-malt scotch while monitoring the LIBOR. (They can be yours for a donation of $100.00.)

Occupying Harvard An Exclusive, Gated Community

Exactly WHAT are the students protesting?  According to Harvard Magazine:

While other Occupy protests, including one in downtown Boston, are clamoring against the general excesses of Wall Street, Harvard’s protesters are primarily concerned with the roles the University and some of its alumni have played in recent financial crises.

“Many Harvard [graduates] were working in all the banks that were making the bad loans and ended up needing to get bailed out,” said third-year Divinity School student Jeff Bridges. “We’re here asking the administration to take that seriously.”

The administration does appear to have taken this protest seriously.

Harvard is providing round-the-clock security for the encampment. And you could make the argument that the school’s plan is working. To date, there have been no reports of rape, robbery, or unsanitary conditions at Occupy Harvard.

Perhaps the reason the university is paying attention is because the administration understands that the small group of students camping in the Yard are a valuable commodity, if not today, certainly in the future. After all, Harvard alumni have been quite generous to their alma mater. Based on recent reports, the Harvard Endowment is valued at $32 billion dollars, making it the richest college endowment in the country. The school may just believe that they are protecting the protesting students and their endowment at the same time.

(Of course we realize that the size of Harvard’s endowment does have something to do with how its investments are managed. But, getting to $32 billion requires substantial seed money.)

Comments (36)

  • Technohick
    Posted on November 25, 2011 at 1:01pm

    The protests at places like harvard and berkley show how shallow and moronic the protests are. Really. You go to a school that will turn out the top 1%ers, costs over 50K a year, and you are protesting income inequality?

    You have just proven that neither you or your parents will get their money’s worth from your education, and many harvard educators didn’t either. I can see protesting for a free education there, it certainly isn’t worth much if this is the type of people that they have there.

    Report Post »  
  • Zombee
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:55pm

    At least the Occupy flea baggers finally have jobs…as professional urban outdoorsmen. Look at all the fine quality camping tents and accessories that they are afforded.Creating jobs for the camping manufacturing companies. This is living proof that Capitalism, free market principles and limited government interference really works. Hot Tip….Buy stock in Eureka Camping Tents!

    Report Post » Zombee  
  • philipzhao
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:47pm

    OCCUPY IKEA IN SHANGHAI!
    IKEA has been OCCUPIED since DAY-ONE after their opening in Shanghai Store. As IKEA offers free coffee, over 700 regular non-shopping OCCUPIERS swarm in daily for the coffee. All of the furnitures on display are OCCUPIED–beds, sofa, chairs, desks –while shelves for blankets are emptied (not sold out). IKEA had it ! If you happen to tour in China, your tour will be unfulfilled without a visit to the Shanghai IKEA !!

    Report Post »  
  • MeteoricLimbo
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:58pm

    Well then there goes the old 99% pitch…..

    Report Post » MeteoricLimbo  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:20pm

    Lemmings!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • war7412
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:15pm

    Now they want I.D. why to keep the homeless away?????????

    Report Post »  
  • TerribleTroy
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:50am

    I wonder if one Louis Gates has a tent down there with them?

    Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:08pm

      Well that would be just acting stupidly wouldn’ it?

      Report Post »  
  • TerribleTroy
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:48am

    This can’t be a OWS related event……they don’t even have a drum circle for cryin out loud…….cant be bonafide til they get a drum circle. If they really want credibility they’re also going to have to get some fleas, maybe some as yet to be defined respiratory illness…..obviously just wannabe’s. I wonder if they’ve reached the point where they pay a proxy to sleep in the tent at night?

    News Flash to all the “radicals”. This aint the 60′s and we wont be fooled again. The dying gasps of the liberal baby boomer generation trying to repeat history as a homage to their past. I will not mourn the passing of this generation.

    Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:32am

    Lovey dear, could you pass me another smores? And for god’s sake, have someone bring some fresh brandy.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
    • amagaux
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:36am

      ..not freash brandy, 50 year old brandy

      Report Post »  
  • jagr1850
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:13am

    the tents appear to be un occupied…..just there for show….no passion for whatever it is the occupiers are protesting….no homeless or hungry people to feed, no kitchen or medical tent setup….
    can i have a list of the names of the students that are living 24/7 in the little tents…

    Report Post » jagr1850  
  • The Sergeant Major
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:55am

    It looks like the Provost at Harvard has created a “sterile world” for the privileged few. Here’s a thought; POTUS is graduate of the Harvard Law School, where he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. Maybe Harvard will set up “Tent 1” for BO….

    Report Post » The Sergeant Major  
  • TheLeftMadeMeRight
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:52am

    Ok if you buy into the whole 99% crap then;

    Haaa-vaarrr-D is the mother ship for the 1% crowd.

    Report Post » TheLeftMadeMeRight  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:51am

      Yes. The Harvard crowd has to be totally peaceful. They don’t really want their names known since might affect their future 6 figure job on Wall Street.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • Patrick Henry II
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:30am

    Ok so we are not supposed to call them Marxists yet they use a Maxist symbol on their own pamphlet.

    OWS=Communists

    Report Post » Patrick Henry II  
    • Patrick Henry II
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:39am

      If Harvard would only study their own history and the history of Plymouth, they would know that Socialism/comunism does not work. They had the perfect experiment and have already tried it. It did not go well “Who are we to think that we are smarter than God”. They turned to free market capitalism (Gods plan) and had abundance and had a feast, the First Thanksgiving. Out of their abundance they even built Harvard University. Harvard is possibly the first University built by free market capitalism.

      Report Post » Patrick Henry II  
  • Freedomisslavery
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:06am

    That’s great…and so true.

    Report Post » Freedomisslavery  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:16am

      Just more opportunity for the Cabbgridge police to act stupidly again.

      Report Post »  
  • singray
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:33am

    So some of their alum work in the Banks that gave out these loans and got bailed out. So what is their objective. Having their alum quit their jobs in support. Have their alums searched out and forced to quit. Or force the Banks to fire these people. I guess the just like campiung as they have not stated what their objective is. As always with Progressives, no specifics, it just feels right.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:19am

    Nothing shows your frustration with the system like calling dad to get $200 for a tent. Oh Wait! You can just put it on your dad’s credit card! Wonder if that card comes from one of those Evil banks? Maybe you can just trade carbon credits for the money?

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • Jeff1000
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:13am

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Rofl

    Report Post »  
  • GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:48am

    I didn’t know “The Dude” was studying at Harvard….

    Report Post » GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:58am

      Why are all those little IKEMEN using tents made by greedy corperation. Shouldn’t they be sleeping in wigwams,and teepee’s made from nature.

      Report Post »  
  • gwssacredcause
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:41am

    The Occupy Harvard Poster pretty much says it all, looks communists and socialist in its art work,

    Report Post »  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:50am

      What a joke.. So , the Dean can look out the window and say, Awww look how cute they are.. LMFAO Rich kids protesting their daddy’s wealth amazing..

      Report Post » demint.disciple  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:33am

    They are like a bunch of little kids getting mad at mom and pop and pitching a tent in the back yard. Don’t worry they will be back in time for dinner.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • JDF10487
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:22am

    This is what hypocrisy looks like.

    You have to be a rich elitist in order to protest against yourself at Harvard Univeristy

    Go figure.

    Report Post »  
  • clockwatcher
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:15am

    Social misfits, rich tools of the left. No one cares their time, their president, their cause is over. Americans are sick and tired of these loons.

    Report Post » clockwatcher  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:02am

    The chickens have come home to roost.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:57am

    Harvard is just a Left-wing seminary. Gaze upon the future high priests of the Marxist religion.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • GayDem4Beck
    Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:47am

    WAIT – Hold the presses – Occupy Harvard requires a Student ID card to partake…. but states can’t require a Photo ID to vote. These freaking liberals think they can have it both ways and never see the irony in there own arguments.

    Report Post » GayDem4Beck  

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