The Harvard Crimson - Volume CXLVII, No. 6

The Harvard Crimson The University Daily, Est. 1873 | Volume CXLVII, No. 6 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Thursday, January 30, 2020

editorial PAGE 4

news PAGE 5

sports PAGE 6

With space travel, fiction is more exciting than fact

Harvard Innovation Labs names new executive director

Women’s basketball splits contests with Dartmouth

Experts React to Coronavirus Prompts Travel Caution Dershowitz

By Fiona K. Brennan and Nathan W. Zhao

By Michelle G. Kurilla and Ruoqi Zhang Crimson Staff Writers­

Harvard Law School professor Alan M. Dershowitz’s defense of President Donald J. Trump in the impeachment trial has sparked mixed reactions from legal experts across the country.

Launching his opening statement on the Senate floor Sunday night by declaring his “love” for the United States, Dershowitz – a renowned criminal defense lawyer — proceeded to argue that impeachment on the grounds of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress was “unconstitutional.”

“I will argue that our constitution and its terms high crimes and misdemeanors do not encompass the two articles, charging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress,” Dershowitz said.

Dershowitz has vocally defended Trump throughout his presidency, taking to media outlets to support the president and some of his policies.

Legal experts from across the country met Dershowitz’s opening statements with a flur-

Crimson Staff Writers­

ry of praise and criticism.

Michael J. Gerhardt, a constitutional law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said Dershowitz was “dead wrong” in his argument. In December, Gerhardt testified in front of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee as part of a four-person panel discussing the constitutional grounds of impeachment.

“The central point he’s really sending out is that a President can abuse his power all the time. There’s no constitutional check on that,” Gerhardt said.

The argument that abuse of power, standing alone, is not an impeachable offense and therefore may not be accountable to Congress is “just startling,” according to Gerdhardt.

“His defense fits neatly in the President’s efforts and the President’s lawyer’s efforts to misdirect people’s attention, essentially trying to confuse people and distract people by misstatement,” Gerhardt added.

Nikolas Bowie, an assistant professor at the Law School, opined in the New York Times

University administrators “strongly” advised Harvard affiliates to refrain from travel to China and urged precautions for those returning from the country to “protect the health and safety of our community,” as the number of confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus continues to rise.

University Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 and Harvard University Health Services Director Giang T. Nguyen issued the guidance in a Wednesday email to University affiliates, citing travel warnings from multiple US government agencies, including a CDC advisory to “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” to China.

Garber and Nguyen also urged Harvard affiliates currently in China to “follow the guidance of local health authorities,” and advised anyone who has recently returned from the country to immediately contact HUHS if they experience a “fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.”

Nguyen previously wrote in an email last week that the

See dershowitz Page 3

See VIRUS Page 3

Harvard University Health Services released an email on Wednesday afternoon detailing its analysis on the coronavirus outbreak, discouraging travel to China. Delano R. franklin—crimson photographer

Kung Fu Tea Hits Harvard Square

By Taylor c. peterman Crimson Staff Writer ­

International bubble tea chain Kung Fu Tea opened on Massachusetts Avenue with deals up to 50 percent off.

Sara komatsu —crimson photographer

‘Beloved’ HBS Professor Christensen Dies at 67 By amanda y. su Crimson Staff Writer ­

At 6 feet 8 inches tall, renowned Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen was a giant both in academia and in stature. Family and friends, however, remember him most of all for his humility, patience, warmth, and eagerness to give his time to others.

Christensen, known as the world’s foremost authority on “disruptive innovation,” died Jan. 23 surrounded by his family after a year-long battle with leukemia. He was 67 years old.

Christensen joined the HBS faculty in 1992. He is survived by his wife Christine, five children — Matthew, Ann, Michael, Spencer, and Catherine — and nine grandchildren.

HBS Dean Nitin Nohria praised Christensen’s influential research on how industries and companies approach management.

“He was a beloved professor and role model whose brilInside this issue

Harvard Today 2

liant teaching and wisdom inspired generations of students and young academics,” Nohria wrote in a statement. “His loss will be felt deeply by many in our community and his legacy will be long-lasting.”

Christensen was one of the most influential business theorists of the last half-century, according to Forbes Magazine. He was twice ranked at the top of the magazine’s Thinkers 50 list.

Much of Christensen’s work centered on identifying factors that determine how businesses innovate in existing and prospective markets. His research also pioneered a theory about how the innovation of affordable products can “disrupt” entire industries. He coined the term “disruptive innovation” to describe this process in his New York Times bestselling, award-winning book “The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail.”

See christensen Page 5

News 3

Editorial 4

Boba tea has popped into Harvard Square with the opening of a new shop and potential for more to come.

Kung Fu Tea — a bubble tea chain with locations in the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Cambodia, Japan, and Canada — opened at 1160 Massachusetts Avenue, filling a space previously occupied by Salt & Olive.

Several students said the store has seen consistently long lines since the semester began.

“I do think that there’s a huge market for bubble tea in general,” Jahnavi S. Rao ’22, a brand ambassador for Kung Fu Tea, said. “I know like, as apparent by the fact that lines for Kung Fu Tea today were like 3040 minutes.”

Denise A. Jillson, the executive director of Harvard Square Business Association, also said Kung Fu Tea has received a

warm reception in Harvard Square.

“We are excited for the arrival of Kung Fu Tea,” she wrote in an emailed statement. “They will be a nice addition to the little yellow building at 1156 Mass.

Ave.” Kung Fu Tea is not the only Harvard Square stop where students can get their bubble tea fix. Boston Tea Stop, located on JFK Street, also serves the drink.

Julia M. Shea ’20 said “the more the merrier, for the most part,” with regard to more boba shops.

“Bubble tea shops seem to be a great gathering place for groups of friends,” she said.

“One thing that I think makes bubble tea places popular is that they’re sort of liked cross-culturally.”

Some students welcomed Kung Fu Tea’s opening, saying

See kung fu Page 5

SEE PAGE 3

Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr spoke at the IOP’s JFK Jr. Forum on Wednesday night for a discussion about the intersection of sports and activism. ryan n. gajarawala—crimson photographer

Sports 6

Today’s Forecast

rainy High: 55 Low: 51

HLS Opens LGBTQ+ Clinic

By Kelsey J. Griffin Crimson Staff Writer ­

Harvard Law School launched its new LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic Tuesday to work directly on legal issues affecting BGLTQ individuals, according to a Law School press release.

The clinic will start its pilot program this semester and offer projects which aim to advance BGLTQ rights at the local and national levels.

Students will advocate for legislative change, work on impact litigation, and assist BGLTQ clients — particularly underrepresented groups and individuals — in need of legal services.

Four students will help staff the clinic this semester, according to its founding director, Alexander L. Chen.

In the release, Harvard Law School Dean John F. Manning ’82 wrote that the clinic was a chance for students to work within “an important and rapidly developing field.”

“The LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic will give our students a wonderful opportunity to address vital legal issues in an important and rapidly developing field, to provide first-rate legal representation to the LGBTQ+ community, to develop practice skills and substantive knowledge at the very highest levels, and to make a positive difference in the world,” Manning wrote.

Chen, the founding director and a graduate of the Law School, will also teach a course on gender identity in the law at HLS, where he will cover topics including sex-segregated spaces, health care access, and non-binary and intersex identities.

Chen co-founded Queer Trans People of Color at HLS while at the Law School and worked as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. He also served as a member of the litigation team in the transgender military ban cases Doe v.

See CLINIC Page 5

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THE HARVARD CRIMSON |

January 30, 2020

Page 2

Harvard Today

For Lunch BBQ Pulled Pork Meatballs in Marinara Sauce Vegan “Meat” Balls

For Dinner Fettuccine with Chicken Fried Calimari Coconut Collard Greens

Today’s Events Winterfest Opening Night Science Center Plaza, 5:00-7:00p.m.

in The Real World

Curious about what all that stuff in the Science Center Plaza is? It’s Winterfest, and you can stop by between 5 and 7pm today to enjoy its opening night celebration. In addition to the activities and ice lane games that will be available every day, there will be free s’mores and glow sticks..

Georgia State Troopers Implicated in Exam Dishonesty A class of 33 Georgia State trooper cadets was dismissed after an investigation found they had received inappropriate help on a radar gun test.

The cadets had graduated from their training academy in 2019 and prior to being dropped from the force had been working at posts throughout Georgia. The investigators found that the cadets used written notes, internet search, and questions sent on messaging applications on the exam.

BGLTQ Welcome Back Event Office of BGLTQ Student Life, 8:00p.m.

Welcome back to campus! The Office of BGLTQ Student Life is holding its first study break of the semester at 8 p.m. in the lower level of Grays Hall. There will be plenty of treats for making ice cream sundaes, and all are welcome.

Buffett to Sell Newspaper Holdings

Many of Harvard’s athletic complexes are located across the river in Allston. ALLISON G. LEE—crimson photographer

Daily Briefing Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan M. Dershowitz testified before the Senate that impeaching President Donald J. Trump is unconstitutional.

Dershowitz’s testimony sparked typically various responses from legal scholars across the country, with some calling it “outstanding” and others “dead wrong.” In other news, Harvard administrators sent an email to University affiliates asking them to take precautions in response to a global coronavirus outbreak.

Warren Buffett’s company Berkshire Hathaway announced that it is selling the dozens of newspapers it holds for $140 million. Buffett has expressed concern in recent years about the profitability of the newspaper business. The 31 papers, which include The Buffalo News and other local newspapers, were sold to Lee Enterprises.

Researchers Work Toward Vaccine for Coronavirus

Development of a coronavirus vaccine is underway, but the vaccine will likely take more than a year to become available for complete testing regulations and become available to the public. Researchers are working to develop a coronavirus vaccine more quickly than SARS and Zika virus vaccines in previous outbreaks.

Around the Ivies ColumbiA Since negotiations started in February 2019, Graduate Workers of Columbia-United Automobile Workers and the Columbia University administration have come to few substantive agreements, the Columbia Spectator reported.

Come April 6, GWC-UAW will be authorized to lead its first strike. With under three months left before the deadline, the negotiations between both parties have made little headway on controversial topics such as a comprehensive graduate student healthcare plan, workplace protections, and a harassment and discrimination policy.

UPENN

Former Immigrations and Customs Enforcement director Thomas Homan spoke yesterday the University of Pennsylvania’s “ICE: Fact vs. Fiction,” an event hosted by the Penn College Republicans, per the Daily Pennsylvanian. The entirety of the event saw protestors chant over Homan’s speech, some calling out “No ICE. No KKK. No fascist USA.” During a round of intense questioning following the hour-long event, Homan frequently defended President Trump’s immigration policies, insisting “Walls work.” Even as Homan left the University’s campus, protestors followed him, booing and stomping their feet.

Cornell

The family of deceased Cornell freshman Antonio Tsailas has filed a lawsuit against Cornell University and the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, according to the Cornell Daily Sun. On Oct. 24, Tsailas was reported missing after attending a “dirty rush” event at a fraternity and found dead in a gorge two days later. The lawsuit names several Cornell students as defendants and seeks compensation for the damage “suffered by their son… prior to his death.”

THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873

The Harvard Crimson Aidan F. Ryan President Shera S. Avi-Yonah Managing Editor Emily M. Lu Business Manager

Associate Managing Editors Alexandra A. Chaidez ’21 Molly C. McCafferty ’21 Associate Business Managers Jonathon V. Garzon ’21 Andrea M. Lamas-Nino ’21 Editorial Chairs Ari E. Benkler ’21 Isaac O. Longobardi ’21

Staff for This Issue Arts Chairs Iris M. Lewis ’21 Allison J. Scharmann ’21

Design Chairs Margot E. Shang ’21 Matthew J. Tyler ’22

FM Chairs Andrew W.D. Aoyama ’21 Nina H. Pasquimi ’21

Multimedia Chairs Ryan N. Gajarawala ’22 Allison G. Lee ’21

Blog Chairs Ariana Chiu ’22 Sahara W. Kirwan ’21

Technology Chairs Alexander K. Chin ’21 William Y. Yao ’21

Sports Chairs William C. Boggs ’22 Joseph W. Minatel ’21

Copyright 2019, The Harvard Crimson (USPS 236-560). No articles, editorials, cartoons or any part thereof appearing in The Crimson may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the President. The Associated Press holds the right to reprint any materials published in The Crimson. The Crimson is a non-profit, independent corporation, founded in 1873 and incorporated in 1967. Second-class postage paid in Boston, Massachusetts. Published Monday through Friday except holidays and during vacations, three times weekly during reading and exam periods by The Harvard Crimson Inc., 14 Plympton St., Cambridge, Mass. 02138 Weather icons made by Freepik, Yannick, Situ Herrera, OCHA, SimpleIcon, Catalin Fertu from flaticon.com is licensed by CC BY 3.0.

Night Editor Devin B. Srivastava ’20

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Assistant Night Editors Luke A. Williams ’22 Joshua C. Fang ’21

Photo Editor Steve S. Li ’23

Story Editors Jonah S. Berger ’21 Alexandra A. Chaidez ’21 Delano R. Franklin ’21 Molly C. McCafferty ’21 Luke W. Vrotsos ’21 Shera S. Avi-Yonah ’21 Samuel W. Zwickel ’21

Editorial Editor Ari E. Benkler ’20 Sports Editor Joseph W. Minatel ’21

Corrections The Harvard Crimson is committed to accuracy in its reporting. Factual errors are corrected promptly on this page. Readers with information about errors are asked to e-mail the managing editor at managingeditor@thecrimson.com.

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THE HARVARD CRIMSON | January 30, 2020

virus From Page 1

Harvard Advises Against Travel to China University was “closely monitoring” the outbreak. Wednesday’s email reiterated that statement and added the travel warnings and other guidance.

The outbreak is believed to have originated in Wuhan, China, but cases have since been confirmed in at least 19 other countries worldwide, including at least five in the United States.

As of Wednesday evening, there are over 7,700 confirmed cases of the virus worldwide, and the death toll has now reached 170.

While there have been no confirmed cases in Massachusetts, state officials have refused to reveal whether they are one of 26 states currently testing possible coronavirus patients.

Garber and Nguyen sought to downplay concerns about risks associated with the virus

for Harvard affiliates, though, writing that the likelihood of infection is “very low.”

Nonetheless, they acknowledged the “anxiety and emotional strain” that the virus

Harvard may need to impose conditions on travelers returning to campus if warranted.

Alan M. Garber ’76 University Provost

might cause, and directed individuals towards Harvard’s mental health resources, including Counseling and Mental Health Services and Harvard’s Employee Assistance Program.

The duo also wrote in the Wednesday email that the University is not conducting screening beyond the examinations currently occuring at Boston’s Logan airport, where the CDC recently began screening all travelers arriving from China.

“That could change, of course, as the situation evolves, and Harvard may need to impose conditions on travelers returning to campus if warranted by changing circumstances,” Garber and Nguyen added.

The administrators also wrote that they will send updates on the virus “periodically” and will “regularly” update HUHS’s website with additional information on the outbreak. fiona.brennan@thecrimson.com nathan.zhao@thecrimson.com

Veggie Grill Metes Out Student Ambassadorships

By Stephanie h. ashkar Crimson Staff Writers

Veggie Grill is a vegetarian restaurant chain based in California, which seeks to bring a new take on comfort food to Harvard Square. Steve s. li—crimson photographer

Experts React to Dershowitz Senate Testimony itz’s opening statements in a piece published to his personal website.

Turley — who testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee and did not recommend impeachment — wrote on his website that he thought Dershowitz’s presentation was “outstanding,” though he disagreed with some aspects of Dershowitz’s theory.

“Alan Dershowitz is hardly someone in need of the defense of others. However, there is a disturbing level of acrimony and personal attacks directed at the retired Harvard professor after he agreed to speak in defense of President Donald Trump,” Turley wrote.

Turley wrote that he is concerned about commentary surrounding Dershowitz, particularly attacks on his character.

He noted that other professors at the Law School did not receive the same criticism for taking high profile cases.

“Commentators attack him for taking famous, high-profile cases and portray him as only motivated by the press,” Turley

After that, I signed a few different contracts about how many times I’d post and different compensation for those posts, as well as different opportunities in which I could give out coupons and actually be paid for my time doing that.

Alexa C. Jordan ’22 Harvard College Student

give out coupons and actually be paid for my time doing that,” Jordan said.

“So there’s a per-hour compensation, but there’s also a general compensation plan for

how many times I’d post,” she added.

Sara B. Solomon ’22 — another Veggie Grill marketing recruit — said she appreciated the position because of the “incredible experience” it provided in social media, business, and interpersonal skills.

“The comments that were flooding my content were very positive, and everyone was so excited to try it,” Solomon said.

“I think it’s been a really big success so far.”

Jordan said she believes in the mission of Veggie Grill and values the convenience, taste, quality, and sustainability of its food offerings.

“I think what’s most important is that you really have to believe in that brand’s mission and purpose and what they stand for,” Jordan added.

“I think that they’re doing something important for Harvard Square.”

Berger wrote in an email that her company facilitated the Veggie Grill marketing initiative last semester but is not currently helping to recruit students.

Veggie Grill did not respond to a request for comment. stephanie.ashkar@thecrimson.com

IOP JFK, Jr. Forum Hosts Golden State Coach Steve Kerr

DERSHOWITZ From Page 1

that he recognized the argument Dershowitz used IN Trump’s defense but disagreed with the assessment that the president did not commit any crimes.

In his opening statement, Dershowitz referenced Bowie’s previous arguments regarding impeachment.

Bowie wrote a December 2018 article in the Harvard Law Review titled “High Crimes Without Law” that crimes must occur for an impeachment to take place.

“Watching CNN last week, I learned that I’m partly responsible for President Trump’s legal defense,” Bowie wrote in his opinion piece. “As an academic, my first reaction was to be grateful that someone had actually read one of my articles. But as a legal academic, my second reaction was confusion. Even if you think impeachment requires a crime, as I do, that belief hardly supports the president’s defense or Mr. Dershowitz’s position.”

George Washington University Professor Jonathan Turley offered a defense of Dereshow-

Harvard Square vegan restaurant Veggie Grill has recruited a group of Harvard “brand ambassadors” to promote its products to College affiliates in anticipation of its fall 2019 opening.

Veggie Grill, a California chain which opened a new location on JFK Street on Oct. 13, offers a variety of meat substitutes and vegetable-based meals.

Former recruit Alexa C. Jordan ’22 said in a Wednesday interview that she first heard about the opportunity when she received a direct message on Instagram from an account called Intern Queen.

Intern Queen — led by entrepreneur Lauren Berger — coordinates internships and “brand ambassador programs,” according to information on its social media accounts.

Jordan said she thought she was invited to apply because she has “a lot of followers” on Instagram.

She received the position after a selection process that she said involved “a very short application” and “a few different calls.”

“After that, I signed a few

different contracts about how many times I’d post and different compensation for those posts, as well as different opportunities in which I could

By Sixiao yu Crimson Staff Writers

wrote. “They do not make the same objections to liberal professors and commentators who routinely take such cases and make media appearances from Laurence Tribe to Neil Katyal to Noah Feldman.”

“They agree with their opinions so their motivations are not questioned,” he added. “The fact is that none of their motivations should be questioned.”

Law School Lecturer Nancy Gertner denounced Dershowitz’s defense of Trump in a piece she wrote for WBUR’s Cognoscenti blog.

In her blog post, she wrote that Dershowitz used to be an “icon for civil libertarians,” but his support for the president compromised that distinction.

“It was not remotely the position of a civil libertarian to claim that a president is more powerful than a king,” Gertner wrote.

Dershowitz did not respond to multiple requests for comment. michelle.kurilla@thecrimson.com ruoqi.zhang@thecrimson.com

Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, discussed the intersection of sports and activism at the Institute of Politics Wednesday night.

In a discussion moderated

by Tommie Shelby, professor of philosophy and African and African American Studies, Kerr said his father was a political science professor at the American University of Beirut until he was shot in 1984 and spoke about the personal experiences that guide his activism.

“Probably my number one social cause is gun safety and gun control. A lot of that has to do with losing my dad to gun violence,” Kerr said.

“And a lot of that has to do with growing up here watching all of the violence, watching all of the school shootings, reading about them and knowing what all of those poor families are dealing with, because I went through the same thing with my family.”

When asked if NBA policies could obstruct players’ freedom of expression, Kerr replied

that the NBA has generally been supportive of its athletes’ activism.

“The NBA has, by far, been the most progressive of the leagues in terms of social activism, in terms of being partners with the players, in terms of trying to actively look for so-

Probably my number one social cause is gun safety and gun control. A lot of that has to do with losing my dad to gun violence. And a lot of that has to do with losing my dad to gun violence.

Steve Kerr Head Coach, Golden State

cial change and racial justice,” he said.

After the discussion, Kerr fielded questions — and several

autograph requests — from students and audience members and spoke about the roles of athletes in political discourse.

“I think they fit in wherever they want. As American citizens, they have the right to speak and say whatever they like. And then there are consequences to that, but they have a big powerful platform and if they decide to use it, that’s well within their rights,” Kerr said.

He was also asked about Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers star who recently died in a helicopter crash in California.

“I saw the images of him with his daughter, and I saw he was so at peace, and he just looked so happy,” Kerr said. “To see that family devastated like that is tough.”

Kerr, who took over as head coach of the Warriors in 2014, also played in the NBA for 15 years, during which he won five championships.

He serves on the board of directors for PeacePlayers International, which promotes peace and cooperation through basketball. sixiao.yu@thecrimson.com

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THE HARVARD CRIMSON | January 30, 2020

Page 4

Editorial Op-Ed

Op-Ed

Participatory Budgeting

By Esteban gutierrez and jing-jing Shen

V

oter apathy has become an epidemic on our campus. In this year’s Undergraduate Council presidential election, Aditya A. Dhar ’21 and Andrew W. Liang ’21, the joke ticket promising to abolish the UC, received the most first-place votes with just over half the student body voting.

A similar joke ticket actually won in 2013, demonstrating the student body’s vote of no confidence in UC leadership.

And back in 2017, literally no one voted in the Quincy House midterm elections.

So how did we get to this point where voters are sectioned off, disenfranchised, apathetic, or disengaged? What can we do to further rejuvenate our systems of governance that too often feel out-of-touch or ineffectual?

To restore enthusiasm for civic engagement, several cities around the world, including Cambridge, have implemented participatory budgeting, a system that entrusts a certain amount of a city’s capital budget for citizens to appropriate for use on projects.

In Cambridge, citizens first propose ideas to various committees in charge of different focus fields, who then develop finalized proposals for the city to review.

Then, the remaining proposals are voted upon by the public, and the six to eight projects with the most votes are funded.

PB reintroduces people to the political process, providing them an opportunity to directly fund a part of the public infrastructure of their city.

PB has worked. Since 2014, Cambridge has successfully executed six PB cycles that have funded projects such as the bike-repair station outside of the

Porter Square T stop. Most recently, in the 2019 PB cycle, Cambridge residents allocated a total of $1,125,000 of capital funding to eight winning proposals, which included planting trees around heat islands, implementing bottle-filling stations in public areas, providing laundry services inside a public school, installing pedestrian-controlled crosswalk lights, and expanding outdoor WiFi services.

Throughout the cycles, citizens have expressed a high amount of interest in participating. Election turnout has increased every single year, and in 2019, over 7,600 Cambridge residents age 12 and older voted.

Harvard should follow Cambridge’s lead and adopt a form of participatory budgeting on campus. This could amplify student perspectives, empower a more representative decision-making process, and boost civic engagement across the university. Harvard certainly has ample financial resources at its disposal to fund such a program, especially one that has the potential to bring together diverse groups of people to engage with our campus.

Like Cambridge and hundreds of other municipalities worldwide, the university could allocate some portion of its budget towards participatory budgeting projects, in which the most popularly-supported proposals, as voted upon by all Harvard affiliates, would receive funding.

From start to finish, the process of acquiring ideas and then developing and voting upon them should be interactive and engaging. Harvard could host “Challenge Days” throughout the semester for University affiliates to come together and propose projects that they

would like to see implemented on campus utilizing Harvard funding — whether they be infrastructural initiatives, such as the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Science Center, or social programs, such as the organization of more mental health awareness panels. These ideas could be collected on a Post-it wall or electronically via an anonymous Google form and corroborated with additional outreach efforts by Harvard PB volunteers.

Harvard PB would be open to student proposals (as opposed to being confined to predetermined initiatives). Harvard affiliates could then be invited to join committees and volunteer to refine these brainstormed ideas into more detailed draft proposals over several weeks. Afterward, at a Harvard PB fair, individuals and teams would present these proposals, emphasizing their rationale and impact on the public. Finally, on a designated voting day, any Harvard affiliate could fill out a ballot containing their votes for the projects that they believe most deserve PB funding.

Implementing PB at Harvard would overcome student apathy for civic engagement at the school level. It would also be a solution to students’ lack of faith in school government and decision making.

More importantly, though, participatory budgeting at Harvard would offer the opportunity for University affiliates to become directly involved and engaged in projects that impact campus life — to help make Harvard a better place for everyone.

—Esteban Gutierrez ’23 lives in Wigglesworth Hall. Jing-Jing Shen ’23 lives in Straus Hall.

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Op-ed

With Space Travel, Fiction is More Exciting than Fact

By Daniel L. Leonard

I

love space, and I’m certainly not alone. From “The Avengers” to “Star Wars,” many of the world’s highest-grossing film franchises feature space travel as a key theme. Humans have been fascinated by the cosmos for millenia, and in the decades since the Moon landing made space travel a reality, our interplanetary wanderlust has reached a fever pitch. So, why have all our post-Apollo space achievements been so underwhelming?

This was one question I pondered during my trip to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Kennedy Space Center last summer, which was funded by a generous Rosenkrantz Travel Grant from Harvard’s History of Science Department.

My trip aligned with the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the 1969 mission that first landed humans on the Moon.

Apollo 11 is a continuous source of pride for this country — it’s featured on almost every list of America’s greatest accomplishments.

However, it’s important to remember that the Moon missions weren’t as popular in the sixties as they are in contemporary culture. The proportion of Americans who considered the Apollo program a worthwhile expense peaked at only 53 percent during Apollo 11 itself. Some of the most outspoken critics were African-American activists, who pointed out the stark contrast between the government’s disregard towards living conditions in black neighborhoods and its willingness to spend billions of dollars to land Whitey on the Moon.

Today, Americans remain critical of funnelling billions into space research without any direct benefit to the public.

NASA has responded by pointing out that many useful technologies have been created as spin-offs from the space program.

But, if we just want consumer technologies, a space agency doesn’t seem like the best destination for our tax dollars.

NASA should be honest with the public and admit that the space program is

not something with direct, tangible benefit to the average person. Rather, the benefit of space travel is ideological. Humans are a naturally curious species; we have an innate desire to expand our horizons. From myths to movies, we tell stories about travelling to strange new lands. Then, when some of us accomplish daring feats of exploration — such as going to the International Space Station or landing on the Moon — we feel collective

So what do we do when our desire to explore the unknown is met with the realization that our exploration has a limit? pride. (I’m aware that, historically, “exploration” has gone hand-in-hand with exploitation, but I’m hopeful that international agreements can protect the natural beauty of our planetary neighbors.

Perhaps this hope is naive...)

Regardless, we need to face the fact that our ability to explore space is limited. If modern physics is correct, then the speed of light is the speed limit imposed on all things in the universe. Massive objects — such as manned rockets — would require near-infinite energy to get anywhere close to the speed of light. So, given the vast emptiness of space, human exploration to planets outside of our solar system is likely to remain an eternal fantasy.

The same is not necessarily true of unmanned exploration. Breakthrough Starshot, a project chaired by Harvard professor Abraham “Avi” Loeb, hopes to accelerate tiny “nanocrafts” equipped with cameras to 20 percent of the speed of light and send them on a mission of around 20 years to take photographs of our nearest star system. While this would be a big achievement for science, it’s unlikely to satisfy our natural wanderlust in the same way that human missions can.

So, what do we do when our desire to

explore the unknown is met with the realization that our exploration has a limit? One answer is to turn to science fiction. If it’s true that the purpose of space travel is to fulfill our desire for awesome new experiences, then can’t sci-fi serve the same purpose? We may never get to fly near a black hole, but we can still feel exhilarated watching Matthew McConaughey do so in “Interstellar.”

And yet, an existence in which our wanderlust is indulged by fiction alone would seem deeply unfulfilling, much like Robert Nozick’s “experience machine.” It seems important that we balance science fiction with science fact and continue our human space program, with Mars as the ideal next step.

This doesn’t mean we must pour billions of dollars into space agencies so they can get us to Mars as quickly as possible. The process is what’s exciting; until the moment a human steps on Mars, the planet is an unexplored world of unlimited possibilities. But when we actually get there, disappointment will set in — the barren, dusty planet can never live up to the idealized vision we’ve had for decades. After Mars, we’ll quickly turn our attention to sending humans to Venus, then Mercury, then the outer planets, and … then what?

Humans prefer the idea of exploration over exploration itself; we’d probably fall into cultural despondency if there was nowhere left for us to explore. So, rather than rush out into the solar system, why don’t we take it slow and enjoy the ride?

A gradual approach to space exploration will allow us to appreciate each step of the process and will keep the space program cheaper and safer overall.

So, I encourage my fellow space enthusiasts — I know there are many at Harvard — to be patient. If it takes 50 more years to reach another planet, that’s okay. In the meantime, we can always watch “Star Trek.”

—Daniel L. Leonard ’21, a Crimson editorial editor, is a joint History of Science and Philosophy concentrator in Winthrop House.

Where Bacow Lives, Slaves Once Did

By Andrew H. mammel

O

n November 21st, President Bacow announced the creation of a new initiative to examine Harvard’s legacy of slavery.

In light of this announcement, I suggest that the first area of research for this new committee be Bacow’s very own residence. Elmwood has a long and fraught history of slavery. If we truly want to understand it, we’ll have to supplement archival study with on-the-ground archeological research.

Built in 1767 by Thomas Oliver, Class of 1753, the Elmwood mansion hasn’t always been the

Not only were the Olivers actively engaged in the buying and selling of human beings in the Caribbean, at least 11 enslaved people actually labored at Elmwood.

President’s residence, nor has it always been called Elmwood. Thomas Oliver was born into a wealthy English merchant family which primarily made its fortune through Caribbean slave labor. The Olivers owned at least 206 enslaved people, who labored at the family’s Friar’s Hill plantation on Antigua.

Not only were the Olivers actively engaged in the buying and selling of human beings in the Caribbean, at least 11 enslaved people actually labored at Elmwood. According to the English loyalist claim Oliver filed to be reimbursed for lost “property” following the American Revolution; their names were: Buff, Gale, Jerry, Jeoffry, Samuel, Mira, Jude, Sarah, Jenny, Violet, and Young Jerry.

Based on evidence from studying similar households, we can infer a few things about the lives of these 11 people — that they worked at Elmwood while the Olivers lived there, they were subject to being leased to other white families, and they were often under surveillance by the Oliver family. Evidence reveals that a Cambridge woman named Mercy Cooke may have been responsible for caring Young Jerry after the Olivers left Cambridge in 1774, but the fate of the other 10 remains uncertain.

The house was later occupied by abolitionist poet James Russell Lowell, Class of 1838, (who was related by marriage to the Olivers and responsible for the home’s name) before being purchased by Harvard professor Arthur Kingsley Porter and later bequeathed to the University. In the 1960s, Harvard renovated the home and it became the permanent residence of the University President beginning in 1971.

From 2000-2001, Alexandra Chan led an archeological excavation of the Royall House (yes, the same Royalls whose seal was removed from the Law School). Similar to the Olivers, the Royalls were an English merchant family who created their wealth through Caribbean plantations and the slave trade. Whereas at least 11 enslaved people labored at Elmwood, at least 60 enslaved people lived at the Royall house. At the dig, Chan and her team retrieved over 65,000 artifacts, including 303 ceramic vessels and 203 glass ones.

Publishing her findings in her book, “Slavery in the Age of Reason,” Chan demystified some questions regarding the site, discussing topics like slave-master relationships, labor conditions, leisure preferences, and other general experiences of Royall house life. She notes that the “slave quarters had not only the most prolific number of

When we talk about the “legacy of slavery,” we can’t forget that we are discussing real people. artifacts and features at the site, but many of the deposits there could be linked to the Royall period of occupation.” Given the strong similarities between the Olivers and the Royalls, a project at Elmwood could yield similar results. Additionally, like the Harvard Yard Archeology Project, an excavation at Elmwood could present field-work opportunities to students.

The architecture of the house today speaks to its origins, as much of its exterior design is reminiscent of its original display of wealth. Given that visual features were effective in legitimizing social status, families like the Olivers designed homes like Elmwood to project their perceived elitism and grandeur. Sited on a knoll which once overlooked the Charles River, the house features a sizeable, central dual-level entryway with imposing neoclassical columns and double chimneys in order to project the power and inaccessibility of the English gentry class. For the Olivers and similar families, the wealth and power requisite to be part of such a class came directly from the Caribbean slave trade. Therefore, despite having gone through several renovations throughout its history, Elmwood stands as a sharp visual reminder of Harvard’s historic ties to slavery. Perhaps what’s beneath it can add even more to what we know.

When we talk about the “legacy of slavery,” we can’t forget that we are discussing real people.

Despite Elmwood’s fascinating journey through time, very little is known about the enslaved people who originally labored there. If President Bacow really wants to examine this University’s complex ties to slavery, might I suggest that he offer his own home for research. Paper-based history can only go so far. Sometimes we must rely on archeology and on-site research to craft the narratives of those who have long been silent in the archives.

—Andrew H. Mammel ’21 is a History concentrator in Dunster House.

Page 5

THE HARVARD CRIMSON | January 30, 2020

Harvard Innovation Lab Names New Exec. Director

By Haemaru Chung Crimson Staff Writer

Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Initiative Director Matthew M. Segneri ’04 will soon succeed Jodi Goldstein as the new executive director of the Harvard Innovation Labs, a University-wide center for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Segneri has served as the director of the the School’s Social Enterprise Initiative for the past five years.

He has also co-led the Business School’s New Venture competition, and served as a judge and advisor to the President’s Innovation Challenge, among other experiences.

Segneri, a first-generation college student, is a graduate of both the College and the Business School.

As he prepares to take the helm of the i-Lab sometime in March, Segneri said he is “really excited to be in service to our student alumni, entrepreneurs, and university, and also the city of Boston and local area.”

Segneri said that he looks forward to building on his pre-

decessors’ work and getting to know the entrepreneurs in the i-Lab better.

Another of his immediate goals is to work with the leadership of all 12 of Harvard’s schools.

“The cross-University nature of the i-lab means that the i-lab has got to be exceptional in what it’s delivering, but it also needs to work well with the leaders of the other schools,” Segneri said.

More than 38,000 students from all 12 Harvard schools have participated in the i-Lab in some capacity, developing 1,600 separate ventures, according to a Business School press release announcing Segneri’s appointment.

In order to further a spirit of teamwork and cross-disciplinary problem solving, Segneri wants to “make all the programming and offerings and venture creation open and accessible.”

Segneri also said that the “sense of community” in the i-Lab was one of the primary reasons he initially became interested in taking on the role of executive director.

He added that he thinks the lab exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary work.

“I definitely think that the i-Lab is when is Harvard is best, so the nature of cross-disciplinary problem solving where you have teams that are bringing together undergrads and grads from across the University to solve problems with their different disciplines is essential,” Segneri said.

Beyond his passion for the job and work experience, Segneri believes that his “deep understanding of the city and region” makes him well-suited for his new position.

He said that he believes the surrounding Allston, Brighton, and greater Boston communities are integral to the i-Lab as well as to Harvard as a whole.

Segneri plans to work “in close partnership” with the i-lab’s “entrepreneurial neighbors” in the area.

“I think there’s a lot of good work to be done and it’s a really exciting moment for the University and the city,” Segneri said.

haemaru.chung@thecrimson.com

The iLabs is Harvard’s startup incubator aimed at promoting team-based entrepreneurial activities across Allston and Greater Boston. Steve S. li—crimson photographer

christensen From Page

Kung fu From Page 1

‘Beloved’ HBS Professor Christensen Dies at 67

Kung Fu Tea Opens Up Shop in Harvard Square

Fellow HBS Professor Rebecca M. Henderson — who first met Christensen roughly 30 years ago when they were HBS graduate students — said Christensen’s seminal work changed the “vocabulary” with which business people discussed innovation.

“So much management theorizing comes and goes.

They’re fads,” Henderson said.

He was way more comfortable in a Burger King or McDonald’s than a nice restaurant. His humility and passion for the low-end was always on display.

Michael B. Horn Friend, Student, Colleague of Professor Christensen

“But disruptive innovation for a very long time pointed to something very important. It’s a term of art.”

Christensen’s groundbreaking theories, best-selling books, and devotion to his teaching at HBS earned him celebrity status and a reputation as a prolific, world-class thinker.

Karen Dillon, a former editor of the Harvard Business Review and co-author of three books with Christensen, said some of her fondest memories were of seeing people excitedly approach him during events they spoke at or attended together — particularly young people asking him to take a selfie.

“At first someone came up with a camera and I sort of edged into the picture and then I realized they wanted to hand me the camera to take a picture of the two of them,” Dillon said, laughing.

Despite Christensen’s fame,

those who knew him said he always remained humble no matter the situation.

Michael B. Horn — who was a student of Christensen’s, co-authored a book with him, and co-founded the Clayton Christensen Institute — said Christensen still drove his “beat up” Honda Accord to work everyday long after he became a “famous guru.”

“He was way more comfortable in a Burger King or McDonald’s than a nice restaurant. His humility and passion for the low-end was always on display,” Horn said.

Those who knew Christensen also remember him as a masterful woodworker, saying he loved building furniture by hand, including some pieces in his office.

“He could lose himself in creating in all kinds of ways, creating ideas, but also creating something that was enduring and lasting, like a beautiful piece of furniture,” Dillon said.

But above all, his students, colleagues, and friends all said

He could lose himself in creating in all kinds of ways, creating ideas, but also creating something that was enduring and lasting, like a beautiful piece of furniture.

Karen Dillon Former Editor, Harvard Business Review

his lasting legacy was the way he built up people around him.

When Christensen’s former Business School student Scott N. Boyle first moved to the Boston area with his family in 2009 after just finishing his Ph.D., his first interaction

with Christensen was at their church.

Though Boyle said he was initially intimidated by the “big fish” in the congregation, Christensen — a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — assuaged those feelings when he introduced himself to Boyle.

Christensen immediately handed Boyle his business card and home phone number.

“Even with as busy as he was with his faculty commitments and his family, he would always find time for people,” Boyle said about Christensen.

If as thought leaders, we could make the world a kinder, better, more human place, then I think, according to him, we would have left our most enduring legacy.

Mark S. Selawry Former Student of Professor Christensen

Mark S. Selawry, a former student of Christensen’s at the Business School, recalls him using the final lecture in a 1998 course to remind his students of their responsibility to others.

Christensen urged those in the class — many of whom were looking to someday become business leaders in their own right — to take not just a professional but also a custodial interest in their employees and colleagues.

“If as thought leaders, we could make the world a kinder, better, more human place, then I think, according to him, we would have left our most enduring legacy,” Selawry said. amanda.su@thecrimson.com

that the store offers reasonable prices and a rewards program.

“Kung Fu Tea, you can have the app, and you can get rewards on it, and, you know, it’s not cash only,” Rao said.

Students may soon be able to choose from a third bubble tea option, according to a Jan. 21 Eater Boston article.

Eater reported that Tiger Sugar — a Taiwanese boba chain with storefronts in New York and around the world — has filed paperwork for locations in Harvard Square and Allston.

Jillson, however, wrote that HSBA is unaware of plans for a Tiger Sugar location in Harvard Square at this time.

“While we don’t have any particulars at this time regarding Tiger Sugar, we look forward to welcoming them to the Square and will reach out to them upon their arrival to as-

sist in any way that we can,” she wrote to the Crimson.

I think it’s something to consider how the landlords and how pricing in the Square is pushing out local businesses.

Eli D. Troen ’20 Harvard College Student

Similarly, Elizabeth Paden, project planner at the Community Development Department for Cambridge, wrote in a statement that she “[does] not have an application or any information on a Tiger Sugar in Harvard Square.”

Tiger Sugar could not be

@crimson_photo

taylor.peterman@thecrimson.com

clinic From Page 1

Harvard Law School Opens LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic Trump and Stockman v. Trump and co-founded the National Trans Bar Association. He noted in an interview Wednesday that the Law School’s creation of the clinic follows a push from students for more BGLTQ opportunities, as well as growing diversity in the student body.

“I think for a long time, students here have felt that the Law School should be providing more curricular opportunities and course offerings for that focus on sort of LGBTQ-related legal issues, especially as more and more people who identify as LGBTQ go to law school,” Chen said.

Chen said that the goal of the clinic was to introduce students to the legal issues facing BGLTQ

individuals and to teach strategies for effective advocacy in underrepresented populations.

Oftentimes, law students can find it overwhelming to be studying law in such an abstract way.

Alexander L. Chen Founding Director, LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic

“The hope is that the students will get an opportunity to get a sense of the issues that particularly affect underrepre-

The sights and sounds of Harvard.

The Crimson

reached for comment.

Despite praising the new boba options, some students said they worried about what the arrival of chain stores like Kung Fu Tea and Tiger Sugar could mean for locally owned businesses like Boston Tea Stop.

Over the past year, Harvard Square has seen the closing of several stores and restaurants, from local bakery Sweet to national chain Au Bon Pain.

“I think it’s something to consider how the landlords and how pricing in the Square is pushing out local businesses, and we’re having what seems to be a larger percentage of chains and high-end retailers,” Eli D. Troen ’20 told the Crimson.

“It’s sort of interesting to think that a third boba tea place might come into the Square,” he added.

sented people within the LGBT community, and the goal of the clinic is to focus on the areas of legal advocacy that really disproportionately affect marginalized and underrepresented individuals within the LGBTQ community,” he said.

The Law School currently offers 44 different legal clinics and practice opportunities for students — more than any other law school in the world.

These clinics aim to translate the lessons learned in classrooms into real legal practice.

“I think that, oftentimes, law students can find it overwhelming to be studying law in such an abstract way,” Chen said. kelsey.griffin@thecrimson.com

Sports

In Other News

Men’s hockey

WOMEN’S Ice HOCKEY

Harvard is preparing for the Beanpot tournament starting Monday, February 3. The Crimson will face Northeastern at TD Garden in its opening game.

Women’s Ice Hockey begins its Beanpot Tournament against Northeastern Tuesday, February 4 at Walter Brown Arena on the Boston University campus.

WOMEN’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball Splits Contests with Dartmouth By ema r. schumer Crimson Staff Writer

Harvard women’s basketball senior guard and co-captain Mackenzie Barta dismissed the idea that her team, which rests heavily on the shoulders of young players, has jitters about the start of Ivy League play.

“We’re just super excited because we know we’re going into Ivy League quite possibly as underdogs,” Barta said. “That’s really exciting for us.”

To kick off Ancient Eight competition, the Crimson fell to Dartmouth in Hanover on Jan. 11.

Harvard returned home to Cambridge on Jan. 25 and redeemed itself in a double digit victory against the Big Green.

Though the Crimson (10-5, 1-1 Ivy) and Dartmouth (7-8, 1-1 Ivy) each came away with one win and one loss, Harvard surpassed the Big Green in aggregate scoring by 14 points by overcoming its last-second loss with a resounding win.

HARVARD 64, DARTMOUTH 49

Freshman guard Lola Mullaney made a statement in her Ivy League competition debut.

Mullaney headlined the Crimson’s victory over Dartmouth, leading both teams in scoring with 18 points.

She shot fifty percent from three point range, knocking down four shots from behind the arc. Though the season is just getting started — much like the rookie’s career itself — Mullaney is averaging 17 points through the first pair of Ancient Eight games.

Back in September, Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith told The Crimson that she saw big things in Mullaney’s future at Harvard.

“She may be the best shooter to ever play here if she continues the way she’s going right now,” Delaney-Smith said.

“She can be as good as she wants to be.”

Mullaney’s teammates have expressed similar sentiments.

“I love Lola because she’s so confident and that confidence never wavers,” Barta praised

BOARDS OUT OF HER MIND Crimson forward Jeannie Boehm had a career night in Harvard’s first matchup with Dartmouth, grabbing an impressive 18 rebounds in the loss Harvard would go on to win the second game. henry zhu—Crimson photographer

her teammate. “I’m very proud of her.”

Helping to bury the Big Green, Barta followed Mullaney’s lead, scoring three triples herself.

Sophomore guard Maggie McCarthy played a balanced game, tallying 13 points, four steals, and four assists.

Senior forward Jeannie Boehm finished just short of a double double, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

HARVARD 62, DARTMOUTH 63

Friday night’s matchup was either team’s game to win.

Though Dartmouth took an early lead, Harvard only trailed the Big Green by four points at half time.

Through a back and forth battle in the second frame, the Crimson’s first Ivy League game of the season came down to the wire.

Harvard led Dartmouth 6258 with just under three min-

utes of game time remaining until Big Green guard Katie Douglas knocked down an uncontested three pointer — her fifth triple of the game — to put her team in a position to take the lead.

In the next two minutes, the Crimson and the Big Green exchanged a series of unsuccessful attempts from the field.

Harvard still led by one point with under 20 seconds to play.

That is until, on the defensive end, Dartmouth’s Douglas

furtively double teamed Barta, ball in her hand at half court, and knocked the ball out of her grip.

Big Green senior guard No. 2 Annie McKenna recovered the ball and finished a fast break layup to send the Crimson back to Cambridge with its first Ivy League loss of the season.

Despite the unpropitious conclusion to the game, Harvard stayed true to its playing of unselfish basketball.

Three Crimson players con-

tributed double digit figures.

Mullaney led Harvard’s scoring effort with 16 points.

Though she only scored six of her points from the three point line — the spot on the court from which she has proved most dominant — Mullaney evinced grit attacking the paint and drawing contact with her opponents.

At the charity stripe, she knocked down four of five shots.

Barta scored 14 points and her co-captain, junior forward Rachel Levy, scored 12 points coming off of the bench.

As the tallest woman on the floor, senior forward Jeannie Boehm took advantage of her height to grab a career-best 18 rebounds in her last first Ivy League season game.

At Lavietes Pavilion this weekend, The Crimson will host perennial Ivy League powerhouses Penn and Princeton.

Last season, Harvard and Penn proved competitive in Ivy

I think every Ivy League game is really important. In any given night, anyone could beat anyone.

Kathey Delaney Smith Women’s Basketball Coach

REDEMPTION ARC Following a heartbreaking loss at the end of its first game against Dartmouth, Harvard bounced back to defeat the Big Green soundly in the rematch. henry zhu—Crimson photographer

League play.

In the teams’ first matchup at Lavietes Pavilion, Harvard prevailed over Penn in double overtime.

Two weeks later, the Crimson suffered a five point loss in overtime on the road to Penn.

At the Ivy League Tournament Semifinals, Penn foiled Harvard’s bid for a spot in the NCAA tournament, routing the Crimson 91-62.

Delaney-Smith said her team no longer ruminates on last season’s disappointing coda. She said her players treat every game seriously.

“I think every Ivy League game is really important,” she said. “In any given night anyone could beat anyone.”

Harvard will host Penn at 7 p.m. on Friday night followed by Princeton on Saturday at 5 p.m. ema.schumer@thecrimson.com