Occupy Harvard: Nation's most exclusive tent city

COMMENTARY. The Occupy Wall Street movement, which has spread from one tent city to another across this country, has finally arrived at Harvard University.

And because this is Harvard, the encampment has turned into the most exclusive Occupy protest in the nation. Students have pitched tents in the university's Harvard Yard, but you can't join the protest unless you possess a Harvard ID card.

The occupiers had no intention of turning Occupy Harvard into a clubby experience. Harvard's administration, however, decided to post police at the entrances with instructions to keep all outsiders away.

One protestor, who is a junior, lamented upon the heightened security to a reporter for the Harvard Crimson: "I think it's absurd. Do we really need eight guards per gate?"

In a statement released Friday by Occupy Harvard, the group complained that the lockdown has "reinforced the institutional exclusivity and elitism that Occupy Harvard seeks to change."

University for the 1 percent

Of course, maintaining its exclusivity is what Harvard does instinctively, which is why it's perched at the top of the academic heap -- and, not to put too fine a point on it, why many of the Occupy students are in Cambridge in the first place. This past year, for instance, Harvard rejected about 94% of its applicants and some day the rejection rate will probably reach 99%.

It certainly is ironic that the Occupy movement has reached Harvard, considering that this is the school that produces many of the nation's one percenters. And that's never going to change. To protect its elite status, Harvard will continue to educate the students of the nation's wealthiest families, which it has been doing for centuries.

It's not the multimillionaires' kids, but the teenagers from poor families who tremendously benefit from a Harvard education. Research has resoundingly shown that. And yet, according to federal statistics, only 15% of Harvard students are low income.

If you are going to open up Harvard's gates, these are the people you should be letting in.

[tsigili]

May they enjoy great frequency of frostbite, this winter.

[revitaderm]

Is it for real, I mean I have read about this but I cant believe it. Revita Derm - http://revita-derm.net/

[tsigili]

That's such a joke.

[cmeuth]

People get mugged in and around Harvard yard all the time, plus Harvard yard, the location the occupiers have chosen, is in the center of all the freshmen housing. Harvard has reached out to the occupiers and respects them, but also recognizes that it needs to protect the safety of its youngest members of the community and the occupiers themselves, who are living unprotected in tents. The students' safety comes first.

Personally, I disagree wholeheartedly with what the students are doing and their shallow, unsupported claims. Right now, they are hurting the main street businesses that rely on the tourism Harvard attracts. OccupyHarvard is looking to win students' approval, and this was the next move after their failed walkout of an intro to economics class. This is not the way to win anyone's approval, especially the inconvenienced students.

[harvardclassof2015]

********, over 60% of harvard students are on financial aid, and Harvard has strived for years to make sure that attendance is solely merit-based, and that no person cannot attend based on cost. And you know what, Harvard Yard is private Harvard property. Harvard can do as it very well pleases, and I find the entire OccupyHarvard protest to be misguided.

[DocD--2008]

I bet you aren't one on financial aid.... and you are obviously too immature to even have a clue yet.

[respondinghere]

Wait what does "not the multimillionaires' kids, but the teenagers from poor families who tremendously benefit from a Harvard education. Research has resoundingly shown that" even mean? What research?? You can't just say research has shown something without quoting the research, right? And how is that even a thing that can be "researched" or "proven," let alone done so conclusively? That's a really lazy thing to do?

[Dthunderchicken]

BANKS GOT BAILED OUT

WE GO SOLD OU... Wait that's not right.

BANKS GO BAILED OUT

WE GOT BOUGHT OUT YAH!!!

[madmilker57]

did you know the first Chairman for the Federal Reserve graduated from Harvard. He set down in that chair in 1914 looking at America drowning in $2.9 billion of debt.

did you know in 2006 another Harvard graduate set down in that chair and he was looking at a $8.6 billion American debt...

and today that same fellow is sitting in that chair and America's debt has mushroomed to almost $15 trillion....

this O'fart ain't got but a third grade education but I truly believe those boys and girls that go to Harvard ain't taught much when it comes to a budget and the difference between spend and save.

dang! sitting around in tents doing nothing...

that's almost like those turnips on Jenkins Hill ....

they well known when it come to doing NOTHING....

even that fellow over in that big white house....

but I think he's done more for all those nice people in the 57th state than he's done for anyone in Ohio and Virgina...

Did you know Retail makes NOTHING....

which with the American consumer sending all thos George Washington's to a foreign land for so-call cheap stuff...

the government has to make more and more DEBT by selling bonds in order to get all those George Washington's back...

You young people had better wake up....

America is over $57 trillion in debt and it didn't get there by people using common sense. If the American people don't wake-up to that fact within another twenty years they will witness Lady Liberty kneeling to her knees in the Hudson and someone in Tiananmen Square holding that tablet from under her left arm celebrating what is written upon it.

[Jhihmoac]

I don't know...Aside from Antarctica, I kind of figured Harvard would be the very last place there'd be an "Occupy" demonstration...