Lowell House News Volume 32, Issue 24 Monday, March 16 * CIAO! Italian Table, 6:00-7:00pm, Dining Hall * HIGH TABLE, Masters' Residence 6:00pm, Dining Hall 6:30pm (Sorry, no InterHouse this evening) Tuesday, March 17 * Senior Singles Lottery, 4:00pm, SCR Wednesday, March 18 * UHS counselor drop-in hours, 5:00-7:00pm, N-14 * Physics table, 9:00-10:00pm, Dining Hall Thursday, March 19 * FRESHMAN ASSIGNMENT DAY!! * You are warmly invited to a special Tea welcoming the Freshmen, 5:00pm, Masters' Residence Friday, March 20 *Dining Hall closes after dinner, re-opens on March 29th for dinner. * Watercolor Painting Class, 4:00-6:00pm, Art Room *** SPRING RECESS March 21 – 29 *** Monday, March 30 * CIAO! Italian Table, 6:00-7:00pm, Dining Hall Tuesday, March 31 * Room Applications available in the House Office Wednesday, April 1 * Housing Office hours 10:00am-noon, A-22 * UHS counselor drop-in hours, 5:00-7:00pm, N-14 * Physics table, 9:00-10:00pm, Dining Hall Thursday, April 2 * You are warmly invited to Tea, 5:00pm, Masters' Residence * Pre-Law General Meeting - MANDATORY for Fall 2009 Applicants, 7:30-8:30 pm, SCR Friday, April 3 * Housing office hours, 3:00-5:00pm, A-22 * Watercolor Painting Class, 4:00-6:00pm, Art Room Sunday, April 5 * Walk For Change - fundraiser for Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, 10:00 am, Canal Park, CambridgeSide Galleria * Pre-med Office Hours, 6:00-8:00 pm, Dining Hall -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM THE RESIDENT DEAN * Ryan Spoering, Allston Burr Resident Dean Room A-22, 5-2283 (lo-abrd@fas.harvard.edu) As your Resident Dean, I am here to help you with all kinds of academic matters, and to connect you to Harvard's many resources. Please come to me with questions and concerns of any kind--in addition to my advising and administrative roles, I also help Lowell House students manage personal struggles, illness and anything else you may encounter on your way to your degree. - FRESHMAN WELCOME. Be sure to come welcome next year's sophomores this week! They will be finding out their housing assignments Thursday morning, and they love meeting upperclassmen in front of Annenberg and at Tea that afternoon at 5:00pm. See you all there! - BUREAU OF STUDY COUNSEL. The BSC offers a variety of services geared toward a healthy academic and personal life, including counseling services, a reading strategies course, peer tutors, workshops on rooming and blocking, writing, creativity, time management... The services that they provide are diverse and impressive, and a list can be found at their website: http://bsc.harvard.edu. - OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK. I will have walk-in office hours this week from 11:00am-noon Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs. For other times, please contact Kit in the House Office (A-22, 5-2283, lowell@fas) to set up an appointment with me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ASK BETH, the HOUSE ADMINISTRATOR * Beth Terry, A-22, 5-2283 (lo-admin@fas.harvard.edu Dear Beth, After reading the House Newsletter, I admit I am a bit curious about how the housing lottery for next year works and when it will be. As a sophomore, I have no idea what to expect. Signed, Uninitiate Underclassman Dear Uninitiate, The key point to understand as you enter into the lottery season is Reciprocity: our housing practices could best be described by the philosophy of, oh, 'mutual benefit'. You do something for me, I do something for you. However, lest you get overly excited by your Beth-swag ambitions here, be assured that I have institutionalized practices which govern the process. These practices create an outcome that is (at least in MY mind) mutually beneficial. In early April we will ask you to apply with your preferred rooming group *before* we release lists of suites available for lottery. What does this mean? I hear you cry. This is important. This means that you cannot change or break down your group later in the process based on your opinion of the real estate listed. (In other words, choose your peeps for keeps) Example: if you desire to live with your three closest friends, we will guarantee that situation. This guarantee represents my end of the obligation. In exchange for my administrative beneficence, you and all your peers will accept choosing from quads pre- selected by me (which satisfies *your* end of the obligation). The equation is so simple. So elegant. So gratifying. However, much like String Theory, the elegance of our housing universe belies the complexities within: there is a multiplicity of statuses available to your student housing existence. Do you want to exercise senior status early? Roommate studying abroad? In residence for only for a semester? Are you a mixed group with more juniors than seniors? Do you fear 'floating'? Yes, yes, these are the deeper questions of housing life. To probe these mysteries further you will need to make contact with me, the entity known as Beth, the House Administrator. I live in the pink solar system of A-22, generally during business hours. I will do my best to guide you through the ether of confusion to new dimensions of domestic bliss, all within the parameters of your very own College karma. ~Beth ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM THE PRE-LAW COMMITTEE Website: http://lowell.harvard.edu/advising/pre-law Pre-Law Committee (LoHoLaw@fas.harvard.edu) * Jean Han (jeanhan@fas.harvard.edu) * Sandy Alexander (sandy_alexander@post.harvard.edu) * Karl Procaccini (karlprocaccini@gmail.com) ***Thursday, April 2, 7:30pm, SCR: Mandatory pre-law meeting for students intending to apply to law school this fall*** Mark your calendars for this MANDATORY meeting for all students planning to apply to law school this fall. We will explain the admissions process, discuss important deadlines, and answer questions. Other students planning to apply in future years are also welcome to attend. ***Tuesday, April 7: Trip to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court*** You are invited to spend the day with the Lowell House Pre-Law Committee at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the highest court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts). We will be observing oral arguments in the morning, taking a tour of the courthouse, eating lunch in Quincy Market, and meeting with Chief Justice Margaret Marshall. Chief Justice Marshall is the author of many important decisions including the pathbreaking opinion in Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, which found a constitutional right to same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. This is a great opportunity to see a state supreme court in action and to meet with a preeminent jurist. We will leave Lowell House at approximately 8:00am and return at approximately 5:00pm. All members of the Lowell House Community are invited. Space on this trip is extremely limited, so email karlprocaccini@gmail.com to reserve your spot now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM THE FELLOWSHIPS TUTORS * Josh Goldman (jdgoldm@fas.harvard.edu) * Courtney Peterson (cmpeters@fas.harvard.edu) * Susanna Mierau (susanna_mierau@post.harvard.edu) * website: http://lowell.harvard.edu/fellowships LOWELL FELLOWSHIPS MAILING LIST Want to know what fellowships are out there? Want to know about them before the deadlines appear in the newsletter? Want more information on the fellowships listed below? Subscribe to the fellowships mailing list to get notices about once every week or two of upcoming deadlines and things to think about (relevant for sophomores, juniors, and seniors). To subscribe, go to http://lists.hcs.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/lowell-fellowships . OFFICE HOURS We hold office hours on Sunday evenings in the dining hall, during which we'd be happy to discuss your plans and look over your application essays. To visit us during office hours, you need to sign up at least one day in advance on the sign-up sheet next to the fellowships bulletin board, right next to the entrance to the JCR. If you have specific questions, please email us at any time. * * * UPCOMING FELLOWSHIPS * * * FOR SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR UNDERCLASSMEN - 16 March: Kissel Grants for Practical Ethics. Summer funding for research and writing that makes contributions to the understanding of practical ethics. - 01 April: Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) grants. Funds summer research supervised by a Harvard faculty member. - 02 April: Dean's Summer Research Award. Replaces the summer savings requirement for senior thesis writers on financial aid. FOR PUBLIC SERVICE - 16 March: Summer public service grants (Lee/Lamont/Ho/Ritland etc.). Summer grants of $700-$3500 for public service. - 16 March: Steiner Community Service Grants. $1600 for summer community service projects OTHER - 30 March: Hauser Human Rights Research Fellowship. $25,000 for 10 months of independent study and program work at Harvard (for graduating seniors). FOR MORE INFORMATION: See the Lowell House fellowships website. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM YOUR PRE-MED ADVISING TUTORS * Ilya Leskov (chair), Marlys Fassett, Benjamin Rapoport, Mary Alexander ** lohomed@fas.harvard.edu. Future Doctors! (2009-2010 Med School applicants and alumni applicants in particular...) If you missed the intro meeting, please: **Come see us at office hours, in the dining hall every Sunday night, 6-8 p.m. **Email lohomed@fas to declare your intent to apply so you can be added to our applicant-specific email list. Workshops for 2009-2010 Medicine Applicants Sundays, 7:00-8:00pm in the Dining Hall with Marlys April 5 Evaluating Your Readiness: applicant case studies April 12 Writing the Medical Application Essay April 19 Choosing Medical Schools May TBD AMCAS application FAQs Forms and Advisor Assignments are always available on our webpage: http://www.lowell.harvard.edu/advising/pre-med.php ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IM SPORTS * HoCo IMs Reps Katrina Welch (kwelch@fas), Joe Lin (jalin@fas), and Brian Kaufman (bkaufman@fas) Sign up for Spring IM sports (by March 16th)!!!: Men's Crew A and B - sign up with Chris Lewis: cnlewis@fas Women's Crew A and B - sign up with Laura Lacombe: llacombe@fas Softball - 4 game season Volleyball A - 4 game season Volleyball B - 4 game season Flag Football - single elimination tournament Soccer - single elimination tournament (possibly double elimination) Ultimate Frisbee - tournament likely Tennis - single elimination tournament Swim Meet River Run - one day event Kickball - one day event Fencing Meet - one day event Inner-tube Water Polo - possible sport, one day event Capture the Flag – stay tuned! If you are interested in any/multiple sports for this spring...please email either Joe Lin: jalin@fas, Brian Kaufman: bkaufman@fas, or me (Katrina Welch): kwelch@fas by Monday, March 16th with your name and email (and if you would like to be a captain). Info is up on the IM board in the Dhall and we will also be tabling at dinner for sign-ups. Lots of competitive spirit from your IM reps! ~Katrina, Brian, and Joe ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM YOUR CAREER AND PRE-BUSINESS ADVISING TUTORS * Russell Miles - Resident Tutor (rmiles@oxfamamerica.org, 3-2990) * Christopher Laconi - Non-Resident Tutor (claconi@mba2009.hbs.edu) Thinking about what you will do after Harvard? It's never too early or too late to start!! Who can help you with this? One great place to look for resources and information is the Office of Career Services http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students.htm. The website is fabulous with a lot of great information. The OCS office is just around the corner from Lowell House at 54 Dunster Street and there are many people there who are available to help with all of your specific needs. OCS also has a very full program of events throughout the year - from career fairs to resume clinics, interview workshops and meet-the-recruiter nights. Check out the website regularly for the latest event calendar. The General Career Adviser at Lowell, Russell Miles, is here to help you think through that decision and work out what you really want out of life and your career! There are so many interesting and valuable options available to you which are worth exploring. Russell can be contacted on rmiles@oxfamamerica.org or call 617-493-2990 to make an appointment. Or you can find in him J-11. Drop in times are: Weekdays 6:00pm - 10:00pm and Weekends 10:00am - 10:00pm. Christopher Laconi is a Non-Resident Tutor from the Harvard Business School and he can specifically help on Pre-Business discussions and exploring careers in banking and consulting. He may be reached at claconi@mba2009.hbs.edu or call 207-344-8923 for appointments. In addition to helping you think through your career decisions, Chris and Russell can also help get you on the path to further resources and can also help you finalize your resume and prepare for interviews. Russell is creating an e-mail list in order to send out messages about key dates and events. Please contact him if you are interested to have your name on this mailing list - rmiles@oxfamamerica.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM YOUR RESIDENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT/ INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISER * Russell Miles (rmiles@oxfamamerica.org, 3-2990) Interested in international relations, international aid and development? Want to discuss international issues raised in class? Need help thinking about research paper topics? Want to meet and talk with people working in the development or humanitarian sector? Interested in an international career in public service, government or private sector, or simply wanting to travel to other regions of the world? E-mail me or come and talk with me about all these questions. If you would like to make an appointment to talk for a longer period, I am available for meetings on Saturday afternoons from 2.00pm-5.00pm. We will meet in the SCR. I am creating an e-mail list in order to send out messages about key dates and events related to international development and international relations. Please contact me if you are interested to have your name on this mailing list - rmiles@oxfamamerica.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS * Walk for Change - A Fundraiser for the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Join the Lowell House Team and the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response for a walk against sexual violence. On Sunday April 5 Registration starts at 10am, walk starts at 11am Start/Finish at Canal Park, CambridgeSide Galleria. 5K loop along the Boston and Cambridge sides of the Charles River. * ARTS ADMINISTRATION LECTURE Michael M. Kaiser, the President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will have a conversation with Frederic Wilson, the Curator of Harvard Theatre Collection, on the topic of “Arts Administration in Challenging Times.” Wednesday, March 18, 3:00pm New College Theatre Free! * ANTHROPOLOGY LECTURE “Itza and Kowoj: Conflicts and Factions in the Last Maya Kingdom” By Prudence Rice, Prof of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University Thursday 19 March, 5:30pm, Yenching Institute, 2 Divinity Avenue with a reception to follow in the Peabody Museum