Dolphins With Guns: How Jennifer Coolidge Earned Her Pudding Pot
Hasty Pudding’s Woman of the Year was paraded through Harvard Square by day and roasted by night
On February 4th, the Hasty Pudding Vice President and President went in for a kiss atop a black Bentley. That is, two costumed student actresses both planted a smooch on each of actress Jennifer Coolidge’s cheeks at the same time during a jubilant parade down Massachusetts Avenue, and the crowded street erupted in great fanfare. […]
February Rundown
Post-New Years blues? Fear not, February’s not all bad. Read the rundown.
Every Friday 12-6pm and Sunday 10am-3pm: Indulge in the Charles Square Farmers’ Market! Vendors from Massachusetts and New Hampshire farms offer organic produce, herbs, cheese, bread, pastries, jam, and fruit. Wednesday, February 9th: Looking for a reason to Keep Your Head Up? Andy Grammer is performing at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Friday, February 11th: […]
Finding True Love at Harvard
An investigation into the romantic lives of Harvard athletes
True love. Whether or not we see ourselves as romantic types, it’s worth thinking about. Why? Well Valentine’s Day is here, but regardless, love just might be the most powerful force in our lives. Take beauty for example. Beauty brings untold opportunity and prestige. Yet gorgeous people are utterly devastated, left bitter by failing to […]
Op-Ed: A Bamboozling Booster Mandate
The University’s booster mandate fails to answer a number of questions
In mid-December I received an email from Harvard that I did not expect. After several months of encouraging students to receive Covid-19 boosters, Harvard was making boosters mandatory. In the email, Harvard told students to “not call or email Harvard University Health Services with questions,” but didn’t say where students should direct their questions and […]
To Date or Not to Date
An investigation into the romantic lives of Harvard athletes
Harvard student athletes often claim that playing a sport is like having a full-time job. Between lifts, practices, and team meetings, players on the same team spend countless hours together every week. This time commitment doubtlessly conduces unity and camaraderie between athletes—but does it inhibit them from exploring their romantic side? Is it better for […]
The Indy’s V-Day Playlist
The world’s best music for the world’s worst holiday
Love is everlasting joy and never-ending pain and everything in between. Love is kindness and cruelty, jealousy and faith. Love has raised and ruined civilizations (citation needed, probably). It’s no wonder they dedicated a holiday to it. Specially curated by the Independent, this playlist will be your partner if you don’t have one and your […]
Your Love Poetry Stinks
An English Literature PhD reviews students’ love poems
Dr. Julia P. Kielstra, D.Phil., Oxon., has degrees in English Literature from Bryn Mawr and Oxford and years of experience evaluating student writing for Cambridge International Examinations. I showed her the best—or worst—love poetry Harvard students could produce. The following responses are more or less verbatim, and completely unscripted. (She also happens to be my […]
Your Favorite Flower Shop in Cambridge
At least Valentine’s Day gives us flowers
In 21st century America, anything and everything is subject to commercialization—Christmas, the Superbowl, Groundhog Day. Even our love and affection is tagged with a price. Valentine’s Day is simply another indicator of our country’s celebration of capitalism. We buy chocolate boxes filled with an assortment of treats, cheesy pop-up cards, stuffed animals that say “I […]
Friends to Lovers? Lovers to Friends?
Dr. Holly Parker explains love and friendship
What’s the difference between friendship and romance? Should your partner also be your best friend? Can you be friends with your ex? We spoke with Dr. Love—er, Dr. Holly Parker—to find out. Dr. Parker isn’t just a self-professed “love expert” who writes quizzes for Cosmopolitan. She has a Harvard Ph.D. in experimental psychopathology, is a […]
Hasty Pudding’s (Wo)men of the Year
The memorable in the absurd
“What the hell is going on?” Jason Bateman asked, knowing full well that he was flown first-class to Cambridge in order to receive a metal pot from a few college kids in drag. The Hasty Pudding Institute—home to Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the Hasty Pudding Club, and the A Capella group the Krokodiloes— bestows two awards […]
Lessons of Love
Three Harvard couples spill all the details.
Contrary to what some might expect, dating life actually does exist at Harvard. In fact, 38% of students surveyed by the Independent are currently in a relationship, and 55% wish they were in one. We then went directly to the source: couples who have been going strong since the first days of freshman year reflect […]
The Rockiest Bottom
Heartbreak at Harvard: have we no dignity?
Yes, it’s almost Valentine’s day, and yes, this is the Love issue. However, instead of cheerleading red roses and corny couples, this article presents the short end of that stick. Now more than ever, we should remember that everybody eventually hits their romantic “rock bottom.” Yet some hit it harder than others—it’s curious that a […]