Harvard

The Globe reports.

The Crimson reports on Justin Cosby's possible connection to marijuana sales at Harvard.

UPDATE: The man, Justin Cosby of Somerville, died.

The Crimson reports a man was shot around 5 p.m. in the entrance of Kirkland House on Dunster Street; not a Harvard student; was conscious, shot in the lower torso and was likely targeted.

Multiple suspects sought.

6:59 p.m.: HUPD believes assailants left the area & says that it's safe to resume normal activities

See Harvard Emergency Communications, which took 47 minutes to notify students.

Harvard statement at 7:19:

Late this afternoon Harvard University Police received a report of a shooting at Kirkland House, an undergraduate residence at Harvard. All indications thus far are that the incident was isolated and that the suspects have fled the area. Harvard, Cambridge, and state police have been on the scene and are interviewing potential witnesses. The victim has been taken to the hospital. The identity of the victim is not yet known. Residents of Kirkland House have been asked to remain there as police continue to speak with students and others. Otherwise, police have indicated that students and other members of the community are free to resume their normal activity. Counseling staff at the College are on hand to address any concerns students might have

Harry Mattison reports on the U's purchase of the Supply New England property between Seattle and Windom Streets and its vow not to eat a single more bite, at least for the next year.

The Crimson reports on meetings between a Harvard dean and undergraduates to discuss $77 million in cuts the university is making to tighten its budgets. While some students expressed concern about issues such as the elimination of late-night shuttle-bus service, athletes zeroed in on plans to eliminate hot breakfasts on weekday mornings, which Harvard says will save $900,000 a year:

... During the Lamont Cafe session, members of the Men's Varsity Swimming and Diving Team said the elimination of hot breakfast would take away a protein- and calorie-filled meal they and other athletes need after morning practices. ...

Everything from the elimination of bonuses to the end of hot egg dishes at dorm dining rooms during the week.

Some field research into the question.

Via Paul Levy, an MIT alum now working at a Harvard-affiliated institution.

Read the Globe today and you'd get the impression that Allston is a place where decent people fear to tread, lest they be raked to bits by roving gangs of thugs.

Reporter Tracy Jan is attempting to compare how the University of Pennsylvania revitalized some neighborhood through development with how Harvard is digging big holes in the ground in Allston, which is fine as far as it goes. No need to make Allston sound like the Murder Capital of Massachusetts, when it isn't. Plus, as the Outraged Liberal notes, the article glosses over the fact that while UPenn cleaned up a hellhole not of its own making, many of Allston's problems are due to the way Harvard (secretly) moved in and created a monumental expanse of nothingness:

Let's carefully note the "blight" she refers to is caused by "university-owned lots and storefronts that have sat vacant for years."

In other words, Harvard is committed to trying to clean up a mess it has created. A rather big difference, don't you think?

Yesterday, Harvard President Faust joined leaders of The University of Massachusetts and Boston city leaders to cut a ribbon and mark the official opening of UMass Boston's Venture Development Center. The state-of-the-art R&D facility and business incubator, already home to four startups, signals the Dorchester extension of the innovation, research, and development that occurs along the Red Line. Also participating were Chancellor J. Keith Motley, University of Massachusetts, Boston, President Jack Wilson, University of Massachusetts, and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

The Boston Public Health Commission made the announcement tonight:

As a precautionary measure, the Public Health Commission has closed the Harvard Dental Center until the extent of the illness can be determined. Public health officials also have requested the cancellation of classes for all third- and fourth-year and post-doctoral dental students. Those students, their faculty, and staff are urged to stay at home, pending the results of the ongoing investigation. University officials are fully cooperating with state and local health investigators.

Separately, the university announced that it would take the additional step of closing both the dental school and the dental clinic on Friday, May 1, as a precaution.

People who are experiencing symptoms of possible influenza, including sudden fever, cough, muscle aches, and sore throat should contact their healthcare provider for additional guidance.

The Crimson reports on preparations for faculty buyout offers at Harvard.

Today's shocker: Faculty Club opens doors to students:

Women gained entry to the Faculty Club's main dining rooms in 1968. And now, students, too, will join the ranks of Club diners.

A nearby resident says the destruction of the old WGBH building unleashed thousands of rats:

... So here is the fun part. What does the City of Boston do? They send out a fleet of City Inspectors to hand out fines and demands to hire Professional Rat Catchers to homeowners. ...

The Crimson interviews Harvard students about the potential death of an American newspaper and finds most could care less:

... Harvard students, many of whom hail from outside the Boston area, largely expressed apathy at the prospect of losing the paper. ...

No more printed course catalogs at Harvard.

This Is Harvard, by an Allstonian who's begun chronicling what happens to a neighborhood full of empty buildings - such as the arrival of squatters at the abandoned Kmart.

Via Harry Mattison.

Harvard University made headlines recently when they admitted they were slowing down their massive Allston redevelopment plan because of the slowing economy. Now residents are worried the place will be left barren and blighted for years. Meanwhile residents near BC are unhappy with plans the college has to build new dorms and other buildings on the former Archdiocesan Campus in Brighton.

By investing the money it saves on not paying its Boston water bills on time.

The Crimson reports that when the night was done at a Chinese Students Association "graffiti-themed party" Friday night, organizers were outraged to discover that some of the wall messages were anti-Chinese.

John reports having a healthy heaping helping of BITTER with my coffee this morning as he sits at his desk at Harvard, which, along with MIT, refuses to admit we're in the middle of a nor'easter (even the Boston Athenaeum is closed for the day, guys).

Fabulously Out There takes some East Boston snow photos, including some proving that Yorkies don't like the snow. Kelly, however, provides the proof that largers breeds do like the snow.

The Crimson reports one biology professor is quitting Harvard - and another one is thinking of doing so - because of the recently announced slowdown in plans for a new science center in Allston.

The Crimson reports Menino grabbed Dean Wormer in a chokehold sent a strongly worded letter to Harvard President Drew Faust demanding answers to how Harvard is going to clean up the mess he says it's leaving in Allston:

The letter called for Harvard to provide details within roughly two weeks about the budgetary quandary that forced the construction slowdown, as well as an outline of the slowdown’s impact on contracted workers. Menino also wrote that within 30 days, Harvard should provide a community impacts mitigation plan for the construction slowdown, as well as a proposed schedule for the development of the Institutional Master Plan for the Allston campus that identifies a "transformative project for the community."

If Harvard isn't going to put up its new Allston buildings right away, it should lease out the old buildings rather than letting them sit vacant, according to the Allston/Brighton Neighborhood Assembly:

At 5:30pm, one hour prior to the Harvard-Allston Task Force meeting—where chief operating officer of the Allston Development Group, Christopher Gordon, and Harvard's other mouthpieces attempted to defend their claim of being broke to a roomful of irate and boisterous neighbors—members of ABNA hung three banners on three of Harvard’s many vacant properties along Western Ave. ABNA, like the rest of the neighborhood, believes that these structures can and should be leased or sold to businesses that are useful and beneficial to the community—immediately.

On the abandoned Charlesbank Cleaners, 269 Western Ave, folks hung a banner that read, (in English and Spanish) "Harvard occupied waste of space." Off of the old Citgo station at the corner of Western and North Harvard, a banner read, "Why am I Vacant? Ask Harvard: 617 469 6688," and off the gates of the Science Complex construction site itself, a banner read, "28.7 Billion is not broke. Finish what you started."

Unfortunately for the resistance fighters, the wind quickly took the signs down, but not before they got photos.

Harvard spends years secretly buying up Allston, clears land and now has a bunch of empty land and storefronts just sitting there. Harry Mattison reports on the salary of the guy in charge of it all.

The Crimson reports that one way academic departments are trying to cut costs is to eliminate catered meals at department meetings. In response, the Harvard dining-services division that caters many of these meals has begun slashing the prices it charges departments:

... Faculty members were advised in an e-mail to bring their own lunch, "but some people didn't read to the bottom of the e-mail," she said. Those who did not pack a lunch found themselves sharing a banana with their colleagues, Cohen said. ...

Right on Plympton Street on Saturday night, the Crimson reports, adding the alleged perp with a "realistic-looking" BB gun was taken down in front of the Au Bon Pain not long after.