William T. McCrady '87, a singer with the Krokodiloes who spends 10 hours a week on dorm crew, says, "I'm the type of person who, if I didn't have something to do, wouldn't be studying anyway. Procrastination has been replaced by work and sleep has become the last priority."
No Free Time
The biggest problem with spending 10 hours a week on dorm crew as well as having a time consuming position in the Harvard National Model United Nations is having "no free time to sit down and read a newspaper," says Ellen M. Knickle '87, director of delegate services for HNMUN. "I have no idea what's going on in the real world and I'm a gov major--I'm supposed to know!"
While Larisa Wright '87, the secretary general of HNMUN, holds down an off-campus job, none of her three undersecretary generals are employed.
There are 11 students on The Independent's last executive board. Former president David E. Yarowsky '87, who is a teaching fellow, and just two others work elsewhere as well.
Some students who feel they are particularly lucky are able to combine money-making with worthwhile activity. The two most common examples of this approach are Harvard Student Agencies, Inc. (HSA), a student-run business that pays wages, and Phillips Brooks House, which offers work-study pay to some students doing good in the surrounding community.
One such example is Andrea Silbert '86, president of Harvard Student Agencies, Inc.
"I've gained important business experience and gotten paid for it. Most people here are on some sort of financial aid so they know the importance of earning tuition," HSA President Andrea Silbert '86 says. "It's a real go-getter atmosphere. Learning to deal with other people professionally and handle various crises has given me a taste of the real world."
About 1300 students work for HSA, making it the third largest employer on campus. Silbert, who is also a varsity football cheerleader, says that HSA managers understand the press of critical dates and time periods in their employees' lives because they themselves are used to having a huge extracurricular commitment.
Phillips Brooks House Association (PBH) is another organization in which students are given the opportunity to combine their interests with the need to pay expenses. Several years ago, PBH received permission from the University to use funds from the College Work-Study Program for socially useful tasks.
Graduate Secretary of PBH Greg A. Johnson '72 says students are hired for menial and clerical duties around the House and as counselors in summer camps and tutors in after-school programs such as Keylatch and Mission Hill. There are now 26 work-study students employed in a variety of positions ranging from staff assistants and fund raisers to directors and supervisers.
Sara L. Cazares '86 tutors young girls from a Chicano working-class neighborhood four days a week. "The stipend allows people from similar backgrounds to provide role models for kids from the projects. As a Latino, I can really relate to them and their problems," she says.
"I feel I benefit almost as much as the kids from this type of program because I'm making money to pay my term bills while giving something positive to the community," says Cazares.