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{shortcode-443184ad498671f9d41a94d87a74aa574aea5087}PSA: Course registration is open! As you use your last remaining brain cells to juggle both your midterms for this semester’s set of tortures classes and looking for classes to take next semester, here are some of Flyby’s recommendations for the best classes that they have taken that might just save your GPA (and your sanity).

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English 90B: James/Baldwin with Jesse McCarthy

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This is a class full of people who truly love novels. If you truly love novels, take it.

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Gen Ed 1104: Science and Cooking

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After taking my p-set classes, I thought maybe I did belong in the kitchen, but after this class I apparently don’t belong there either. :,) \u200b\u200bGreat free food, though!

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FYSEMR 40D: The Transformation of Marketing

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Yes, this was a freshman seminar (and therefore the majority of people reading this article will never have the chance to take it themselves). Yes, I did take this pass-fail. Yes, this was my favorite class! That said, this seminar was a crash course on marketing, taught through the HBS case study method (read: lots of reading and lots of arguing). The professor is incredibly enthusiastic, and I looked forward to class every single week!

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Gen Ed 1179: Psychotherapy

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Sending all my love to this class. I never fell asleep in lecture, and it was a very wholesome vibe for such a big lecture. You leave feeling mentally rejuvenated and ready to tackle the next breakdown that comes your way.

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21W.758: Genre Fiction Workshop for Young Adult Literature

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Ever dreamt of being the next Colleen Hoover? The class provides a wonderful, low pressure space to learn about the craft and practice your writing while bonding over your love for love triangles and the enemies-to-lovers trope. The professor is so supportive and enthusiastic to see the students explore and work on their work. It’s taught at MIT but it’s without a doubt one of my favorite classes ever taken during college.

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Stat 110: Probability

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Your life will be changed. Your eyes will be opened. You will contemplate your existence and life choices. Just try not to fall into despair when calculating the odds of surviving finals week.

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\u200b\u200bESPP 180: Climate Change, Health, and Environmental Justice-Focusing on Solutions

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I never thought I’d consider concentrating in anything environment-related, but this class changed my entire outlook on public health, climate change, and enacting public policy that better serves local communities. I can’t say enough good things about Kari and the amazing guests she brings in weekly to talk to us about the environment, medicine, and government.

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Take this class to embrace the crunchy granola lifestyle and become an even bigger fan of king Noah Kahan!

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ESPP ♾️: Reconnecting with the Earth Through The Art of Bushjumping

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Get ready to leap into the unknown. This course, only for the brightest of minds (so much so that only certain people can even find it on my.harvard), allowed me to truly open my eyes to the world around me/escape the matrix. Jumping into a bunch of bushes around the Boston area was something I never knew I needed in my life, but now it’s part of my daily routine, and I’m thankful for Sensei Shrub’s work. It’s a must-take!

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Now that we’ve equipped you with such a comprehensive list of classes guaranteed to entertain, enlighten, and possibly confuse you, go forth, get those holds lifted, and good luck!

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{shortcode-d44e446a1a8ab05f1e5dd1104a9c5e785fd327bb}In one of the best decisions Harvard has made since turning spring break into wellness days, course registration for the Fall 2024 semester is now due on April 17th. If you’re anything like the typical Harvard student, you’re probably really happy about this change because mid-April is famously one of the least busy times of the semester for students. But, if for some unfathomable reason you find yourself being uncharacteristically busy during the course registration period, here are some tips to speedrun the entire process.

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Schedule an advisory meeting ASAP

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Your advisors are busy, busy people, and while it depends on your concentration, they probably have a lot of people requesting them for meetings to lift their holds on my.harvard and for advice on classes. If you have no idea where to start, your advisor is probably your best bet to make sure you graduate on time with all your requirements completed. Alternatively, you can try checking out your concentration’s website and see if they have any sample course plans.

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Copy an upperclassman

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Log onto the Harvard College Facebook directory. Filter by your concentration (or intended, if you’re a first-year). Look through the photos of all the upperclassmen in your concentration, and choose the person who looks the least dead inside. If their email is available, shoot them an email and ask them what classes they’re planning on taking or have already taken. And just copy all of them. Make sure to also enthusiastically wave “Hi!” to them every time you see them in class to express your gratitude.

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Take advantage of the “Have you considered?” section

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You know what, I actually haven’t considered taking Flyby 101: How to Provide Unhelpful Advice Under the Guise of a How-To Article. That’s a really great suggestion. In fact, it’s such a great suggestion, I think it would be an amazing idea to just select four random classes from the “Have you considered?” section of the course catalog and see where life takes you. Four credits is four credits.

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Ask the spirits

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There are a lot of really great spots to communicate with spirits near Harvard (i.e. the Weld Hall elevator, Tasty Basty, the Lampoon Building). They’ve been here for so long and have seen so much of Harvard history, so they have a lot of quality insights into which classes are the best and most life-changing. It might be difficult to get them to talk, but I’ve found that a gentle tone and bribing them with the d-hall chicken sandwich usually works.

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Skip course registration

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And just register for four MIT classes. You wanted to break out of the Harvard bubble, right?

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In conclusion, good luck.

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{shortcode-52890c3b76e22b369c443701d3cf2eab8c76ee9e}Oh, holiday candy aisle at Harvard Square’s beloved CVS, how you tease me so. With your Halloween candy that appears in August and your October candy canes. And your latest endeavor: Easter candy. Just as Boston weather has teased us with the approach of spring for months, you, CVS, have dangled the promise of chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies since before the snow had even had the chance to fall. I first caught a glimpse of the decadent sweets while I strolled by to grab a new bottle of shampoo. That was in January. I was in shock, mesmerized by the bright spring greens of the packaging, the golden foils, and the flower patterns on the variety packs full of Reese's cups and Hershey’s kisses. Spring is here, I thought, but one step outside and the thought left with the blistering winter winds.

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I held out as long as I could. I avoided you altogether, thinking that if I didn’t browse your captivating shelves, my bank account would be safe, and I would only partake in the celebratory candy when society deemed it appropriate. But it was an uphill battle. And eventually, I lost. The search for one simple dorm room necessity brought me back within your walls, and I was done for.

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The Lindt bunnies got me first, on display in an array of different sizes, stationed right by the side entrance where I walked in. The greatest of all chocolate bunnies, they sat there looking at me, wrapped up in shining gold foil with a pretty red bow. Elegant, classy, delicious — how could I resist? The mini Cadbury eggs were next — arguably the best of the Easter candies, with their crunchy shell, their smooth center. I have two bags of them in my dorm now. How did you convince me to get two? The elusive company made its iconic appearance for the spring months, and I foolishly fell for the bait because I knew that Cadbury would soon retreat into hiding until the next year, leaving us craving more.

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The Peeps caught my attention once I’d managed to pull myself from the chocolate. The colorful marshmallows added little temptation, but they served the Easter aesthetic with each and every brightly colored sugar grain. Beneath them, the M&M’s were being sold in pastels, and the Hershey’s kisses were packaged in an array of green, pink, and blue. Everything was egg-shaped, and, against my better judgment, I was living for all of it: Hershey’s cookies and cream eggs and Reese’s eggs, whose peanut-butter-to-chocolate ratio is arguably better than the classic cups’. Even Ferrero Rocher was participating in the festivities, with their giant chocolate eggs that sat high on the shelves almost beyond my reach, all done up in gold foil. But we never go for the Ferrero Rocher — not during Easter time, because let’s face it, Ferrero will always be there, egg-shaped or not. Instead, I had to go for the limited options, the ones I knew would disappear in another week (or go on discount because you’ll inevitably be overstocked), never to be seen again (until next year).

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You’re truly a wonder, CVS. You’ve cracked the code: everybody loves holiday-themed candy, and you are milking that fact for all it’s worth. People don’t even have to celebrate the holiday because we all want the same thing: an excuse to eat chocolate, judgment free. And you, with your aisles full of bright spring packaging, have given it to us. Thank you, CVS.

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Yours truly,

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A Lindt chocolate bunny enthusiast

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Do you have a midterm this week? Are you currently working on a p-set or essay? Are you a Harvard student? Are you a human being? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s likely that it’s time for you to touch some grass! We here at Flyby Blog tried to regain some of our brain cells back by touching grass… wherever we could find it.

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Tenderly touching grass to not scare it away.

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Touching grass… drinking grass…

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Two-in-one deal: tissues for my tears and opportunity to touch grass

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Yes. This is grass.

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No doubt, this is grass.

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Is this… grass?

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The real question is why that grass is so dry and yellow.

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Grass — edible!

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Not sure what’s going on here but we’ll take it.

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A grass-ception

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The only kind of grass Harvard students actually know how to touch.

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From the ruminations of Flyby’s very own Bush Jumper: is a bush grass or is grass tiny bushes?

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So many opportunities to touch grass! Now that we’ve tried it, we can conclude that it is an enlightening experience that we urge you to try. So go forth and touch some grass, dear readers.

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{shortcode-acc9f9f0d84b489824c7690ace24f04e4bf6b525} Ahh midterm season: otherwise known as midlife crisis season, or the season that marks the beginning of your GPA’s downfall. Maybe your latest chem midterm did a number on your grade, or perhaps it was those absences from your attendance-required lecture adding up. Whatever the case, before you seriously contemplate adding some W’s (we’re talking withdrawals, not wins) to your transcript, consider this: an academic comeback is possible (or, if you ask the delulu optimist in me, probable)! Here are our tips for healing your relationship with Canvas.

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Cry it out.

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Avoiding time spent crying in the shower or into your pillow to spend a few more hours studying might seem logical, but failing to process your emotions about worse-than-you’d-hope grades can only be counterproductive. Negative emotions fester, and — even if the PS11 course heads are determined to make their class as grueling as possible — learning is meant to be fun. (It’s a cliche, so it must be true.) If you don’t allow yourself a moment to feel down in the dumps, you risk developing an overly antagonistic relationship with your coursework, and you’ll miss out on the chance to have a fulfilling classroom experience.

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Actually look at your grades.

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Open Canvas. Click on the “Grades” tab. Feel frustrated because your professor decided to enter only two of your assignments on Canvas. Open Gradescope. Flinch. Calculate your grade. Calculate what you’ll need on the final to salvage your grade. Wince. (But, seriously, it’s probably much, much better than you think. And, if not, it’s only up from here!)

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Form (new) study habits.

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As unfair as it is, studying should not be left to the night or even week before your midterm; truly productive studying happens as you learn and consequently should happen all the time (or, since you have a life, as often as possible). Make flashcards after each lecture rather than in a torturous cram session the night before your midterm. Complete each week’s optional practice questions. Write (or at least outline) your essays far in advance of the due date, not least so you won’t be juggling a five-page paper with studying for a test worth 30 percent of your grade. Above all, study to learn rather than to ace a test (though that would be a happy accident).

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Use class resources to your advantage.

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Most likely, there are at least a few class or campus resources — ranging from office hours to practice problems to peer tutoring — that you have yet to use. One of these might be the last tool you need to attain academic success! If you feel like you’ve exhausted every possible resource, consider scheduling a meeting with your professor or a TF to discuss your experience in the class. Learning is often frustrating, but you never have to navigate that frustration alone.

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Hopefully, these tips will help you achieve the grades of your dreams, but remember that even if your semester feels unsalvageable, odds are that everything will be alright. At the end of the day, you are a human being first, and you deserve a break every once in a blue moon while. Mute your Canvas notifications, and practice some self care. Do your laundry, vacuum your floor, or clean your water bottle. Watch a movie with your friends or FaceTime (or even visit) your family. Let yourself breathe. Let yourself be more than a student. You are so, so much more than a number on your transcript. Good luck!

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What’s the typical “day in the life” of a Harvard student? For me, it’s a never ending cycle of waking up, eating, studying, more studying, and repeating. The only way of peppering up my day is going to a lively study space and spending time finishing up my long list of assignments, but where does this get done?

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In my opinion, the best study space on campus is the Smith Center. It’s the closest escape from my dorm, Straus Hall, which may or may not be currently infested by mice. When I hear a mouse squeak in my common room, Lamont or Cabot Library seem miles away compared to Smith, so why would I waste my energy going there?

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Now, you may be thinking, why not Widener, the most archaic and grand structure on this campus? Well, rumor has it (it’s not a rumor) you can hear a pin drop while students are studying at Widener, and if you dare to make any noise you’ll be forced out on a walk of shame. Personally, that’s not for me! That’s what brings me back to Smith — its modern architecture, vibrant furniture, and acceptable noise levels, create the perfect environment for me.

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Specifically, I am an avid 10th-floor-goer, like many others.

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It’s love at first sight when I scan my Harvard ID at the card reader that opens the heavily-guarded gray elevator. With restricted access, the 10th floor allows students to study next to their beloved peers. This allows us to be protected from tourists, which I appreciate as I get tired of them eyeing us down or asking silly questions like, “How do I get into Harvard?” (Spoiler alert: there is no secret formula — see today’s acceptance rate.)

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Once you take the quick trip to the 10th floor, you’re greeted with adequate noise levels for collaborative work and blissful study music playing at all times. Nothing makes me more comfortable than hearing pop songs edited to classical tunes, especially when I have to finish a tear-stained p-set. As I walk to my designated couch, I pass rows of vibrant couches, geometric chairs, board games, and pool tables, all of which add to the laid-back college student aesthetic with a fancy Harvard twist.

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It would be a crime to not also mention the beautiful views of the Charles River! On the 10th floor, I am able to catch amazing vistas of the upperclassmen houses, the Charles River, and Cambridge. No matter what time of day, the ~real world~ out the window is an extra source of motivation to finish assignments.

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It’s easy to say that the Smith Center has my heart <3.

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There are few things that unite the city of Boston more than supposed “massh*le” driving and an unshakable love for Dunkin’, but the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Southie comes very close to clinching that title. As a self-proclaimed “Irish-ish” person (I’m only 25 percent Irish, hence the “-ish”), I knew I had to attend the parade to see if it could truly live up to the expectations I had formed in my head. So sit back, relax, and follow along as I give you a 100 percent honest review of the parade shenanigans I witnessed and explain exactly how I managed to survive a case of the Irish Sunday Scaries.

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Morning Prep

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I’m not going to lie – waking up at 9:30 a.m. the Sunday after my six-hour flight back to campus was not easy. In fact, I snoozed my alarm three times before I not-so-gently reminded myself that St. Patrick’s Day only happens once a year, so it was my duty to rally. By not-so-gently, I mean I pictured my dead Irish grammie Beatrice scolding me for not attending one of her and my father’s favorite parades. That did the trick!

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After freeing myself from the confines of my blanket burrito, I quickly changed into the greenest outfit I could find: a clover shirt with “Good luck” written on the bottom, green sweatpants, and clover glasses fellow Flyby writer Wyatt G. Croog ’27 had given me (just another example of lovely Irish hospitality <3). As I shoved a granola bar into my mouth and grabbed my wallet and phone, I ran out the door to meet my friends and their acquaintances (weird folks named Borgy Keoghan, Saoirse Borgan, and more…).

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Spirits were high as “Galway Girl” and more ‘authentic’ Irish music blared from my iPhone’s speakers, serving as the soundtrack for some good (and some very, very bad) Irish jig-dancing performances from my friends as we made our way to the Harvard T station.

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The T Journey To Boston

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You might think that a journey that consisted of seven stops on the Red Line does not warrant an entire section in this article, and under different circumstances, you’d be right. But boy, oh boy — taking the MBTA during a holiday, especially St. Patrick’s Day, means you’re in for a ride (no pun intended).

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The minute my friends and I stepped foot onto our train, all we saw was green. Green hats, wigs, funky-looking drinks, and green bodies pressed together as the train slowly collected more and more green buddies. As we neared the Broadway station, I couldn’t help but think that we looked exactly like an army of “Toy Story” aliens; an army that was bracing itself for when the doors would open and a sea of green would empty out onto a small platform.

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When the doors did indeed open, and everyone exited the train cars with a pep in their step, it was pure chaos but in a surprisingly fun way. As I clung to my friends’ hands to make sure no one got lost in the crowds, I looked around and played the most visually entertaining game of “I Spy” that I had ever played.

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I ended up spotting friends I hadn’t spoken to since middle school, already wasted middle-aged men being dragged by their irritated wives, and (my personal favorite) a girl with a purse filled with Lucky Charms, which made the time spent waiting for people to exit the station go by very quickly and painlessly.

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Overall, a solid 8/10 ride for the uniqueness and memories that were made.

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The Parade!

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After escaping the crowds near the T station only to have to deal with more as my friends and I searched for a spot by the barricades, my spirits dropped a bit. I felt tired and a little irritated at constantly being bumped into by intoxicated strangers, but this was all to be expected. So after finding a good viewing spot right by the barricades, I told myself to stop stressing and simply enjoy my last day of spring break.

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Between the moment I decided to focus on living in the moment, and the moment the parade officially started, I played a few more rounds of “I Spy.” Let’s just say that after spotting a man in a green suit with a Burger King crown on his head (see below), there was no way that my spirits could remain as low as they were before.

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Once cars, motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, horses, policemen, politicians, beauty pageant contestants, and professional Irish dancers began filling the streets of Boston in swarms, my spirits were at an all-time high. So much was going on all at once, and as much as I tried to take it all in, I couldn’t.

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Mayor Michelle Wu waved at me. Candy and trinkets were being thrown left and right. Marching bands and dance teams filtered in back-to-back. Police officers, firefighters, Marines, Navy sailors, airmen, and Coast Guardsmen marched in unison. My friend shouted, “Is that Paul Revere?” as a group of men in colonial garb (see below) fired their muskets and made most onlookers jump in fear. Harvard, Northeastern, Tufts, BU, and BC students were either successfully networking with other college kids or miserably failing at flirting — there was no in-between. Some photographer who was taking pictures within the barricades told the guy next to me to take his Yankees hat off or “go back home!” Desperate strangers banged nonstop on the porta-potties nearby.

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Around an hour and a half later, though, the parade seemed to repeat itself. I felt like I was experiencing dèjá vu because every parade act looked like the ones who had just walked past me. The same dance crews, marching bands, and colonial-looking men were in the streets, perhaps in a slightly different font. Or maybe after standing for more than three consecutive hours, I was finally worn out. Whatever the case may have been, my friends were also all tired, so we decided to call it a day and walk back to the Broadway station that we had gotten off at earlier in the day.

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Or so we thought…

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The T Journey To Cambridge

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As my friends and I walked back to Broadway, all the green strangers we passed confirmed the news that the Broadway station had been closed due to too much foot traffic. Amazing news, right?

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Since we couldn’t find an MBTA worker to ask for alternative ways to get back to Cambridge, we decided that the best plan of action would be to walk to the nearest Red Line station and pray that it was open. That is how we ended up on a one mile walk to South Station with what seemed like 25% of our fellow parade-goers.

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Although this rerouting ordeal initially put a damper on our moods, as I walked back in a familiar herd of green buddies, I felt oddly at ease. I internally chuckled at the absurdity and wholesomeness of this moment that I knew I would somehow always remember.

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At some point, we made it to South Station, piled into train cars with green strangers once more, and found ourselves back in Cambridge. At some point, I made it to my dorm, showered, and took a nap. At some point, I reflected on my overwhelmingly positive experience at the parade and wrote this article. And at some point, I decided that I couldn’t wait to do it all again next March.

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So, there you have it. My raw, unfiltered review of the Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I hope that this article has, at the very least, entertained you or encouraged you to check out next year’s parade so you can make some wacky memories of your own. If it’s the latter, I’ll see you in Southie!

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We’ve all been there. As you try to function even though break is already over and we still have interminable weeks left in the semester, a big fat C– drops on Canvas. How could one night of cramming an entire half semester not translate to an A? Suddenly, you realize writing an in-class essay still drunk from River Run was maybe not the best idea. If your midterms are making you ugly cry, here are seven things to do instead.

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1. Gaslight yourself and those around you. Text your p-set group chat and tell them that you got a ninety-seven. It’s high enough to be impressive but with a touch of imperfection so as to feign credibility. Once you’ve told everyone, you’ll be forced to stick to the story until you start to believe it yourself. It’s all about the mindset.

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2. Text your situationship back. You’ll still be crying, but at least it will be over an emotionally unavailable person who is giving you less than the bare minimum and is probably talking to four other people at the same time. By the time you text all your friends long paragraphs explaining how your medium ugly situationship is actually cute in certain lighting and you therefore need them back, you’ll be too emotionally exhausted to feel sad about your grade. Plus, for the humanities kids, you also get to practice your essay writing skills so you can do better on your next paper.

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3. Call your parents. Sometimes you will get emotional support, and that is always nice. More likely, you will get a long lecture about how you would have gotten an A had it not been for that damn phone of yours. By the time you hang up, you will be so motivated to cure your family’s generational trauma that you might actually start attending lecture, prepping for the next midterm, and considering selling out to Wall Street, among other things.

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4. Ask a CA or TF for help. Bonus points if your CA is super cute and lives in the next House over and has luscious hair and a British accent and lowkey forgets your name and… where was I? Anyways, it never hurts to ask for help.

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5. Post about it on Sidechat. After all, a similar post is what prompted this article. You will find many lost souls who probably took that very same midterm lurking on Sidechat ready to talk about it. Your Sidechat DMs will no doubt be filled by oddly supportive strangers who also happen to be freshmen, lonely, and down for something casual.

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6. Drop the class. Yes, you will have a W (for Withdrawn) on your transcript permanently, but you will also have mental stability. You will never ever have to think about that class again. Except for every time people ask you for p-set answers. Or when friends ask why they haven’t seen you in section. Or when you receive hundreds of emails because they forgot to remove you from the list. Really, other than a couple dozen reminders a week that you failed, you can just put it all behind you.

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7. Study for the next midterm. Not highly recommended as it might lead to responsible behavior and there’s not enough psychological data on responsible college students (insufficient sample sizes) to know if that is advisable for the health of anyone between the ages of 18 and 22.

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Once you take one or, god forbid, multiple of these alternatives, your midterms will seem like a much smaller problem. If you can’t get to all of them this time around, no worries! You’ll probably fail your finals, too.

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Well, here we are again. Another March, another plethora of videos about which the Harvard student body simply cannot agree. So, Flyby must swoop in and come up with a new, official ranking so that the Harvard student body can start getting mad at us instead of each other. You’re welcome.

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And before you accuse us of bias, you should note that we recused ourselves from voting on our own Houses. So, without further ado:

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S Tier

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Currier

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This video was simply phenomenal. We loved the song choices, the catchiness of the chorus (Tree-yee!), and the amazing graphics. And there was so much community participation — it seemed like everyone in the house was involved! Of course, no video is perfect: we didn’t really follow the heist plot. Harvard students continue to have the special talent of turning everything fun into as much of a commitment as an extracurricular, but if this is the result, maybe that’s fine…

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Cabot

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The story? The vocals? The lyrics? The HUDS involvement? Rakesh? We couldn’t pick a favorite part of this video. We also enjoy a good behind-the-scenes moment, which is an underutilized way to acclimate viewers with the ~house vibe~. But no Housing Day video needs to be 9 minutes long. It’s simply too many minutes. So, S tier, but you’re on thin ice.

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A Tier

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Mather

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As one of our writers said, “this one is my mom’s favorite.” This video is the quintessential Housing Day video. A rap, some vocals, lots of house involvement but not an insane amount, and people with insane upper body strength. The “con-crete” refrain, like “tree-yee,” was catchy, but also… me when someone asks me what the biggest island in Greece is…

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Quincy

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This one was definitely contentious, but the subtitles, graphics, and outfits elevated it to A tier. We didn’t really understand why Mather, Kirkland and Lowell were the ones listed as clones, since those houses look pretty different… But we were willing to vibe with Barbie anyway. And 4 minutes is the perfect video length.

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B Tier

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Dunster

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The word that most came to mind was “cute.” The skit was cute, the lyrics were cute, “you belong with meese” was cute. Vocals were tight, and so was the relationship between the protagonist and the moose. As one of our writers said, “I ship it.” But the video, simply put, didn’t have a lot of people. And the antlers were “scary.”

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Eliot

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“Your interhouse is irrelevant, goodbye” was a standout lyric from this crop of videos. Again, the vocals were excellent, and most of the lyrics were great too… though we don’t know how we feel about the euphemism of “our trunks.” Until a certain point, this video could have been an A… and then it kept going. What did you need seven and a half minutes for?

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C Tier

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Lev

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This video was very wholesome, and the baby featured is very cute, as was “L-E-V Love.” The vocals were great, which is beginning to be a trend! But is there a reason they chose “Tik Tok” as the song? Besides the impending ban…

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Kirkland

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Again, good vocals, and the choreo blew us away! And we were very impressed by the Barbies. But… about half of this video was not filmed in Kirkland. They kept getting further and further away from Kirkland. Why are you on the Weeks Bridge? Also, too long, again! Guys, we have to watch twelve of these!

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D Tier

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Winthrop

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First of all, we had to take off points because this one was posted so late. Like, literally on Housing Day. And the song was also late, a.k.a. almost two minutes into this video. And the lip-syncing in the last part was also about a lyric behind. But! There was definitely an artistic vision. And this video is not horrendously long.

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Lowell

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Ok, we’ve been dogging on long videos, but two minutes is slacking. We also thought the lyrics could have been more creative. And we’d like to take this opportunity to air a specific grievance: why are we talking about Stanford? Why do we suddenly care about Stanford? But the video did have a good amount of people in it! A community win is a win.

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Pf Tier

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Pfoho

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Well, this was a video. There was so much potential in the beginning to film it as a homage to Saltburn, but as is, there wasn’t really that spark. And the house looked completely empty in all the shots — where is everybody? We also thought the whole thing was a bit low energy. But, there were funny moments, like “cool clock” and the mewing. Also, what does it mean that you’re “boutta quad?” And it better not mean what we’re worried it means.

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Adams

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YOU’RE TRYING TO WHAT????

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Also, points taken away for releasing so late.

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\r\nAnd there you have it! Please, please tell us where we went wrong. We care so much.

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Flyby thinks it's time for a new purity test. A FLY-ce purity test. Take this quiz to find out your score!

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Have you ever…

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{shortcode-ac09a4d7d2392c6b200d7e72ae80023e1f42b8e3}Alas, we have entered the post-spring break period of the semester and have begun the five-week-long sprint towards finals week. Sigh. While the celebrations and festivities might be over for some now that we have arrived back on campus, Persian students on campus, such as myself, still have one last hurrah to look forward to before completely sinking beneath the demands of our academic schedules – Nowruz!

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Nowruz, which translates directly to new day, falls on the first day of spring and marks the beginning of a new year in the Iranian calendar. You might think that us Persians are running a little behind in celebrating the new year in March and ringing in the year 1403, but I would like to inform you that the Iranian solar calendar is actually one of the most accurate solar calendars in use currently. Also, in my very biased opinion, I prefer to celebrate the new year around a time when new life is blossoming after the chokeholds of winter – it just makes more sense. So take that, Gregorian calendar supremacists!

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The time of year when Nowruz is celebrated is not the only unique part of this special holiday. In fact, there are many traditions that come with the ringing in of the new year that might seem odd from an outside perspective but are actually some of the things that I consider to be hallmarks of my family’s transition into the spring season. One of these traditions is arranging what is called a haft-sin, which translates to seven ‘S’s, in which seven items related to the elements of the earth are presented on a table to symbolize good luck and fortune for the new year. While there are many items that can make their ways into the haft-sin of Iranian families, my family has continued to choose a specific seven year after year.

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1. Sabzeh

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Sabzeh is a special type of wheat grass that can be quickly and easily grown around the spring season. Quite intuitively, this part of the haft-sin is used to symbolize rebirth and growth in the new year. The best way that I can describe this one is exactly as one would expect it to be: a pot of grass. As underwhelming as this might seem to some, the sabzeh is one of my personal favorite parts of the haft-sin that my family assembles each year. Its vibrant color is always eye-catching, and I have also managed to keep it alive in the days leading up to Nowruz. As someone who has the complete opposite of a green thumb and forgets that, even though my water intake is poor, I can’t dehydrate and neglect my plants the same way, I appreciate the grass’s resilience year after year.

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2. Sir

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Sir, pronounced “sear,” in this case does not mean the crisp cooking of a meat to a golden brown. Instead, sir is the Farsi word for garlic, which on Nowruz symbolizes medicine and good health for the new year. Garlic is used similarly in other cultural traditions, such as Chinese New Year, and as a theoretical defense against vampires, which I suppose can also be seen as a way to protect one’s health! While this part of the haft-sin might not be as visually appealing as others, I find its meaning to be quite special and important to this holiday. After adopting our dog, this part of my family’s arrangement has had to be moved from the rest of the table to a fireplace altar to avoid the opposite of its promises from happening…so far, we have had no issues, so I guess the garlic is doing its job, no matter its location!

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3. Sib

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Sib, or an apple, is probably one of the easiest parts of the haft-sin to incorporate. Unlike the sabzeh that you have to grow in advance, not to mention keep alive, and the sir that is many times a pain to peel, sib are always in high supply at any grocery store and require no additional preparation before being placed with the other items. For many, the sib is especially important to have in the haft-sin, symbolizing beauty. As optimistic as I would like to be in saying that this means beauty within and of the world around us, I personally fall into the trap of hinging the idea of my personal glow-up on if there is an apple on my table or not. If you want 1403 to be your year, do not forget your sib!

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4. Sekkeh

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Sekkeh translates to coins, which are probably my most looked forward to item on my family’s haft-sin. Symbolizing wealth and prosperity, sekkeh are also an integral part of any arrangement for the new year. While traditionally the coins that are laid out in haft-sins are specific for special occasions such as the new year and weddings, my family takes the direct translation. Some years, we have thrown quarters into a dish, and other years pennies, which, looking back, seems superstitious in terms of setting the tone for the rest of the year. But I like to believe that as long as there are coins on the table, wealth will be ensured, both monetarily and through other means!

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5. Shirini

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This part of the haft-sin is also a favorite of my family, incorporating sweets such as candy eggs or other tiny chocolates. This item, if no other, must make the haft-sin in my opinion, as it symbolizes happiness and joy. I mean, beyond what it symbolizes, why wouldn’t you want to include something as tasty as a sweet treat in your arrangement? In my family, at least, the shirini dish often has to be replenished – our stomachs are full and our hearts are happy, what more could we need for the new year?

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6. Somagh

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Somagh is probably the most boring part of the haft-sin, but that assessment could be coming from the fact that I prefer my food bland rather than spiced. Somagh is a tangy, red spice that symbolizes new beginnings and sunrises, and it is, like the sib, an easy last minute addition to any arrangement. It is frightening being in charge of placing this item on the table, as one wrong move can make it so my family’s carpet needs its own new beginning – stain remover. So far, however, I have been lucky and made it through with no spills, and I am hoping to keep this streak going.

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7. Goldfish

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Hear me out, I know that goldfish doesn’t start with an S, but neither does the Persian translation, which is mahi… so, I thought at least goldfish would be more direct. Goldfish are used in the haft-sin arrangement to symbolize the flow of time and passing of life, which is quite ironic considering that many times when we have gotten goldfish for this holiday, they have lived only a few weeks – it's not us, it's the pet store, I swear. Since moving to college, my parents have still gotten a goldfish to put in the bowl for me, which I appreciate because it allows me to ignore my academic responsibilities for a moment and think about home. Also, the joy of getting to brainstorm names for my long-distance pet during p-set breaks is like no other. I know that Dave (my fish this year, skillfully named) will survive beyond the new year traditions and hopefully be waiting for me when I arrive back from campus this summer.

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As random as these items might sound in the abstract, they come together to make a beautiful presentation that I look forward to year after year, even if it looks roughly the same each time. On this new year, even if you won’t have a haft-sin of your own, maybe save an extra apple or two or season your HUDS chicken a little more than usual – at the end of the day, it's the thought that counts. Let the new year be in your favor, and enjoy the beginning of spring – Eid-e Shoma Mobarak!

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{shortcode-8c6f149eb4b4d54918c85bc48c56d65c099f2e0c}Picture this: you have just returned to campus for the spring semester. The cold Boston breeze almost blows you over as you trudge towards your dorm with entirely too much luggage. You already want to leave. The closest ray of hope in your life is… SPRING BREAK! As essentially the only time off we get during our spring semester, spring break is of EXTREME importance. So much so that everything that happens in the spring semester can be categorized as either Before Spring Break or After Spring Break Sadness.

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If you’re like us, the only thing standing between you and brightening up your Instagram with the trip of a lifetime is the cost. You obviously want to save money for where it truly counts, like hotels (we see you, all inclusive-ers) or buying and developing disposable photos, and therefore might be wondering if there’s an easy way to conserve.

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As your helpful Flyby writers, we propose to you a solution — budget your flight! The flight to your spring break destination is going to be the least memorable part of your trip. In fact, we doubt that you’ll even be awake for it. You’re going to get there one way or another, so who cares if you aren’t given a complimentary snack along the way? And the best way to cut plane costs? Spirit Airlines, our new saving grace.

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Some of you might be Spirit newbies, but no need to worry about what flying Spirit is like, as Flyby has tried it for you!

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1. Abandon All Carry-Ons, Ye Who Enter Here (the Spirit plane)

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One of the downsides wonderful perks of Spirit is that they don’t include complimentary carry-ons. Since the price of adding one is often at least half of the ticket price itself, there isn’t really a point to bringing one. This is perfect for the average spring break traveler – tiny tops and bathing suits will fit extremely well into your school-backpack-turned-suitcase. Nonetheless, this does mean that Spirit is not meant for the weak, requiring both the mental strength to leave behind that one cute beach-cover up and the physical strength necessary to stuff everything into your bag.

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2. Patience is a Necessary Virtue

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Look. We’re not going to deny the rumors. There is a non-zero chance that Spirit will continue to delay your flight into oblivion only for it to just end up canceled. There is also a non-zero chance that you will spend the days leading up to your trip morbidly watching TikToks about how people also flying to your destination ALL had their flights canceled. HOWEVER, this isn’t actually that bad! If you think about it, you’re really just getting ahead on that zen, easy-going lifestyle that spring break is all about. Plus, as firm believers in anecdotal evidence, we do have to emphasize that our flights didn’t get delayed. Arezoo’s flight did take an hour to take off once everyone was seated, though, because someone forgot to tag their child’s stroller and “submit necessary paperwork,” so...

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3. Get in Losers, We’re Going Shopping!

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Even though our Spirit flight was smooth sailing for the most part — at least once we were in the air, we can confidently say that the last thirty minutes or so of your voyage will be turbulent with announcements. Want a new credit card? Spirit’s got you covered; you can sign up for one even when you’re thousands of miles high in the air. You don’t? Spirit still has you covered, and will harass you over the plane intercom until you consider it for at least a minute. Even if shoveling a little more cash toward Spirit in this way wasn’t on your radar, there are plenty of other opportunities on your flight for you to do just that. You can ring your card for a classic peanut snack, soda, or even WATER on the cart that your lovely flight attendants will make readily available. You’re on vacation, might as well treat yourself to some refreshing H2O for the low, low price of four dollars.

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4. The In-Plane Movie Becomes VR

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A Spirit flight is nothing if not eventful. Filled with jokes and “gotchas,” the pilot did in fact momentarily convince half the plane that we were going to Cancun and Chicago, rather than Fort Lauderdale. If this didn’t wake us up enough during our early morning travels, Arezoo’s flight was also surprised with a proposal. Yes, a man got on one knee in the Spirit Airlines aisle, while the seatbelt sign was on, and put a ring on one lucky woman’s finger. Personally, we would say no we’re not too sure how we would feel if we were in this situation, but as viewers to this joyous moment, Arezoo was leaning over the edge of her tiny, last row seat to demonstrate her support. Another notable part of Arezoo’s flight was a silly-string-mustard-bottle, which one flight attendant lovingly sprayed on unsuspecting, unconscious passengers while pretending to check the overhead baggage. So hey, even though Spirit’s planes don't have entertainment systems, we can guarantee that there will be plenty of other attention grabbers to fill your time.

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5. No, the Plane is Not Going Down, We’re Just Landing (cue the applause)

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As expected of such a beloved airline, Spirit is considerate enough to provide every passenger with a complimentary wake-up call when the plane lands. You can be assured that no matter how deep your plane sleep is, the thump thump THUMP THUMPPPP thump thump THUMP of the plane will wake you up. Seconds after you open your bleary eyes and face the too-bright world, you’ll also be met with a round of questionably-deserved \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bapplause for the pilot from your fellow passengers. It’s really just so pleasant. After all, you did it. You survived Spirit.

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If you couldn’t already tell from our travel experiences, saving money through flying Spirit is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Whether it be something jaw dropping that you see on the plane during your flight or your jaw literally dropping when you see the prices that are presented to you once on-board, Spirit will guarantee that you have endless stories to tell your travel-mates and family at home once you land. We here at Flyby definitely recommend Spirit Airlines to any people who are looking to save a dollar or two or, literally speaking, 40.

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{shortcode-126a8a3dca3531558381319615145e0dd4e7aa6f}Harvard Square is rapidly becoming the boba capital of the Boston metropolitan area. Recently, a hot new bombshell has entered the villa, with Ten One Tea House replacing Möge Tee in the very same storefront on JFK St. Of course, Flyby had to try it to see for ourselves if the great Gong Cha vs. Tiger Sugar war was finally over (spoiler alert: no, it’s not). We ordered four drinks that we hoped would be representative of the entire menu, and each of us tried all four to give you a balanced impression.

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Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Boba (Lactose-free, Less sugar) — $6.95

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Of course, we had to start with the basics. The tea was not very strong; while there was a subtle sweet taste, very little of the bergamot oil promised in the menu came through. The boba, however, was very sweet! We’d recommend really putting your whole bobussy into shaking this thing to try to spread some of that flavor around.

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Strawberry Green Tea with Dragon Fruit Pearls (Half sugar) — $7.70

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The tea was definitely pretty strawberry-y to most of us, although one writer described it as “sort of just like a tea.” Certainly refreshing on one of the first sunny days of the spring! And the dragon fruit pearls, which notably are only available on weekends after 1 p.m., just tasted like regular boba. Which makes sense, because the special pearls are also just the same price of the regular pearls. And yet, there is no reason this drink should be, with a tip for the overworked boba baristas, over $8.

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Osmanthus Honey Tea with Blue Butterfly Pearls (Less sugar) — $7.50

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We have a vague idea of what osmanthus is and some idea of what a blue butterfly is, and we definitely know what honey is. This drink did not taste like any of these — it was sort of like the tea equivalent of LaCroix. We all agreed it was just a normal iced tea. The pearls were sort of floral-y to some of us? But you have to really focus to get the taste. And to our extreme disappointment, they were not blue.

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Mango Slush with Aloe — $7.70

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Now this was a little treat for the most little-treat-loving among us. The mango was fresh-tasting, the aloe was just the right amount of slippery and chewy, and we all felt very refreshed after the first sip. Do any of us usually get a slush at a boba place? No, not since middle school. But if we for some reason were craving one, this would definitely do.

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Extras — Croffles and Tote Bag

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The croffles were a nice free snack we got for visiting on opening day, and they were very crispy. It doesn’t appear they sell them anymore, though? Not that any of us thought we would pay for them when there are so many other dessert-snack options around. And, ok, the squirrel is cute. We have to admit it. We love a cute logo, and the squirrel is cute. But though we love the merch, we don’t know if we’d be proud to rep the store.

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Overall Impressions

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Not one of the four Flyby writers who visited Ten One on its opening day was very impressed. We concluded that even if you’re usually a half sugar girlie, you need to be ordering full sugar here to taste anything besides basic black tea. The mango slush with aloe was by far the best, and, at pretty much the same price as other bubble tea in the Square, we don’t see any reason not to order it. If for some reason, your only alternative is Lamcaf, go here, since the boba is definitely better. But otherwise, just pass Ten One and go up the street to your normal boba destination of choice.

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{shortcode-e0a71de58892dc102f626c564905d5e980a40193}Dear Lamont Third Floor,

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Every week, when the Sunday Scaries roll around, I know that I can count on you to be there for me. You’ve seen me at my (rare) Lamont Highs, and my many, many Lamont Lows. Your warm, dim lighting is like a hug, even though I risk the chance of falling asleep on one of your couches and finding myself waking up at 6 a.m. with my p-sets incomplete. I also really love being surrounded by books that I want to read but somehow can’t manage to find the time for.

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There’s a certain camaraderie that I find with others within your walls. When the night first started, we were merely strangers. But as the night progresses and our sanity begins to wane, we find a form of mutual respect for one another. I love walking around and sympathizing with fellow Lamonsters through understanding nods and collective sighs. What can I say? Misery loves its company.

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But what I love most about you, Lamont third floor, is your quietness. You are the perfect place to escape from the noise and chaos of campus life. You are the place where I can find peace and tranquility in the midst of deadlines and stress.

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You are also open 24 hours for most of the week, which admittedly is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, I appreciate that you are always there for me, no matter how late or how early. On the other hand, I sometimes wish that you would close earlier so that I would have an excuse to go to bed and get some sleep. But I know that you are only doing your best to accommodate my needs.

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Lamont, you are more than just a place to study. You have turned into a sanctuary, a haven, and, unfortunately, a second home.

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Thank you, Lamont, for being my loyal companion and friend. I hope to see you again soon – but not too soon.

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Sincerely,

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A grateful Lamonster

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Despite the rain, Harvard upperclassmen and frosh alike turned up for Housing Day this Thursday! And Flyby couldn't let this roving go... unreported. Check out our Official Scoop on Housing Day 2024!

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An under-discussed upside of living in a House instead of the Yard (eww): having a gym attached to your building. Now that you don’t have to brave the cold to get some reps in, you might actually keep up with your New Year’s resolutions. But there’s no way to squeeze the MAC, in all its glory, into a 200-square-foot room, so you’ll have to accept some cut corners. And, sadly, not all House gyms are created equal…

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My credentials for evaluating the House gyms are that, prior to writing this article, I’d worked out seven times since starting college and that I once lifted weights in Rabbit Run (the Leverett House gym) for 30 minutes and couldn’t walk for five days.

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C Tier: Come On, Harvard, You Could Buy A Few More Machines

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Coming in at the bottom of our list are the gyms in Leverett, Adams, and Eliot; all of these workout spaces are passable but lost points (in our super official scoring system which was definitely not limited to a vibe check) for being somewhat inaccessible and having very few machines. But they still sit in our good books for attempting to have an aesthetic.

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Adams: I only visited the gym in Claverly Hall, so anyone personally invested in Adams’ gym profile should note that, due to the dispersed nature of Adams housing, there might be another workout space in your building. What I saw in Claverly, however, failed to meet my expectations, with only a few machines crammed into a relatively small room. I’m hopeful that the rest of Adams has more to offer because, while the space was fitted with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and had a good balance of machines, I was left feeling underwhelmed.

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Eliot: Eliot Gym had the most cohesive interior design of any gym on this list, with blue waves and a red stripe emblazoned on the walls of the gym’s two rooms. The gym is pretty small and has only minimal equipment, but the greater travesty is that rather than having physical walls, the gym is separated from the hallway by a chain link fence…so you’re literally working out in a dungeon. I also wouldn’t plan on using the fancy rowing machines in the second part of the gym because it requires a physical key to enter that no one that I know of has been granted. Still, it might be for the best; with all the stairs in Eliot, residents of the Domus likely don’t need the workout.

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Leverett: A cute name — Rabbit Run and bunnies, get it? — made me really, really want to love the Leverett House gym, but unfortunately, it’s rather tiny, especially relative to the number of students housed in Lev. Rabbit Run is composed of only two small rooms (each about the size of four singles?), plus a bathroom and a handy water bottle filling station. The child in me (read: the lazy part of me that will only exercise if it means I can watch Netflix) loved that there were TVs placed in the sightline from every machine, but the equipment was super old — to the point that I thought it was broken — and there’s no differentiation between space for aerobics and for weightlifting. Rabbit Run is located on the first floor of G tower, meaning that it doesn’t have the dungeon feel that many of the other gyms do, so while residents of either of the towers can access it without going outside, bunnies in McKinlock will have to trek across DeWolfe Street to work out.

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B Tier: Better than the Last

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Next up are the gyms in Mather, Winthrop, and Kirkland; nothing really stood out about them, but at the very least they were slightly more spacious than their lower-ranked peers.

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Kirkland: Featuring a decent spread of equipment, Kirkland’s gym is one of the only gyms on campus that feels distinctive to its house, with decorations reflecting the Kirkland spirit. In theory, this choice of decor should imbue the space with enough good vibes to make your workout enjoyable rather than torturous, but the gym is directly connected to a common room, and I, for one, am not comfortable with being perceived while I attempt to lift five-pound weights. On the bright side, this means that non-Kirkland residents can experience the magic without having to pester a friend to swipe them in, but I’m not sure it’s worth it when the MAC is right there.

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Mather: I really, really tried to like Mather’s gym, but again it struck me as rather small. However, anyone into timed exercises is likely to appreciate the large digital clock, and resident yogis are likely to enjoy the meditation room housed in the same complex. The d-hall is also super close by in case you’re struck by the post-workout munchies!

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Winthrop: The Winthrop Gym is relatively small but manages to avoid feeling claustrophobic by allowing space between the machines. No worrying about bumping elbows with the person on the machine next to yours! I also loved the cubby set-up near the doorway and the cushions padding the floor. Throp Gym is proof that basement gyms don’t have to make you feel like you’re working out in an abyss.

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A Tier: All You Really Need in a Gym

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Quincy, Pfoho, and Lowell made their way into my good graces with generous spreads of equipment (or in Lowell’s case, having a squash court) but could use some updates.

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Pforzheimer: By now, you’ve likely realized that the Quad gyms ranked higher, on average, than gyms found by the River, and Pfoho is no exception. While on the small side relative to the other Quad gyms, the Pfoho gym includes several mirrors to watch your gains grow in real-time and has an interesting two-room setup splitting weights and related equipment from the aerobics machines. Located in Pfoho’s basement, the gym is conveniently located for all residents not placed in overflow housing and is right next to the arcade and the laundry room. There’s just one downside: a mirror that occupies most of one wall in the weight room is made of two-way glass…so people can see in and you can’t see out.

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Lowell: Lowell’s gym could have clocked in much, much lower on this list, but while lacking in equipment, the gym has its own kind of charm, featuring a cardboard cutout of the former mascot, the Blueman, and an upper level with a meditation area. There’s also a squash court (read: squash court that is used nearly exclusively as a basketball court) located right outside the main gym area, as well as a wall display of doorknobs that I thought was an artistic statement but that my gym buddy insisted was a climbing wall. The gym location is relatively remote — getting there was like walking through a maze — but I suppose it’s not too big an inconvenience when residents can hop on over to the MAC instead.

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Quincy: Nearly the size of Currier Gym, Quincy Gym manages to accommodate a generous selection of equipment while still maintaining some open space. The areas of the gym populated by machines are a bit cramped, but not to the extent of impeding your workout routine. Still, I think some updates might be in order because, while someone went through the effort of placing motivational sayings on the walls, enough letters have worn away to make them unreadable without a second glance. However, this wear and tear might be a mark of actual use by residents, since Quincy was the only gym being used by multiple people when I visited.

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S Tier: Someone Pinch Me, I Think I’m Dreaming

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Dunster, Cabot, and Currier showed me that Harvard will willingly spend money on something other than the chairs in the Yard once in a blue moon.

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Cabot: Cabot Gym has long been a site of legend, and the reputation is well deserved. The room is likely the largest in the house other than the dining hall and features an amazing selection of equipment, with plans to secure a Peloton in the works. The gym also includes a water bottle filling station (attached to a water fountain for those of you who tend to forget your water bottle) and bathrooms, making it the perfect workout haven.

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Currier: The Quad continues to demolish the competition. The Currier workout space is generously sized and has a clearly delineated stretching area (a small detail but an amazing bonus). At the time I visited, much of the equipment was incorrectly stored, but there’s a diverse array of machines and a frankly astonishing set of weights at your disposal. Just one problem: whoever designed Currier’s gym was in cahoots with the Pfoho gym designer, because this gym also features the unfortunate inclusion of a two-way mirror.

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Dunster: My response to walking through Dunster’s gym was “Oh. Em. Gee.” On repeat. With multiples of each type of machine, an impressive weight selection, and a squash court, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever drop by Dunster Gym and leave unsatisfied. One downside is that there is no door separating the aerobics area from the rest of Dunster’s basement, leaving you painfully exposed, but given that the space is delineated from the rest of the basement by a steep set of stairs, I’m willing to let it slide.

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