Residence Hall Welcome Events

Trip to Haymarket - outdoor fresh produce market (very cheap)
Cost  - $5.00 for transportation and money for purchases
Cost depends on how many fruits and vegetables you plan to purchase.
Meet at Perkins parking lot 10:00 a.m. Bring shopping bags.
Aileen Li, 617-493-4123; Tsione Wolde-Michael, 617-493-4222; Vera Baranova, 617-493-7104                                  

Brunch in Chinatown
Cost - $25-$30, cash only (includes transportation)
Meet at Perkins parking lot, 10:45 a.m.
Hirokazu Yoshie, 617-493-4093; Sujoyini Mandal, 617-493-4178

*Boston Harbor Islands
Boston is not just an urban landscape! Take the ferry from Boston Harbor to the Harbor Islands for a refreshing escape to the oceanside. Explore the walking trails and beach on Spectacle Island; visit the historic Fort Warren on Georges island; hop to other smaller islands and catch a breath of ocean air. Meet at Dudley at 10 a.m.; return time open. Cost: $16 for the ferry, plus T fare ($5). You can get tickets at the pier, or pre-buy tickets online to avoid the wait and get on an earlier ferry. More details at dudley.harvard.edu/outings, or contact Anna ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). Open to Dudley members and guests.

Trip to Shaw’s Supermarket and Tags hardware store (Porter Square)
Meet in Perkins Hall parking lot, 3:30 p.m. Cost - Money for the option of return taxi service (~$7.50 one way), subway ($2.50), or bus ($2 one way), and money for shopping.
Cristian Proistosescu, 617-493-4106; Rana El Hattab, 617-493-5026;
Christine Zgrabik, 617-493-4234

"Getting Started" – Discussion for first year international students with international and American Resident Advisors who are in their second year and above about adjustment to life at Harvard. Focus will be on issues for international students in the Residence Halls. 7:30 p.m., Richards Hall Basement Lounge – All residents welcome. Mazen Elfakhani, 617-493-4889; Aileen Li, 617-493-4123; and all the RAs

GSAS International Student Orientation
Harvard Hall, Room 202: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Boston Downtown Walk
Take a relaxed afternoon walk in the heart of Boston downtown, covering the famous Boston Common, Public Garden, Newbury Street and Copley Square.  Make unscheduled stops in stores and coffee shops as we wish.  Meet at 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot between Perkins and Richards.  Bring $5.00 for subway and more for luxuries.
 Sujoyini Mandal, 617-493-4178; Lisa Haushofer, 617-493-4955

 *Host Student Dinner – Only for international students who signed up for the GSAS Host Student Program.
Dudley House, Main Dining Room. Sign-in 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Dinner at 6:00 p.m.

Historical Tour of Harvard Yard
How much do you know about Harvard Yard and its history? You may have wandered around the Yard before, but don’t you wonder about its history and stories
behind the history? Do you know where Tommy Lee Jones and Al Gore lived? This tour will take you on a walk around the Yard and beyond. We will also visit many historical sites from Dudley House to Widener Library. It is good to know about Harvard’s history before classes start. The tour will also give you some knowledge of shortcuts when you are walking through the Yard! To join the tour, meet at the parking lot between Perkins and Richards at 10 a.m.
Yu Lei, 714-310-6792 ; Tomo Lazovich, 617-493-4997;
Tsione Wolde-Michael, 617-493-4222; Lisa Haushofer, 617-493-4955

Shopping Trip for Incidentals
(phone, sheets, pillows, etc.) – Target in Somerville
Cost - $4.00 for bus, money for the option of return taxi service (~$11), and money for shopping.Meet in front of Conant Hall, 2:30 p.m.
Aileen Li, 617-493-4123; Cian Power, 617-493-4932
           
Residence Hall Facilities Tour (for any interested residents)
Informational session about the residence halls on where to go to work out, access the internet, watch television, get mail, study, etc.
Meet in the Perkins parking lot, 7 p.m.
Arjun Nair, 617-493-4982; Cristian Proistosescu, 617-493-4106;
Mazen Elfakhani, 617-493-4889

GSAS Incoming Student Orientation – Memorial Hall
Welcoming Speeches – Sanders Theatre – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

GSAS Orientation Luncheon 
Held in Harvard Yard in Tents
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

GSAS DudleyFest
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Dudley House
Check out the Dudley Fellows and GSAS Student Organization Tents outside of Dudley House to sign up for events and get more information about upcoming fall activities and visit the Dudley dining room for information about various offices and services for GSAS students.
Workshops for GSAS incoming students on University Health Services;  Libraries; the Graduate Student Survival Guide: Getting to know Harvard, Cambridge, and Beyond; and Workshop on Staying Fit and Healthy at Harvard, 1:00 p.m. and repeated at 2:30 p.m. at Dudley House

Tour of Bookstores and Coffee Shops in Harvard Square
Cost - approx. $5; Meet in front of Richards Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Rana El Hattab, 617-493-5026; Cristian Proistosescu, 617-493-4106;
Aileen Li, 617-493-4123; Vera Baranova, 617-493-7104;
Lisa Haushofer, 617-493-4955; Cian Power, 617-493-4932    

Small Talk
Richards Basement, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Is English not your first language? Come meet new friends and improve your informal chatting skills. Sponsored by GSAS Student Services.
Arjun Nair, 617-493-4982; Christine Zgrabik, 617-493-4234;
Mazen Elfakhani, 617-493-4889

Trip to New England Aquarium and Quincy Market
Cost - approx. $11.00/person plus $5.00 for “T” fare and additional money for shopping and food. For discounted tickets, sign up with either RA by Tuesday, 8/28. If you don't sign up beforehand, please come anyway (!), but admission will be $22.95; please bring your Harvard University ID. Meet at Perkins parking lot, 2:00 p.m. If you would like to meet at the aquarium please call Cian Power, 617-493-4932; Sebastian Akle Serrano, 617-493-4208
                                      
Street Fighter Tournament (Super Nintendo; videogame)
There is this urban legend out there that grad students—denizens of labs and libraries—are not good at playing video games. That’s a patent lie. Take Street Fighter II, for instance. A lot of graduate students are into this game with great Pride. Actually, RA Hiro’s Chun Li is rumored to be one of the best in North America. You think this is also a lie? Prove him wrong at 8:00 p.m. in Conant 1st Floor Lounge (where Graduate Dormitory Council meets monthly)! We are going to hold a Street Fighter II tournament and decide who is the best street fighter!  
Hirokazu Yoshie, 617-493-4093; Cristian Proistosescu, 617-493-4106

Harvard Square Pub Tour
Must be 21 years old or over. Be sure to bring Passport or U.S. Driver’s License.                Cost depends on thirst (beer - $5-6 each; mixed drinks - $10 each). Meet at Perkins parking lot, 9:30 p.m.
Aileen Li, 617-493-4123; Oliver Kerr, 617-493-4169;
Sujoyini Mandal, 617-493-4178; Sebastian Akle Serrano, 617-493-4208;
Christine Zgrabik, 617-493-4234; Rana el Hattab, 617-493-5026

Wellness Tour
Love to work out or swim? Are you a cyclist or a squash player? Want to know where to relax with a yoga class? Come on the Wellness Tour and learn how to keep healthy and happy at Harvard! We will visit Harvard fitness centers (QRAC, Hemenway, MAC, etc.), as well as popular locations around campus for outdoor sports and recreation.
Please bring comfortable shoes and water for walking around campus.
Meet at Perkins parking lot, 10:00am.
Hirokazu Yoshie, 617-493-4093; Cristian Proistosescu, 617-493-4106

* Discover Dudley Graduate House Opening Party: Dudley Land
The center for graduate life at Harvard, Dudley House hosts its famous opening party on Friday August 31. Early in the evening, from 7 – 9 p.m., tour the house, meet Dudley Fellows and staff, and enjoy snacks, drinks, and socializing with hundreds of other Harvard grad students. Later, enjoy a dance party in the main hall. Come and visit our own version of Adventureland, FantasyLand, Musicland, and you might even run into some Pirates of the Caribbean! Open to Dudley House members and their guests. Harvard ID required for entry; proper ID required for alcohol. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres free; alcoholic beverages $2 (cash only).
7:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.: Discover Dudley

Trip to Harvard Museums: Natural History, Peabody, Sackler Art Museum
1:00 p.m., Meet in the Perkins parking lot. Please bring your Harvard ID.
Cristian Proistosescu, 617-493-4106

Italian Dinner in the North End
The North End is a popular dining destination on Saturday nights in Boston.  If you are interested in joining us for dinner, please email (RAs) by Wednesday, August 25th, so restaurant reservations can be made for an appropriate number of people. Meet in the Perkins parking lot at 6:00 p.m. Cost: $20-$30 (including transportation)
Rana El Hattab, 617-493-5026; Sebastian Akle Serrano, 617-493-4208;
Vera Baranova, 617-493-7104

*Beach Bus Trip
Make the most of the end of summer: get on the beach bus! We’ll be shuttled straight from Dudley House to Crane’s Beach, one of the most scenic shoreline destinations on the Northeast coast. Enjoy a day out swimming in the ocean or strolling along 5.5 miles of trails and boardwalks through the sand dunes and salt marshes of the Crane Estate, or visit the splendid Great House and landscaped grounds of Castel Hill. Meet at Dudley at 9:45 a.m.; return by 5 p.m. Tickets $14, on sale August 28 in the Dudley Office or at DudleyFest (August 29).  Dudley members may bring a guest. More details at dudley.harvard.edu/outings or contact Edlyn Levine ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

Welcome Back Cookout – GDC (Graduate Dormitory Council)
6 p.m., Richards Lawn (Richards Basement Lounge if it rains)

Calorie Crawl – Tour of Ice Cream Shops in Harvard Square.
Bring $5-$10 (depending on how much ice cream you want!)
Meet at Perkins parking lot, 8:00 p.m.

Academic Year begins

Dudley Café – Open for dining

An introduction to Dining at Dudley – Lunch
Where's the ice cream?  Do the chefs take special requests?  Can I get a lunch packed in advance?  RAs will be available at various times throughout the opening evening of the Dudley Cafe to answer questions and give a brief tour of the dining facilities. Participants will be encouraged to stay for lunch after the tour ends. Tours will start on the front steps of Dudley House at 12 p.m.
Tomo Lazovich, 617-493-4997; Christine Zgrabik, 617-493-4234;
Maria Devlin, 617-493-4909  

An introduction to Dining at Dudley – Dinner
Tour will start on the front steps of the Dudley house at 6 p.m.
Oliver Kerr, 617-493-4169; Christine Zgrabik, 617-493-4234

Mandatory Floor Meetings - Please check notices on your floor regarding time and place.

*Opening of Café Gato Rojò – student-run café
Dudley House ground level
Manager – Bjorn Kuhnicke

*Language Table Mixer
Come meet other people interested in joining in existing language tables, Dudley’s informal language conversation groups, or in starting new ones, Enjoy our multi-lingual mixer in relaxed atmosphere with light refreshments as we inaugurate a new exciting academic year! For further information about getting involved as a participant or a table leader, contact Elena at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
7 p.m., Fireside Room

Brownie/Cookie Bake Social Hour
Conant 1st floor kitchen, 8:00 p.m., Free
Maria Devlin, 617-493-4909; Christine Zgrabik, 617-493-4234

Welcome Party for all Residents
7:30 p.m. onwards; Desserts until 8:30 p.m.
Richards Hall Basement Lounge
Come meet staff members of GSAS Housing Services and Student Services, and enjoy delicious desserts!
Sponsored by GSAS Housing Services and Student Services

*Sports Pub
Come to learn more about the athletics options through Dudley House, and to sign up for fall IM teams.  Food and drink will be provided.
7:30-9pm in the Dudley House game room  

 *Wine and Cheese Party
Come join the Literary Fellows and fellow literary-minded folk at our inaugural Wine and Cheese Party at 8 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Meet new people, find out about our events, contribute ideas, eat some cheese, and drink some wine. Bring your ID – must be 21 to have wine. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available. Everybody who is anybody will be there. You should be too.
8 – 10 p.m., Fireside Room, Dudley House

*Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Don't miss your chance to take in a baseball game while reveling in the atmosphere of America's most beloved ballpark, Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. From the picturesque brick facade to the peaceful green within, flanked by the menacing Green Monster in left field, Fenway has been a center of baseball and American history since the Red Sox’ championship season of 1912, and it is still going strong 100 years later. The hometown team takes on AL East rival Toronto in a Friday night matchup.

Tickets will be sold and auctioned ($30, cash or check only) at DudleyFest, August 29, outside Dudley House. Dudley members only (Harvard ID required). 7:10 pm

*GSAS Cookout
Kick-start the academic year with free food! Bring your friends and family to enjoy freshly grilled food, cold drinks, and the company of your fellow students. Burgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian options will be served. Proper ID required for alcohol. Open to Dudley House members and their guests.
1 – 4 p.m. (rain or shine)
36 Oxford Street (Harvard Museum of Natural History lawn)

Bagel Brunch - Conant Hall, 1st Floor Lounge - 10:00 a.m.
Come and meet fellow residents over bagels and juice!
Organized by the Graduate Dormitory Council.

*Whale Watch
Thousands of tourists flock to Boston each fall to see these majestic animals. See what the fuss is about yourself! We will leave from Dudley House at 12:45 p.m. Cost: $25, plus T fare. Tickets go on sale during DudleyFest, August 29, outside Dudley House. Dudley members may bring a guest (please bring your Harvard ID).
2 p.m.

GSAS Study Card Day
Dudley House Common Room
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Bicycle and Computer registration with Harvard University Police
5 – 7 p.m., Dudley House Dining Room, 1st Floor

Bicycle and Computer registration with Harvard University Police
5 – 7 p.m., Dudley House Dining Room, 1st Floor

*Graduate Student Council: Open Meeting
6:30 p.m. - Graduate Student Lounge

*Olympics 1924:  Chariots of Fire (1981), 6:30 p.m.  
We all have a bit of “Olympics withdrawal” this month, so come and join us at Dudley to watch this classic story of two skilled British track athletes who strive to compete in the 1924 Games in Paris. The film features strong character development, historical settings, sportsmanship, struggles with class structure, and an unforgettable music score that will make you want to run right out of the Graduate Student Lounge when it is finished! 124 min.

*Bike Ride to Walden Pond  
Join our annual ride along the Minuteman Trail to Walden Pond and back along the country roads northwest of Boston.
10 a.m. (tentative, watch for confirmation by e-mail) 
                                         
*Writing Workshop
Bring copies of whatever you're currently working on (poetry, essay, fiction, drama . . .) for the workshop to discuss, or feel free to simply join in the discussion and the in-session writing.
Dudley House, Fireside Room, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

*Blood Drive
Blood is always needed. Your donation will go directly to Mount Auburn Hospital to save up to three lives! Please email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
to sign up for a blood donation.  On donation day, BRING YOUR PHOTO ID (OR YOU CAN'T DONATE).  Also, please drink plenty of water the day before, and eat a good breakfast. There will be plenty of juice and snacks as a thank-you for your generosity.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Dudley Graduate Student Lounge  

*Public Service Fair
Come enjoy ice cream sundaes and learn about volunteer options that suit your interests and schedule!  Representatives from community organizations will be present with information about volunteer opportunities in tutoring, elderly visits, shelter volunteering, environmental awareness, and many other service arenas.   This event is definitely for you if you want to get involved but don’t know where to start.
6 – 7:30 pm, Dudley Common Room

*A Great American Musical:  Singin’ in the Rain (1952), 6:30 p.m.
The year is 1927 and a major star of the silent cinema is in crisis when sound movies begin.  No, it’s not last year’s Academy Award-winning film, The Artist, it’s a magnificent Technicolor musical starring Gene Kelly, Debby Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor.  This film is considered to be one of the greatest film musicals ever made and it is tremendous fun.  “Come on with the rain, I’ve a smile on my face.” 103 min.

*Outing to the New England Pirate Museum
Join us on a rowdy trip to the New England Pirate Museum (Salem) in a slightly belated celebration of the International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept 19). We will meet up at 10AM on the steps of the Dudley House to take the 11.30 ferry to Salem, visit the museum, rediscover our inner pirates, walk the picturesque historical streets of the town, and return to the safe haven of campus by train. Travel fares amount to approx. 20$, and museum admission costs 8$. RSVP to Iaroslava at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
10a.m., Dudley House.

*Fundamentals of Drawing
Dates: Sept 22 - Oct 28 (5 weeks, on Saturday or Sunday, from 2-4 pm – exact times and dates to be determined soon)
This class is open to Dudley students with an array of drawing abilities. We will develop our technique of "seeing" in order to faithfully convey natural objects. Students will be exposed to a variety of different techniques and styles, beginning with more conventional techniques and ending with individual projects that are catered to students’ own interests and favorite media. Cost: $30, plus the cost of materials. Number of students: 15. For more information please contact Tina Liu at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

*September Book Club
For the September book club we’ll be reading selections from Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Complete Sherlock Holmes. In early October, we’ll screen the BBC’s new TV adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries for those interested in seeing this devious detective on the silver screen.
6 p.m., Fireside Room, Dudley House

*Moosilauke Lodge Retreat
Join our annual retreat to the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge for fall foliage, hearty lodge meals, and scenic hiking trails that range from challenging to leisurely in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. Cost: $160 per person, or $140 if you volunteer to drive a rental car, or free if you bring 4 passengers in your own car. Includes transportation, meals, and lodging. Tickets available from Dudley House starting Thursday, September 13th at 9:00 am. Dudley members may bring one guest. More details at dudley.harvard.edu/outings, or contact Anna ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

*Writing and Study Bootcamp
Procrastinating is for wimps! Gratuitous Facebook browsing is for sissies! Getting work done on the other hand, is for the hard cases who attend the Dudley Writing and Study Bootcamp. We provide a quiet setting, two days of breakfast and lunch, and plenty of caffeine. Come. You will get work done. Open to all Dudley House students from all disciplines. The cost of the event is $20, strictly non-refundable, so attendance both days is strongly encouraged. Please sign up and pay in advance in the Graduate Office on the third floor of Dudley House no later than the Thursday before the bootcamp. Students at the Longwood Campus may register by contacting the House at 617-495-2255. Limited to 12 attendees, so sign up early! Questions? Email the Fellows at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
9am–4pm, Dudley House, Gato Rojo

*Writing and Study Bootcamp
Procrastinating is for wimps! Gratuitous Facebook browsing is for sissies! Getting work done on the other hand, is for the hard cases who attend the Dudley Writing and Study Bootcamp. We provide a quiet setting, two days of breakfast and lunch, and plenty of caffeine. Come. You will get work done.
Open to all Dudley House students from all disciplines. The cost of the event is $20, strictly non-refundable, so attendance both days is strongly encouraged. Please sign up and pay in advance in the Graduate Office on the third floor of Dudley House no later than the Thursday before the bootcamp. Students at the Longwood Campus may register by contacting the House at 617-495-2255. Limited to 12 attendees, so sign up early! Questions? Email the Fellows at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
9am–4pm, Dudley House, Gato Rojo

*Senior Common Room Reception and Dinner
Please join us for the October Senior Common Room Reception and Dinner, where we will hear a talk given by Prof. Richard Tarrant from the Department of the Classics. Richard Tarrant is the Pope Professor of the Latin Language and Literature at Harvard, and recently the interim dean of Harvard GSAS. Prof. Tarrant served as a Director of the American Philological Association, and he is presently a member of the editorial boards of Toronto Medieval Latin Texts, Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries, and Materiali e discussioni per l'analisi dei testi classici. His main areas of interest are Latin literature, Greek and Roman drama, and the transmission and editing of classical Latin texts. This event is open to Dudley House members only. Members may acquire tickets from the Dudley House office, 3rd Floor; students on the Longwood Campus may call 617-495-2255 to arrange for tickets. This promises to be a fascinating conversation, and we anticipate running out of tickets quickly, so please collect your tickets as soon as you can. Contact the Intellectual / Cultural Fellows, Elena and Iaroslava, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. (Tickets available in the Dudley House Office in September)
Reception at 5.30 p.m., Graduate Student Lounge Dinner at 6 p.m., Senior Common Room

*Kayaking on the Charles River
Noon (tentative, watch for confirmation by e-mail)

*Outdoor game day
Gather for a day of frisbee, cornhole, and other fun outdoor games on the lawns of Harvard Yard.
Noon (tentative, watch for confirmation by e-mail).