Word: proctoral
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College is traditionally seen as a time for freedom and exploration, and an adult authority figure living just next door naturally dampers the rush of newfound independence. But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Matthews proctor Jennifer K. Little: “If you build an atmosphere of mutual trust and friendship in the entryway, students will abide by the necessary rules out of a desire to avoid disappointing you.” Crystal Winston ’05, a member of Little’s proctor group, would agree. She finds that...
...proctor’s multiple roles can also create tension. According to Ashkan Abbey ’05, “Knowing that what you say can have disciplinary repercussions limits your relationship with your proctor.” Mary Widmeyer ’05 agrees. “There are a lot of important decisions college kids face that we just can’t talk to our proctor about,” she says. “We could get in trouble if we brought up issues, like drinking, that make a big difference in our Harvard experience...
That’s where the prefect system comes in. The two or three upperclassmen who plan social events for each proctor group are, for some first-years, their only glimpse into life past the Yard. As Nathans puts it, “Peer advisers are important supports to first-year students in many respects. They can introduce them to some of the routines of undergraduate life; they can offer important wisdom about time management and about balancing extracurriculars and academic work; they can provide a sounding board for some of the concerns and doubts that first-year students experience...
It’s not just prefects who have busy schedules, though. Proctors can be consumed by their other responsibilities as well. Several first-years complain that relationships with proctors are superficial, and that they are hardly ever available. As Arnold Park ’05 says, conversations with his proctor rarely go beyond “How are you doing? Fine? Good.” This is hopefully the unfortunate exception, but many students say they have failed to form meaningful bonds with their proctors...
...relationship, communication between students and proctors is a two-way street, and a proctor can only be effective if the students will take advantage of them as a resource. As Biana Fay ’04 relates, “[My proctor] definitely made herself available most of the time, but I didn’t really make the journey to her room as often as I could have.” As the first year progresses and social events are no longer mandatory, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain a connection. And as Dingman notes, students at Harvard...