Word: recess
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Barak and Shara are planning to recess the talks this week after a first round spent arguing mostly over what they should negotiate first. The President had to stay nimble just to keep the talks going. When Shara demanded that borders be considered first and Barak insisted on beginning with security arrangements, Clinton proposed that committees on both subjects meet simultaneously. When Barak and Shara balked again, Clinton scrapped the committee idea and helicoptered back to discuss both issues with the two men himself. By the end of the week, he had presented them with a "working document...
...what about after reading period? Two weeks of exams, a week of intersession (read: summer job search) and a semester of classes, clubs and term-time jobs. Recess? The only happy screaming and running we ever do is done nakedly in the snow...
Come to think of it, the very concept of recess is antithetical to Harvard. Recess, by definition, is unstructured and freewheeling. Harvard life, by contrast, is one scheduled meeting after another. We meet for class, meet for clubs, meet for lunch, meet to practice and meet to talk about our meetings. Bring a PalmPilot to the playground and all the other kids will turn to you to throw their foam balls...
...social lives consist largely of joining student organizations with rigid bylaws and mission statements. While these organizations do make use of creative energies, most require hours of menial work in rooms with poor ventilation. Recess is outside and if you don't like the rules, you can change them...
...like to propose the following: Bring recess to Harvard. Let's set aside 40 minutes each day--or even as little as 40 minutes each week--for recess. That means 40 minutes of no classes or club meetings. The same goes for sports and music practices. Close the libraries and dining halls. If the weather is nice, turn off residential keycard access...