“It’s [our] chance to make a new identity in a new place,” said Khalil F. Ben-Gacem, a Tunisian student from London, who echoed what many of the first-years settling into the Quad felt.
And there to help hoist boxes, bags, and suitcases upstairs were new classmates, tutors, proctors, resident deans, and administrators, including President Larry Bacow and his wife, Adele. In fact, for many of the families who pulled up to Matthews Hall around 9 a.m., the Bacows were the first to welcome them.
“This time of year is always special on a college campus,” said Bacow. “It’s a time of renewal for those of us who live and work here.”
For first-year students in particular, “It’s about new beginnings,” Bacow added. “It’s about the start of their Harvard career. It’s about making lifelong friends. It’s about discovery.”