What Purpose Serves Radcliffe? Nomenclature for One

The recent publicity surrounding a potential change in Radcliffe's status as an educational institution has brought to light a very critical set of issues. A vanishing Radcliffe's biggest impact on campus will be on the nomenclature of student organizations thrown into disarray.

Among the worst casualties would be those groups specific to Radcliffe. What will happen to RUS (Radcliffe Union of Students)? Perhaps it will become HUS and join a slimmer HUC (Harvard Undergraduate Council), or perhaps it will simply cease to exist. Radcliffe Choral Society (RCS) singers may one day be confused with the technologists of the Harvard Computer Society (HCS). The a cappella Radcliffe Pitches would also suffer a deep identity crisis. On the other hand, the tongue-tangling ABRW (Association of Black Radcliffe Women) could become the more pronounceable and French-flavored BWAH (Black Women's Association of Harvard).

But on a deeper level, many students have come both to abhor and to cherish the R of Radcliffe in creating acronyms for their groups.

One winner: WISHR (Women in Science at Harvard-Radcliffe) can finally chop off the gangly R appendage to become the more aspirational and streamlined WISH. HRSAS (Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Arab Students) could become a more sassy SASH (Society of Arab Students at Harvard).

Some organizations, however, depend on the vestigial R to add not only enunciation but definition to their names. Without Radcliffe, the celestial aficionados in STAHR (STudent Astronomers of Harvard-Radcliffe) will become members of STAH. (Then again, this isn't necessarily an inaccurate title for a group of Hah-vahd skygazers.)

Musical organizations seem particularly vulnerable to less flattering denotations in a new, Radcliffe-less world. The elegantly constructed HARMONY (Harvard and Radcliffe Musical Outreach to Neighborhood Youth) may become a less welcoming Harvard MONY. And alas! Our prestigious philharmonic, the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra (HRO), will be condensed to a mere HO.

~ Jennifer 8. Lee