Posted on 03/11/2005 7:32:55 AM PST by Uncledave
Harvard in Lather Over Campus Maid Service
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Reuters) - A Harvard University student's fledgling dorm-cleaning business faced the threat of a campus boycott on Thursday after the school's daily newspaper slammed it for dividing students along economic lines.
The Harvard Crimson newspaper urged students to shun Dormaid, a business launched by Harvard sophomore Michael Kopko that cleans up for messy students.
"By creating yet another differential between the haves and have-nots on campus, Dormaid threatens our student unity," the Crimson said in an editorial.
"We urge the student body to boycott Dormaid."
Like many elite American universities, Harvard comprises a mix of affluent students as well as those who are less well-off.
But Kopko, 20, said he could not understand the Crimson's reaction to his business, which he said was all about creating jobs and wealth at the Ivy League school.
"In a free economy it's all about choice, and the Crimson is trying to take choice away from people," the student entrepreneur told Reuters. "I think it's a very uneconomic and narrow view. It's essentially against creating wealth for society."
Kopko said since launching his dormitory-cleaning service last month in the Boston area, he has signed up 50 clients. He plans to expand the service to other parts of the country and is aiming for $200,000 in annual sales in a year's time.
What a joke! More evidence of hatred of Free Market principals from Harvard?
How are things at Marxard?
Graduation from Harvard divides people along income lines.
Another example of the upper class commies having fake compasssion on the "downtrodden".
Barf-hard.
I fully support and applaud the lad for recognizing a market and trying to service it. However, this is yet another sign of our times in that "messy" students are not taking personal responsibility but rather are "buying" their way out of it.
They don't like being reminded they've never done an honest day's work in their lives.
Is interesting, this "Dorm-aid." I wish we could have more details but I'm guessing that individual students contract for their room cleanup. In which case, Mr. Kopko must be enjoying the free publicity.
Good grief! I wonder if these crybabies are going to insist the student body boycott students who tutor others, or who type, for extra money?
Harvard can't be rewarding initiative, now! This entreprenurial spirit must be nipped in the bud, immediately!
''By creating yet another differential between the haves and have-nots on campus, Dormaid threatens our student unity,'' the Crimson said in an editorial.
And the tuition at Harvard is how much?
BTW, what does the Harvard Business School have to say about this?
Instead of encouraging a boycott, why doesn't the Crimson offer Dormaid a cash subsidy to be non-productive?
IE, "if you don't subscribe to our demands on how we think you should live, you're a 'divider.'"
/Animal Farm.
In other words, the haves and the affirmative action gimmees. Very few in the middle class can attend such a school (which is probably a good thing anyway) because to get just about any sort of scholarship, no matter how good a student you are, you have to prove "need."
This despicable entrepreneur should be forced to use his profits to clean the dorm rooms of the underprivileged that cannot afford the service.
Excellent initiative by the Crimson. Unfortunately, they only begin to scratch the surface of what is necessary to bring true equality to the sons and daughters of Harvard. Other necessary reforms:
1. No designer clothes. Everyone must shop at Wal-Mart. Wait, scratch that. No shopping at that exploiter of Third World peoples. Everyone must wear organically grown, Fair Trade hemp-based garments.
2. No fancy cars. Better yet, no cars at all. Take the T.
3. No fancy vacactions. Everyone must spend Spring Break volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity project.
OK, that's a start. We'll be back.
What an usual comment.
I suppose I should feel irresponsible since I hire someone to mow my grass?
Perhaps I should also sweep the street in front of the house instead of "buying" the services of the streetsweeper driver?
BS. If you pay someone to do something, you are taking responsibility. If paying someone to clean isn't taking responsibility then people who buy groceries or people who don't fell the trees, cut the lumber, forge the nails & erect their own homes aren't 'taking responsiblity' either.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.