That’s always been my impression, dating back to when I was an undergrad in New Haven and Harvard people who came to visit were always talking about how much more fun Yale was.

Now the Crimson seems to agree, editorializing that the tailgates at Yale were vastly better than in Cambridge—traditionally the case (it’s also true of the parties), but apparently this year the reason was due to a mellow police presence at Yale.

In Cambridge last year, the Boston Police Department and Harvard administrators organized the strictest Harvard-Yale tailgate in recent memory. Regulations and checkpoints were everywhere. Every last detail was proactively enforced. Students were not allowed to bring any liquids into the event area, and students over 21 were required to receive a wrist band in order to be able to purchase beer and spiked hot chocolate (a policy repeated at Yale’s “student village” but not at the entire tailgate).

Harvard and Boston need to take a good look at the philosophy of tailgating in New Haven and realize that a more pragmatic approach can be more effective for all parties involved.

Hmmm. True enough, but the Crimson misses an important point: Undergraduate fun is not high on Harvard’s list of priorities. What is important to the Harvard administration is staying on good terms with politicians and residents in Boston and, more specifically, Allston.

Why did Harvard crack down so much on fun at last year’s Game?

So as to avoid irritating any constituency which might slow down its Allston plans…..