There was more than just new food waiting for students returning to Commons. For the opening of Paresky Commons, the Commons staff bought a $125 ice sculpture spelling out “Paresky.” Paul Robarge, Senior Food Service Director, who was involved in the purchase of the ice sculpture, wrote in an e-mail, “The donor [of Paresky Commons], David Paresky was visiting on [that] day and we thought this would be a nice gesture of appreciation.” Robarge also added that the staff wanted the ice sculpture to be “something nice for the students to see and touch and hopefully add some excitement to their first week in Paresky [Commons].” The ice sculpture did not, however, have the desired effect on some students, who found the display unnecessary. “I think the [ice sculpture was] pretentious. I think [the school] got their point across with the screens in the lobby saying ‘Welcome to Paresky’…and changing the outside sign from ‘Commons’ to ‘Paresky,” said Rekha August-Nelson ’09. “They made it clear that we had a new donor.” Zoe Weinberg ’09 agreed. “The ice sculpture was a little over-the-top and ridiculous,” she said. “I felt that [the ice sculpture] was really unnecessary, taking into consideration the financial crisis that we are in. I thought it was a pretty cool way to commemorate the opening of Paresky, but the sculpture was useless,” said Andrew Khang ’10. Other students responded positively and believed that the ice carving served as an interesting way to celebrate the opening of Commons. “Even though an ice sculpture is temporary and people may criticize the purchase of the sculpture, I think it was certainly reasonable,” said Midori Ishizuka ’11. Tavie Abell ’10 shared Ishizuka’s sentiments. “According to the assumptions that people made about the price of the ice sculpture, I thought that it was very unnecessary. But now that I found out the price, I think [the ice sculpture] was kind of a cute gesture,” Abell said. Jeremy Hutton ’11 said, “To be perfectly honest, I don’t think it was that big a deal. [The sculpture] was only on display for about two days and it was to commemorate the opening of Paresky [Commons]. Also, it’s not like they were spending a thousand [dollars] a day.”
