Monro Calls for Good Sense, Sovereignty in New Council

"Power at Harvard," Dean Monro last night told the special Student Council Committee on reorganization, lies in a sensible idea, clearly expressed with good manners." But he also emphasized he was "anxious to have the think of politics" in any future Council. We must not get too precious."

Expressing his "real respect for the power of the House Committees," Monro strongly advised the committee to plan Council with some direct representation for the Committees. In doing so, though, he warned against "completely demolishing" the present structure, which recognizes the Houses as major political units.

The Dean gave unqualified support to the principle of Council, stressing that it is terribly important to me to have good representative system." Further, Monro declared such a system was only possible "if you give it sovereignty."

The question of the nature of this sovereignty and where it would come from soon became the absorbing topic of the evening. William E. Bailey '62, Dunster House Committee Chairman, wondered whether real autonomy could exist without final administrative powers and are exercised by some House Committees. He doubted that such autonomy would be given the Council.

Monro concurred in that doubt, stating that he could only think of the Combined Charities as a project where the Council could and should exercise final control.

He strongly disagreed, though, that power necessarily lies in administrative control. To him, the Board of Overseers provides a "perfect example" of "enormous," non-administrative power, and he suggested that they new Council might function most effectively as a student overseer group, with similar powers of visiting and suggestion.

"Power lies in making sense--this is a kind of sovereignty." Monro indicated he thought this power could be exercised effectively by a representative group "because of the nature of our community." Such a group could open channels for "blunt expression" of opinions in the tradition of New England town meetings.

The idea of Council conducting a continuous "auditing of courses and educational programs," proposed by Michael Hornblow '62, especially appealed to the Dean as a procedure with "tremendous possibilities. This is perhaps the direction Council should take."

On other topics Monro advised the committee:

To consider seriously the question of having Radcliffe represented on the Council, as the Council "might as well be prepared for future changes." He cited Radcliffe's "vital concern with Harvard policies" as justification.

To take into account the "quickly changing" nature of the College and draw up a constitution "as simple as possible."

To remember that he "is willing to work with any kind of a Council.