Besserman Chosen As Senior Tutor For Adams House

Lawrence L. Besserman, head tutor of the English Department, has been selected by Adams House master Robert J. Kiely to become the Adams House senior tutor beginning this fall.

Besserman, also an assistant professor of English and an associate of the House, will replace the Rev. Hugh G. Berryman, the Adams House senior tutor for the last two years. The University Corporation probably will ratify the appointment as a routine matter at a meeting Monday.

Knows Apparatus

Kiely, a professor of English, announced Besserman's appointment yesterday, and cited Besserman's close association with the House and his familiarity with Harvard's administrative apparatus. Kiely said he expects Besserman to be "an outstanding senior tutor."

Besserman said yesterday he plans to serve as senior tutor "for as long as I find the job congenial." He has been a nonresident tutor of Adams House since 1970 and head tutor of the English Department for a year. He said he does not know who will succeed him at the English Department post.

Department Waits

Alan E. Helmert '49, English Department chairman and Cabot Professor of American Literature, said last night he will not begin to consider a replacement for Besserman until the Corporation officially approves the Adams House appointment.

Kiely said last night he began seeking "feedback" about Besserman from Adams House students about a month ago, when he learned that Berryman would be leaving.

PR Shill

Students were not involved in the formal selection process, partly because "time was short" and partly for fear that the screening of candidates by students and the attendant publicity "might discourage a good candidate." Kiely said.

"Consultation [with students] is sometimes more of a show than an exercise of actual inquiry," he said.

He said be obtained sufficient indication of students' opinion of Besserman "even though the PR shill was not there."

Current Adams House senior tutor Berryman said last night he will return to his native England to take up a parish in northcumberland.