Re-Affirming Affirmative Action

Throughout last Sunday's demonstration for affirmative action, Howard S. Jones '78 stood impassively, never joining the rest of the crowd sprawled on the grass. He remained alone, holding up a sign that read, "Affirmative action is unjust" on one side, and "Hire on merit" on the other.

The crowd in front of Mem Church mostly ignored this sole dissident, turning to him only occasionally to note his reaction to speakers. Most chose to listen to the music, speeches, and poetry, laze in the sun, and chatter.

The gathering, called "An Outing of Unity and Struggle" was nothing new--the issues have been stated and restated since the formation of the sponsoring Task Force on Affirmative Action earlier this year.

And that was just the point of the outing--one speaker even said she hoped her speech seemed familiar--to reaffirm the demands of the task force and to dramatize Harvard's lack of response since the demands were first presented.

"It was our way of saying you've seen us once, you've seen us again, and don't forget about us," Ruth Colker '78, a member of the affirmative action task force, said yesterday.

Colker added she was pleased with the turnout of about 150 people, although a demonstration at Mass Hall called earlier this year drew a crowd of 250 supporters.

About six marchers met at the steps of Moors Hall at 12:30, when the march was scheduled to start, but by the time the actual journey to the Yard began about 30 poster-bearing students had arrived.

The task force's most general demands are for stricter compliance with affirmative action guidelines and an end to Harvard's alleged discriminatory hiring practices.

Representatives of several minority organizations, including the Radcliffe Union of Students and the Committee to Defend Sherman Holcombe, addressed the crowd, which at times more resembled that of an Esplanade concert than a controversial rally.

Some male students sunbathed shirtless, while others sat in trees for a better view or nibbled and sipped home-baked food and drinks sold at the outing.