In Brief . . .

The union representing Harvard's dining hall workers this week filed two unfair labor practice charges against the University with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Local 26 of the AFL-CIO accused University labor officials of preventing the union's agents from investigating grievances and of trying to undermine the safety committee stipulated in Local 26's contract. The union's latest action represents a growing rift between Harvard and officials of Local 26.

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The Cambridge historical commission and local residents last week lent their support to Harvard's plan for preserving two old buildings on the site of its proposed $25 million University Place development. Harvard had earlier asked for permission to destroy the "historically significant" structures, located at 134 Mt. Auburn St. and 3 Mt. Auburn Place. Last week's votes of approval leave only one more obstacle facing the commercial housing and office complex--a Corporation vote on the plan, scheduled for Monday. If the Corporation rejects the University Place proposal, the property--now held by Harvard and used as a parking lot--would revert to its original owner.

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Reversing a stand he took repeatedly as a candidate in 1980, President Reagan last week decided to extend the draft registration program. Reagan said he based his decision on the recommendation of a special Pentagon manpower commission and revised statistics showing that registration would save six weeks during mobilization. White House officials vigorously denied that the reversal had anything to do with events in Poland, even though some government officials said that Poland was an important consideration. Presidential counselor Edwin Meese III, who made the draft registration announcement for Reagan, said the extension will not result in an immediate prosecution of non-registrants and does not indicate an imminent peacetime draft, which, Meese said, Reagan continues to oppose. A Crimson poll of 172 Harvard students conducted last weekend showed that 63 per cent opposed the president's decision, while 37 per cent supported it.

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The University will allow tenured professors to continue teaching full time until the age of 70 starting with the 1982-83 academic year. The policy revision comes in response to new federal regulations on mandatory retirement. Presently, University guidelines forbid professors from teaching full time after they reach the age of 66.

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The University released its annual financial report earlier this month, and it showed a surplus of $329,000 for fiscal 1980-81. The report also showed that the market value of Harvard's endowment hit $1.62 billion, an increase of $131.7 million over the previous year.