Rosovsky Hears Critics Of Core

A half dozen high-ranking Harvard administrators, including Dean of the Faculty Henry Rosovsky, last night participated in a wide-ranging discussion of the Core Curriculum with students.

In an open forum sponsored by the Under-graduate Council, various students in the audience of 40 mixed a smattering of praise for the liberal education requirements with a laundry list of complaints about particular aspects of the program.

Students commented on a wide range of topics, from the absence of math and computer courses in the program to whether Harvard should even have such a curriculum.

Last night's meeting in the Lamont Forum came as a part of a student effort to get involved with the current Faculty review required when the nationally publicized Core was approved four years ago. Members of the Undergraduate Council's Academics Committee said that an outline of the meetings' minutes would be forwarded today to the student-faculty Committee on Undergraduate Education, as well as other Faculty members.

Deans Mostly Listened

The administrators present last night mostly listened passively to the students' comments, although Rosovsky, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Sidney Verba 53, and Core Director Edward T. Wilcox did respond to a variety of specific points.

In addition, Rosovsky offered at the beginning of the forum a short defense of the principles and requirements behind the Core, which has come under fire from a variety of educators.

Rosovsky acknowledged criticism that the College was either too liberal or too restrictive, saying that Harvard was trying to steer a "centrist" course through the Core's emphasis on teaching the basic modes of thinking.

He cited a variety of pluses about the program, including the high degree of senior faculty participation: the high number of students enrolled in Core courses: the introduction into the liberal arts curriculum of several subjects not covered by the old General Education program, like music and foreign cultures: and the variety of student choice within each sub-category of the Core.

"On the whole, we've had a modest success, "Rosovsky concluded. "It's not perfect. I hope that we will continue to make evolutionary changes."

In the ensuing discussion, which Rosovsky termed "as good a discussion" of the Core as he has had, student criticism and praise for the program was moderate, haphazard, and mostly directed at specific problems or suc- sive contact with the repertory company, Wyse said.

Wyse agreed with Brustein that Harvard should have a drams concentration, but he added that it should be established "extremely carefully."

If not administered carefully, a drama concentration might "squash the healthy amateurism" of undergraduate drama. Wyse warned, adding. "Non-concentrators might feel inhibited by competing with concentrators."

Wyse called the lack of a drama concentration a long-standing gripe among undergraduates, noting that students' complaints on the subject intensified when the ART moved to Harvard four years ago.

But Jurij Striedter, professor of Slavic Languages and Literature and a member of the committee, said that in the past. "The Faculty was not interested in training undergraduates to be professional actors," he said.

Stredier also said that HRDC"s support for the creation of a liaison represents a complete change in student opinion. When the ART first came to Harvard, undergraduates interested in drama were afraid that their needs would he sacrificed for those of the ART, Striedter said, adding. Now the feeling is that students would like to have more intense contact the ART."

Brustein said he is unsure whether the committee would endure any of his proposals, "We can't talk about any changes until the committee makes its recommendations. If they're positive we'll go on from there," he said.

Wyse expressed doubts about the financial feasibility of establishing a liaison "Unfortunately, the Faculty is reticent to commit any more theory to the ART then they already have," he said.

In addition to the free one of the Lorb Drama Center, the ART currently receives $225,000 or about 11 percent of its budget from the Faculty. The Faculty also covers any deficit the ART might incur, with the understanding that the money will be paid back