While You Were Away

JUNE 1985

Monday

168 197

17 Mayor Dies

Cambridge Mayor Leonard J. Russell, 52, died June 13 after a long bout with cancer. Russell, a city councilor for 10 years before his election to the higher office in 1983, was the first Cambridge mayor ever to die in office.

The mayoralcy passed to Francis H. Duehay '55, another city councillor, and Alfred W. LaRosa was elected to fill the remainder of Russell's city council term.

Tuesday

Wednesday

170 195

19 Pink Elephants

Lost? Confused? In need of guidance? To aide the crowds that mill around Harvard every day, Cambridge has constructed its answer to the Johnston Gate Guardhouse: a Disneyland-style information booth in the heart of Harvard Square. The $35,000 pink and blue structure, funded and operated by a non-profit group called Cambridge Discovery, is primarily aimed at helping tourists with their information needs.

Thursday

171 194

20 Moving Up?

The Reagan Administration raided the Kennedy School of Government, appointing two prominent scholars to government posts. Dean of the K-School Graham T. Allison '62 was named special advisor to Caspar W. Weinberger '38 and Assistant Professor of Public Policy William Kristol '73 was selected by Secretary of Education William J. Bennett to a top advisory post.

Friday

172 193

21 South Africa

President Bok and six other Ivy League College presidents met with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and agreed to throw their personal support behind legislation imposing economic sanctions on the South African government. Officials said after the closed door meeting at Columbia University that the presidents will join Bok in demonstrating personal support for such sanctions as the bill forwarded by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

Saturday

175 190

24 Miles Ahead

Margaret R. Miles, a historical theologian, was named the first tenured woman in the 170-year history of the Divinity School. Miles, who has taught there since 1978, is highly regarded for her groundbreaking work on early church history and theological gender studies. The appointment of Miles is the first of seven lifetime teaching appointments scheduled over the next few years, as the school is in the midst of an unprecedented faculty turnover.

176 189

25 Cashing In

James I. Cash Jr., an expert on corporate computer use, became the first Black tenured professor at the Business School. Cash, 38, who also has been active in attracting minorities to the B-School, was instrumental in helping to expand the use of computers in the B-School's MBA program.

177 188

26 Wally, You're Back

For only the second time in his career, Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Walter Gilbert '53 has been given a lifetime teaching post at Harvard. The recombitant DNA specialist left the University in 1980 after winning the Nobel Prize to become chief operating officer at Biogen, a Cambridge-based biotechnology firm which he helped found in 1979.

Although Biogen officials said that his departure was not related to the company's finances, there have reportedly been concerns at the board level about the corporation's 1984 financial losses, estimated by analysts at about $14 million.

178 187

27

180 185

29 Calkins Retires

Senior Fellow Hugh Calkins '45 retired from Harvard's seven-man governing Corporation after 17 years of service. A replacement for the Cleveland lawyer has yet to be named, and there has been much speculation that the open spot on the exclusive board may be filled for the first time by a minority or a woman.

The Corporation is the University's top governing board and has ultimate responsibility for Harvard's finances and for major policy issues.

JULY 1985

Monday

182 183

1 Trail Blazing

Four Harvard Medical School students, in an attempt to dispose of toilet paper while on a hiking trip in a wooded area northeast of Seattle, accidentally started a 500-acre forest fire. The four men admitted to having started the blaze, which took three days and $500,000 to contain, a national forest spokesperson said. The man allegedly responsible for starting the blaze was fined $100, the customary amount levied for starting a fire without a permit.

Tuesday

183 182

2 Pancreas Transplants

The state granted two Harvard-affiliated hospitals permission to conduct long-restricted pancreas transplants, operations which doctors predict will enable thousands of diabetics to produce their own insulin. The Massachussetts General Hospital and the New England Deaconess Hospital, both Harvard affliated, were granted permission to conduct the transplants for one year.

Wednesday

184 181

3 Reading Minds

Some doctors have made careers out of looking into the minds of criminals, but a team of Harvard-affiliated doctors have taken this practice to new heights. In an attempt to learn more about brain abnormalities and violent behavior, the doctors are dissecting and analyzing the brain of a suspected mass murderer who took his own life. The doctors are specifically attempting to find a tumor that may be connected with psychotic tendencies.

Thursday

185 180

4 Rent-a-Museum

While some of Harvard's museums underwent renovations this summer, University officials announced that thousands of artifacts from the Peabody Museum of Archaeology might be rented out to a Texas billionaire and moved to the Lone Star State.

University officials said they are hoping to strike a deal with Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot that would allow him to rent tens of thousands of artifacts from the Peabody's enormous and underexposed collection. The plan would most likely call for the construction of an extension to the Peabody--bearing the computer magnate's name--in Texas which would receive artifacts on a rotating basis. Plans, however, are far from finalized, officials said.

Friday

186 179

5

Saturday

187 178

6 Crew Romps

While most Harvard athletes were vacationing, the Men's Varsity Crew team was off in England busy winning the world's premier rowing regatta. The Crimson took the Grand Challenge Cup at the 140th annual Henley Rowing Regatta in Henley-on-Thames with a three-and-two-thirds lengths victory over Ivy League rival Princeton in the first all-American final in 18 years. Harvard had not won the prestigious event since 1959.

189 176

8 More on South Africa

President Bok joined 19 other college and university presidents in urging the U.S. Senate to enact legislation that would impose strong sanctions on the South African government. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (R-Kan.) and Minority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.), the presidents wrote that the U.S. must punish South Africa for its refusal to dismantle its apartheid system by "sending an unequivocal message through the imposition of official sanctions."

The letter also charged that the Reagan Administration's current policy of "constructive engagement" creates the impression among South Africans that "the American government, despite its denunciation of apartheid, has a policy of tacit acquiescence in the status quo."

190 175

9

192 173

11 Abe Stays Home

Last spring, South African diplomat Abe Hoppenstein paid a visit to Harvard to give a talk to the Conservative Club, and in the process sparked an divestment protest and rally which turned unusually violent. Hoppenstein was asked by the College body charged with disciplining the students involved in the protest-turned-blockade to return to the scene of the alleged crime, not to talk politics, but to discuss his version of the incident, in which about 200 students blocked his exit from Lowell House. Hoppenstein, however, declined the invitation, saying that he did not "want to get involved in domestic [University] matters."

193 172

12

194 171

13 More Skulling

Police were baffled this summer when a Harvard summer school student and a Cambridge man discovered two skulls on a north Cambridge street. The skulls, found in a plastic bag about a quarter mile from Porter Square, were partially caked with wax. After several weeks of investigation, police officials determined that the skulls were most likely part of some ritual service and unrelated to any crime.

196 169

15 Gimme, Gimme

For the fourth consecutive year, Harvard received more voluntary contributions last year than any other college or university in the country. The University pulled in just more than $125 million in charitable gifts during the 1983-84 fiscal year out of $5.6 billion in gifts to higher education nationwide. Contributions to Harvard this year were the third highest in the University's history, coming at the conclusion of the five-year, $350 million Harvard Campaign, which ended in December.

Stanford University ranked second last year, with $111 million in gifts. Yale was third with $75 million.

197 168

16

198 167

17 A Sense of Honor

Dean of the Faculty A. Michael Spence commissioned a study of the merits of an honor code with a view toward possible applications at Harvard. Although Spence said that he has no plans to alter Harvard current testing system, the study is being conducted to help determine if the College might benefit from some type of honor code.

200 165

19 Whole Lotta Art

The Fogg Art Museum is getting gussied up, $400,000 worth. The refurbishment and rearranging is expected to be finished in October, around the time that the new Sackler Wing is due to open. Reconstruction on the 59-year-old Fogg building will allow the museum to exhibit more of its Western Art collection.

201 164

20 Raw Deal

Plans for the new joint Eliot-Kirkland House kitchen fell through this summer, and it appears as though the new kitchen will not be constructed until next year at the earliest. The delay is due primarily to price hikes: construction bids ran about $500,000 over the $1 million projected cost.

JULY 1985

Monday

203 162

22 Stylish Sid

You know Sidney Verba: University Professor, University Librarian, and former assistant dean of the College. Well, now there is a new title for Sid Verba: one of the "Tweediest Professors" in the nation. According to M Magazine, Verba is among eight scholars who clothing most typifies the term "Tweedy."

Verba accepted the honor quite modestly, saying he felt he "really did not earn the title" because he "never really worked at being tweedy."

In addition, Lowell Professor of the Humanities William Alfred earned the the M Magazine honor of "Beyond Tweedy: The Suity Professor." He said the award the "most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I'm the most unstylish man at Harvard. I think it's hilarious that they picked me."

Tuesday

204 161

23

Wednesday

Thursday

206 159

25 No Discrimination

Harvard adopted a University-wide bill that formally prohibits discrimination by any of its affiliates on numerous bases, including sexual orientation, political beliefs, and physical disability. The legislation, approved by the seven-man governing Corporation, prohibits all University affiliates from discriminating against other members of the Harvard community except on the basis of individual ability to contribute to institutional objectives.

Friday

207 158

26

Saturday

208 157

27 UMass Divests

Activists at the University of Massachusetts this year may have to find a new issue to protest. University officials announced that they totally divested their $370,000 of stock in companies doing businesss in South Africa. The announcement, which was made with a noticeable lack of publicity and fanfare, came just a few weeks after two student sit-ins and 33 protest-related arrests this spring.

210 155

29 New Deans

In one of the largest University Hall shake-ups in years, Harvard announced the appointment of three new deans of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS):

*Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid L. Fred Jewett '57 was named to dean of Harvard College. He replaced John B. Fox Jr. '59.

*Fox, five months after announcing his decision to resign from his post as dean of the College, was named administrative dean of the GSAS.

*Professor of Anthropology Sally Falk Moore was named dean of the GSAS.

211 154

30

AUGUST 1985

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

213 152

1 A Battle of Nerve

The highest court in Massachusetts upheld a Cambridge ordinance banning the testing, storage, transportation or disposal of nerve gas within city limits. The Arthur D. Little Co., located less than two miles from Harvard Square, has been testing the gas for two years for the Department of Defense. It said it would not appeal the ruling.

Friday

214 151

2 Torres Sentenced

Emmanuel Torres, who was convicted in July of the stabbing of Caroline R. Isenberg '84, was sentenced to four concurrent prison terms of 25 years to life.

Isenberg, an aspiring actress, was accosted by Torres early in the morning of Sunday, December 2, 1984, when he robbed her and attempted to rape her, official reports stated. When she resisted, he stabbed her nine times, according to police reports.

Saturday

215 150

3 Get Shot

Starting next fall, freshmen who have not been immunized against measles will be prohibited from enrolling in the College. A recently enacted state regulation specifically requires that students entering institutions of higher education in the state must show proof of immunity against measles and other vaccine preventable diseases such as tetanus and diptheria.

217 148

5 A New Season

The 1985 national fall protest and rally schedule was prepared this summer by the American Committee on Africa--a coalition of anti-apartheid groups--and the season opener is set for October 11. A spokesman for the group said that they hope to kick off the fall term students at colleges nationwide protesting university investments in companies that do business in South Africa. Harvard activists, however, said that they have yet to plan anything for the big day.

218 147

6 Unreal Estate

Cambridge City Councilor David E. Sullivan introduced a bill aimed at halting Harvard's policy of selling small rent-controlled houses to faculty members on a priority basis.

Rent control advocates, including Sullivan, argued that preferential sales will deplete the city's supply of low-income housing.

219

7 Swedengate

Last year, Swedish Prime minister Olaf Palme lectured at Harvard, but declined to accept his $5000 honorarium. Four months later his son received a scholarship at the Kennedy School for approximately $5000. This seemingly obscure data caused a major furor in Sweden this summer as members of the Swedish news media charged the Prime Minister had committed tax fraud by backhandedly trying to secure the scholarship for his son. Opponents of Palme charged that by refusing a highly taxable fee for the speech, he intended to defer the money for a tax-free study grant for his son. Both Palme and Kennedy School officials denied the allegations and said that there was no connection between the scholarship and the lecture stipend.

220 145

8

221 144

9 16 Grand News

The bad news is that your Harvard tuition this year will come to $16,500. The good news is that Harvard experienced its lowest percentage price jump since 1973, and it will cost less to go here than either Princeton or Yale. Other data released in the annual College Board survey stated that Harvard is the sixth most expensive college in the nation. College  Cost 1. Bennington  $17,210 2. MIT  $17,030 3. Barnard  $16,842 4. Princeton  $16,790 5. Yale  $16,650 6. Harvard  $16,500 7. Sarah Lawrence  $16,285 8. Stanford  $16,193 9. Tufts  $16,133 10. Dartmouth  $16,120

224 141

12 Bullitt Dies

Profesor of English Literature John M. Bullitt '43 died of lung cancer at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He was 64.

A specialist in 18th century English literature, Bullitt was widely recognized for his expertise on the satirist Jonathan Swift, as well as for his wide range of talents and sense of humor. His death came just two months after he filed $5 million lawsuits against each of three tobacco manufacturers and a tobacco trade association, charging that the firms employ deceptive advertising to sell their products and do not give adequate health warnings on packages. His wife said that she had not decided whether to continue the suit.

225 140

13

227 138

15 Bee Dung

For years the governement has insisted that "yellow rain" in East Asia is evidence of chemical warfare used by the Soviet Union. Not so, says Cabot Professor of Natural Sciences Matthew Meselson. Instead, he charged in a report published in Scientific American magazine, the yellow rain is really nothing more than bee feces.

The report, which is likely to kindle further controversy over the issue, showed new evidence to back Meselson's claim.

228 137

16 GMAT Dropped

In an unexpected move, the Business School became the first school of its kind in the nation to eliminate the standardized Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) as a requirement for admission.

B-School officials said that the standardized tests fail to aid the admissions office in selecting those individuals with "the greatest potential to become outstanding general managers" from the pool of highly talented applicants.

229 136

17 Pay Up

Thought you could get away with defaulting unnoticed on your federal student loan? Think again. The U.S. Department of Education announced that they would send letters notifying more than 80,000 students who have defaulted on federal loans that their income tax refunds could be seized to pay off the debt. Twenty-one thousand federally sponsored student loans to Harvard students, totalling $80,000, are outstanding, University officials said.

224 141

12 Bullitt Dies

Profesor of English Literature John M. Bullitt '43 died of lung cancer at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He was 64.

A specialist in 18th century English literature, Bullitt was widely recognized for his expertise on the satirist Jonathan Swift, as well as for his wide range of talents and sense of humor. His death came just two months after he filed $5 million lawsuits against each of three tobacco manufacturers and a tobacco trade association, charging that the firms employ deceptive advertising to sell their products and do not give adequate health warnings on packages. His wife said that she had not decided whether to continue the suit.

225 140

13

227 138

15 Bee Dung

For years the governement has insisted that "yellow rain" in East Asia is evidence of chemical warfare used by the Soviet Union. Not so, says Cabot Professor of Natural Sciences Matthew Meselson. Instead, he charged in a report published in Scientific American magazine, the yellow rain is really nothing more than bee feces.

The report, which is likely to kindle further controversy over the issue, showed new evidence to back Meselson's claim.

228 137

16 GMAT Dropped

In an unexpected move, the Business School became the first school of its kind in the nation to eliminate the standardized Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) as a requirement for admission.

B-School officials said that the standardized tests fail to aid the admissions office in selecting those individuals with "the greatest potential to become outstanding general managers" from the pool of highly talented applicants.

229 136

17 Pay Up

Thought you could get away with defaulting unnoticed on your federal student loan? Think again. The U.S. Department of Education announced that they would send letters notifying more than 80,000 students who have defaulted on federal loans that their income tax refunds could be seized to pay off the debt. Twenty-one thousand federally sponsored student loans to Harvard students, totalling $80,000, are outstanding, University officials said.