The Crimson's Black Record

Three prominent minority alumni yesterday offered a more sobering view of Harvard than that portrayed at most of this week's 350th festivities, in a symposium called, "Racial and Cultural Diversity at Harvard."

The panelists expressed mixed feelings about their years at Harvard and suggested ways in which the University, and the Harvard Foundation for Race Relations in particular, could improve the state of minority life.

The Foundation was created in 1981 to improve campus race relations in response to students' continuing demand for a Third World Center at Harvard.

S. Allen Counter, the panel's moderator who directs the Foundation, said that he received some "sad" reactions from 350th celebration planners when he suggested a symposium on cultural diversity and similar events related to minority issues.

During his introductory statement, Counter said one administrator remarked, "'I really didn't know we had all those people [minority students] here.'"

Muriel S. Snowden '38, co-founder of Boston's Freedom House, which promotes improved race relations, said she is distressed by the University's lack of pride in its Black achievers. She cited the sparse tribute paid to Harvard's distinguished black graduates at the 350th celebration as evidence that the problem still exists today.

"I have felt that Harvard would like to be color blind so that all [its students] would come out white and crimson. But there is something very special about being Black and crimson," Snowden said.

Snowden said the Foundation must publicize its goals and projects more visibly. Moreover, the entire Harvard community must begin to recognize and appreciate the Foundation's work, she said.

Vicki Sato '68, a Japanese American and a former Harvard instructor, said that despite her affection for Harvard, during her years at the University, she never felt that an active Asian student community existed. Sato said Asian students need to be more aggressive in that regard. "We're not just passing through providing cultural diversity for others," she said.