Spence Says Dean Search Was Fair

In a letter responding to a student group's request that there be an investigation of the University's minority hiring record, Dean of the Faculty A. Michael Spence denied charges that the 1985 search for the dean of the College was racially biased.

The William J. Seymour Society, a Black Christian student group, requested in April that President Bok investigate charges that Archie C. Epps III, who has been dean of students for more than 15 years, was bypassed as a candidate for dean of the College because he is Black.

Bok said he would not investigate the charges and sent the letter to Spence, who was responsible for choosing the dean of the College.

The charges were made in an article by Eugene F. Rivers '83 that is to be published next fall. Rivers wrote that Spence never seriously considered Epps for the position and did not interview him for the job.

In his May 28 letter to the Seymour Society, Spence said he would not comment on his reasons for choosing former dean of Admissions L. Fred Jewett '57 as dean of the College. Rather thebulk of Spence's letter described the proceduresfollowed by the committee charged in 1985 withsearching for the dean of the College.

Spence wrote that he interviewed only those topcandidates who were not members of the University.He also said that he would not conduct an officialinvestigation into the charges.

"I have talked with Dean Epps about your letterand understand that he has told you that he doesnot wish to have his case investigated. He urgesinstead the we look to the future," the letterreads.

The letter defends Harvard's hiring policies.Spence wrote that he and Epps "agree that weshould be constantly vigilant to insure that ourpolicies of promotion stress merit andcontribution to the College."

Epps declined yesterday to comment on thecharges, saying only, "I think contribution shouldbe taken into account. By contribution you aremeasuring what you have accomplished, what wereyour goals and have you met them. It is meant tobe an objective standard not a objectiveone."

Members of the Seymour Society could not bereached for comment yesterday.

In the letter, Spence wrote that the searchcommittee assembled a pool of 41 potentialcandidates and ultimately recommended sixindividuals, four from within the University andtwo outsiders. The committee then singled outthree people as the best prospects but sent allsix names to Spence.

Members of the search committee defended theprocess and the ultimate selection of Jewett, whothey said was one of their top three choices forthe post.

According to committee member Associate Deanfor Academic Planning Phyllis Keller, Epps wasamong the six top candidates and was interviewedextensively by the search committee. Committeemembers would not say if Epps was one of theirthree top choices. They also would not identifythe other candidates.

"I believe that the committee conducted athorough, comprehensive and fair search. Myconfidence in this process is based on myconfidence in the committee members and on mydetailed knowlege of the steps they took toidentify and evaluate all possible candidates,"Spence wrote. "I did not then and do not now findany basis for the accusations made by Mr. Rivers."

Rivers yesterday criticized Spence's letter forfailing to discuss Epps' particular case. "Theletter is a prefunctory exercise in how not todisclose relevant information." he said. "EitherEpps was dealt with fairly and there was aninterview conducted or there wasn't."

In the article, Rivers charged that Harvardfeels "the image of a Black in a powerful positionis still naturally undersirable." Rivers wrotethat Epps' candidacy for the job was purelysymbolic.

But search committee members said they made agood faith effort to consider minority and femalecandidates.

"The committee took significant steps toinclude as many viable candidates as possible andpart of that was an effort to include minoritiesand women," Keller said, adding that both of thetop outside candidates were women.

"Knowing the people who were on the committee,it is outrageous to accuse any of them of racistor sexist attitudes. The process was fully openand fair," said Pforzheimer University ProfessorSidney Verba '53, who chaired the searchcommittee.

Ultimately the best man won, committee memberssaid. "Jewett was an extraordinary candidate and avery tough act to beat," Keller said. "[Hisselection] shouldn't reflect negatively on theothers.