Students to Defend Ignatiev

A group of Dunster House residents will meet with Master Karel Liem today to protest to his decision to dismiss a controversial house tutor, according to several students.

The tutor, Noel Ignatiev, sparked a campus-wide controversy earlier this year by objecting to University funding of a kosher toaster oven in the Dunster dining hall.

Liem last week told Ignatiev, a non-resident tutor in Dunster for the past four years, that his contract would not be renewed for the 1992-93 school year.

Liem, who is also Bigelow professor of ichthyology, said in an interview yesterday he has had several previous fallouts with Ignatiev.

"he has not attended a single tutor meeting throughout the year where we discuss many issues in the House," said Liem, adding that he has fired six other tutors for the same reason.

"This is the low point of my mastership," Liem said.

But leaders of the student group, Dunster Students for Free Expression, said they consider the dismissal a violation of free expression rights and they requested today's meeting to confront Liem with their objections face-to-face.

"We are going to meet with the master to express our strong disapproval, demand that he change his position, and ask [him] to specify his reasons [for dismissing Ignatiev]," said organizer Adam K. Goodheart '92.

The students have already written letters to President Neil L. Rudenstine and Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III in hopes of enlisting their support.

The group also distributed a flyer which condemned Ignatiev's dismissal as an infringement on free speech and a politicization of tutorship.

Liem and Co-Master Hetty Liem replied with anopen letter to the Dunster House community whichattempted to justify the decision.

"It is conduct unbecoming of a Harvard tutor toimpress his own beliefs upon all others, anddemand immediate and unilateral changes in Housepolicy," read the letter.

Liem said he has received a total of 22 letterson the decision--18 letters opposing his decisionand 4 letters in support.

Some students say the dispute polarized thehouse. "this is the biggest controversy Dunsterhas had since I've been here," Goodheart said.

Many students opposing the decision said theywere concerned about Liems view of the tutor'srole in the house.

"[The decision] has catalyzed debate over therole of tutors in the house as academic andpersonal advisers," said Peter B. Rutledge '92,who wrote a letter protesting the dismissal.

While those opposed to Ignatiev's dismissalhave been vocal and active in expressing theirbeliefs, there are also student who have supportedthe master.

"I don't think Liem fired him [in violation of]free speech, said Anna Fateeva-Berend '92-93. "Ifhe fired him it is because he is not considerateenough and [in that] he did the right thing.

Liem and Co-Master Hetty Liem replied with anopen letter to the Dunster House community whichattempted to justify the decision.

"It is conduct unbecoming of a Harvard tutor toimpress his own beliefs upon all others, anddemand immediate and unilateral changes in Housepolicy," read the letter.

Liem said he has received a total of 22 letterson the decision--18 letters opposing his decisionand 4 letters in support.

Some students say the dispute polarized thehouse. "this is the biggest controversy Dunsterhas had since I've been here," Goodheart said.

Many students opposing the decision said theywere concerned about Liems view of the tutor'srole in the house.

"[The decision] has catalyzed debate over therole of tutors in the house as academic andpersonal advisers," said Peter B. Rutledge '92,who wrote a letter protesting the dismissal.

While those opposed to Ignatiev's dismissalhave been vocal and active in expressing theirbeliefs, there are also student who have supportedthe master.

"I don't think Liem fired him [in violation of]free speech, said Anna Fateeva-Berend '92-93. "Ifhe fired him it is because he is not considerateenough and [in that] he did the right thing.