Six Faculty Members Join Race Relations Committee

Six faculty members have agreed to serve on the College's new committee on race relations, Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles said yesterday.

Committee members include Professor of English Marjorie Garber, associate dean of the faculty for affirmative action; Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies Diana L. Eck; Kahn Associate Professor of the History of Science Anne Harrington; and Plummer Professor of Christian Morals Peter J. Gomes.

Two house masters will also serve on the committee: Leverett Master John E. Dowling '57, Cabot professor of the natural sciences, and Kirkland Master Donald H. Pfister, Gray professor of the history of science.

Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 also holds a committee seat, as does Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, who was recently designated the administration's coordinating officer for race relations.

Eight undergraduates will join the faculty members, according to Professor of Afro-American Studies K. AnthonyAppiah, who was appointed chair of the committeelast week.

Committees have always abounded in theCollege's effort to ease campus racial tensions.Both designated race relations offices--theHarvard Foundation and the Office of RaceRelations and Minority Affairs--have had their ownstudent and faculty advisory bodies.

Appiah said he will likely choose studentmembers of the latest committee from the twoexisting student advisory groups. He said he willmeet this morning with those groups to discuss theselection process.

Knowles similarly drew from the two offices'faculty advisory committees--which have since beendissolved--to fill the professorial side ofHarvard's newest race relations body.

Appiah said his committee aims to provide theCollege with a policy framework to deal withracial issues. He said he hopes its leadershipwill help ease the racial tensions that eruptedlast spring.

"Our opinions will carry weight," Appiah said.

But officially, the committee's role remainsadvisory. Appiah said Harvard's newest racerelations authorities will not compete with eitherthe Foundation or the Office of Race Relations.

"I don't regard it as our job to run oroverride anything," Appiah said. "We are not anadministrative body."

Appiah expects to hold conferences with anumber of student organizations in order to gaugestudents' sentiments toward race relations. Hesaid that if those meetings yield very differentviewpoints, then his committee may distribute acampus-wide survey.

Joanna M. Weiss contributed to the reportingof this article.

Committees have always abounded in theCollege's effort to ease campus racial tensions.Both designated race relations offices--theHarvard Foundation and the Office of RaceRelations and Minority Affairs--have had their ownstudent and faculty advisory bodies.

Appiah said he will likely choose studentmembers of the latest committee from the twoexisting student advisory groups. He said he willmeet this morning with those groups to discuss theselection process.

Knowles similarly drew from the two offices'faculty advisory committees--which have since beendissolved--to fill the professorial side ofHarvard's newest race relations body.

Appiah said his committee aims to provide theCollege with a policy framework to deal withracial issues. He said he hopes its leadershipwill help ease the racial tensions that eruptedlast spring.

"Our opinions will carry weight," Appiah said.

But officially, the committee's role remainsadvisory. Appiah said Harvard's newest racerelations authorities will not compete with eitherthe Foundation or the Office of Race Relations.

"I don't regard it as our job to run oroverride anything," Appiah said. "We are not anadministrative body."

Appiah expects to hold conferences with anumber of student organizations in order to gaugestudents' sentiments toward race relations. Hesaid that if those meetings yield very differentviewpoints, then his committee may distribute acampus-wide survey.

Joanna M. Weiss contributed to the reportingof this article.