No Decision on Response to Mansfield

Provost Jerry R. Green said yesterday that the administration has not yet decided whether to respond to recent controversial testimony offered by Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield '53, although he personally disagrees with Mansfield's statements.

Green said he has not yet discussed the matter with President Neil L. Rudenstine, but that he is scheduled to meet with Rudenstine tomorrow to talk about University issues.

Mansfield testified in a trial in Colorado last week regarding Amendment 2, an amendment to the state constitution that would prohibit local communities from passing nondiscrimination policies based on sexual orientation.

In his statements, Mansfield said homosexuality "undermines civilization," calling it "shameful."

Green said the administration had not yet talked to Mansfield about his remarks, and that no meeting had been planned.

While he would not say if the administration would eventually take a position on Mansfield's testimony, Green said that he, speaking outside of his role as provost, does not agree with Mansfield's assertions.

"I think the world would be a better place if matters of private life were left private," he said.

"Those are very sweeping statements--what does it mean to undermine civilization?...I regard it as a matter of private life," he said.

But Green said that University officials have not yet decided whether they will respond to student requests for the administration to disassociate itself from Mansfield's statements and to publicly restate Harvard's non-discrimination policy.

Members of the Coalition of Harvard Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Groups said last week that they will request a meeting with Rudenstine to ask for a public reaffirmation of University policy.

"I do think we should be judged by our actions and by our policy," he said. "We may or may not say something, but I think the actions should count.

Green added that he did not want to comment on the specifics of the issue. "[This is] unlike the previous case [when Mansfield spoke about grade inflation at Harvard]--that was about Harvard and about education," he said. "When a faculty member makes statements in their role as a privatecitizen, obviously they have a right to do so andI don't think we should, as University officials,[can] say they shouldn't."

Stephen E. Frank contributed to thereporting of this story.

Stephen E. Frank contributed to thereporting of this story.