Rudenstine Addresses U.C. On Powell Issue

President Neil L. Rudenstine told the Undergraduate Council yesterday that Gen. Colin L. Powell was chosen to address this year's commencement because of leadership in redefining the role of America's military yesterday.

Rudenstine said that Powell has had "an extraordinarily distinguished career over a long period of time...particularly...in the last two to three years.

"Here's a person who's had to shape policy," Rudenstine said.

The University's selection of Powell as Commencement speaker has stirred controversy on campus because of the General's support for the ban on gays and lesbians in the military.

Rudenstine said the fact that Powell would be Harvard's first Black commencement speaker was also a consideration for the University.

"He is an African-American. To some people that was the consideration," Rudenstine said. "He would be the first African-American to ever make a Commencement speech."

The president added that Powell's imminent retirement means that Commencement would be an ideal time for the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to reflect on his career.

In response to a question, Rudenstine said when University officials began to discuss inviting Powell in the fall, the subject of the military ban against gays and lesbians was raised.

"But at that point, in terms of timing, there seemed to be among most people...a perfectly reasonable expectation [that] he...[would] sign the executive order and that the issue was going to be resolved," Rudenstine said.

Rudenstine reiterated his own and the University's opposition to the military's ban on gays but said that he would not advertise his disagreement during Commencement. "Powell knows my position...There is no ambiguity about it," Rudenstine said.

But the president said he worried "about the mixed message that could be out there" but will make his own position clear if asked any during Commencement and will meet with gay and lesbian graduates.

Rudenstine and Provost Jerry R. Green also fielded questions on a variety of other topics.

In response to a council question, Rudenstine said he personally felt that grade inflation began in the late 1960's as a part of the "whole cultural ambience of that period," Rudenstine said. "The whole sense of what grades mean anyways came into doubt during that time."

Green described to the council how his office was addressing the "general feeling that the focus [at Harvard] has tended to be on the professional schools."

During the question and answer session after the speakers had left, Peter S. Cahn '96 questioned Council Chair Michael P. Beys '94 about the council's connection with a two-page advertisement which appeared in Thursday's Crimson.

The ad criticized the newspapers news coverage and editorial page and proclaimed in large type, "They Suck." In Saturday's issue of the newspaper, Crimson President Ira E. Stoll '94 alleged that council members were involved with placing the ad.

Beys did not deny responsibility, but said that Stoll's remarks were only "another case of the Crimson making poor inferences on bad premises."

Stoll, in an interview last night, said he stood by his Saturday editorial saying it was "fair and representative of the truth."

Melissa Garza '94 asked Beys who purchased the ad space in the Crimson. Beys said the Organization for a Better Newspaper paid for the ad. Upon further questioning, Beys said that no council fees were used to pay for the ad, and that no one acted in capacity as a council member when paying for the ad.

In an interview, Crimson Business Manager Young Jin Lee '94 said that a contract was written out for the ad but further information would be unavailable until the manager who sold the ad returns to campus.

In other business, the council voted to appropriate $200 in prize money for the Battle of the Bands concert

Rudenstine and Provost Jerry R. Green also fielded questions on a variety of other topics.

In response to a council question, Rudenstine said he personally felt that grade inflation began in the late 1960's as a part of the "whole cultural ambience of that period," Rudenstine said. "The whole sense of what grades mean anyways came into doubt during that time."

Green described to the council how his office was addressing the "general feeling that the focus [at Harvard] has tended to be on the professional schools."

During the question and answer session after the speakers had left, Peter S. Cahn '96 questioned Council Chair Michael P. Beys '94 about the council's connection with a two-page advertisement which appeared in Thursday's Crimson.

The ad criticized the newspapers news coverage and editorial page and proclaimed in large type, "They Suck." In Saturday's issue of the newspaper, Crimson President Ira E. Stoll '94 alleged that council members were involved with placing the ad.

Beys did not deny responsibility, but said that Stoll's remarks were only "another case of the Crimson making poor inferences on bad premises."

Stoll, in an interview last night, said he stood by his Saturday editorial saying it was "fair and representative of the truth."

Melissa Garza '94 asked Beys who purchased the ad space in the Crimson. Beys said the Organization for a Better Newspaper paid for the ad. Upon further questioning, Beys said that no council fees were used to pay for the ad, and that no one acted in capacity as a council member when paying for the ad.

In an interview, Crimson Business Manager Young Jin Lee '94 said that a contract was written out for the ad but further information would be unavailable until the manager who sold the ad returns to campus.

In other business, the council voted to appropriate $200 in prize money for the Battle of the Bands concert