Firms to Offer Race Policy Changes

Two companies conducting an independent study of the "dynamics of race relations at Harvard," will suggest "substantial" changes in the way the College handles race relations, Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said yesterday.

Epps said the report of the firms, which are involved in the Negotiations Project, contains suggestions for future administrative reactions to student and faculty concerns and may lead to significant reforms.

"I think this will be a major change," he said.

The College has already undergone a substantial shake-up in its race relations bureaucracy, which started last fall with Epps' appointment as coordinator of the College's race relations policy.

The report, expected for release on May 11, is the result of a University-wide survey conducted by Private Dispute Arbiters Inc. and Conflict Management Group who donated their time last November to study race relations at the College.

Epps refused to discuss the specifics of how the Project's findings might impact the College's policy.

The Conflict Management firms' report will be based on the findings of a University-wide survey, which consisted of student polls and research into the sources of the student, faculty and administration conflicts at both the College and the graduate schools.

The report will probably have the greatest impact on a committee, chaired by Professor of Afro-American Studies K. Anthony Appiah, which is charged with formulating a long-term scheme for the College's race relations policy. It is unclear whether the committee will release any recommendations before the end of the semester.