Service Leaders Oppose FAS Report

Members of Harvard's two student public service organization distributed a letter to Harvard's faculty yesterday asking them to reject the controversial recommendations of the Report on the Structure of Harvard College.

Members of the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) board of directors and the coordinators of the Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) program have said they will not be fiscally able to commit to programming next year if the Faculty of Arts and Sciences implements the recommendations made in the report.

The report recommends combining the University's current two-part public service structure under a new Assistant Dean for Public Service and housing the resulting structure in Phillips Brooks House.

The report also suggests creating a Standing Faculty Committee on Public Service, which would have "ultimate judgment on levels of activity and educational objectives of public service programs."

"[I]f the recommendations of the Sub-Committee are adopted, or if the relevant issues are resolved in a manner inconsistent with providing adequate support for quality programming, we cannot guarantee the continuing quality of our programs," the letter to the faculty reads.

And in an interview Monday, PBHA President John B. King '95-'96 said PBHA might consider withdrawing from the support of the University if the reports recommendations were implemented and Greg A. Johnson '72 were no longer Executive Director.

"We could hire our own staff and raise our own endowment money," King said.

King said he thinks PBH staff members would leave the organization if Johnson were dismissed and the two service structures were combined.

"I think a lot of staff would leave if Greg left, and they had to support the other programs," King said.

The letter to the faculty reiterates the ultimatum delivered by student public service leaders in a memo to Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles.

The letter is signed by King, PBHA Vice-President Christina Ho '95; Johnson; PBH Assistant Director Ken Smith; Central HAND Coordinators Jenna B. McNeill '95, Sara Mulholland '95 and Kelly T. Yee '95; and Director of the Office of Public Service Gail Epstein.

"Therefore, as of December 15th for PBHA and January 31st for HAND, we will not commit to programming beyond June 1, 1995. As a result we will be unable to pursue crucial funding for PBHA Summer Programs or make preparations for any PBHA or HAND activities beyond June 1," it reads.

Student Groups such as the Undergraduate Council, HAND and PBHA have criticized the Report on the Structure of Harvard College, which was submitted to Knowles this August for his approval, saying if Knowles approves the report's recommendations might interfere with their organization's autonomy.

"The report is really for the benefit of the [Faculty of Arts and Sciences] and not for the benefit of public service or the people we serve," King said Monday.

In memos to Knowles this September, Epstein and Johnson criticized the proposal to combine the structures under one dean.

"As regards the recommendation of the report, I understand them to be as follows," Johnson wrote. "That the Executive Director of Brooks House, the Director of the Stride Rite Community Service Program, and the College Director of the Office of Public Service Programs be laid off."

Johnson and Epstein currently hold those positions.

At a meeting of the PBHA Association Committee last month PBHA and HAND leaders charged that University administrators with interfering with their planning for next year by refusing to establish a timeline for the appointment of a new dean.

"The Executive Director of PBHA signs off on about $100,000 of grants and funding proposals," King said at that meeting. "If Greg is let go in the middle of his contract [which ends this June], there's ambiguity about whether he'll feel comfortable signing off on those grants."

At that meeting, Nancy L. Maull, administrative dean for the faculty of arts and sciences, said that if Knowles decides to conduct a search for the new assistant dean, the University would be careful not to interfere with PBHA programming until at least next September.

Yesterday's letter to the faculty recommends the faculty allow Johnson and Epstein remain in their current positions, maintain current public service staff deployment, and appoint a faculty standing committee on public service to oversee public service funding.

Despite the students' attempt to notify the faculty of their deadline, no faculty members spoke about the report or public service at yesterday's meeting.

Faculty members responded with silence to Knowles' request for their comment on the report and the search for a new Dean of the College.

King and PBHA Secretary Harvetta E. Nero '96 said last night they were frustrated by the faculty's apparent lack of interest.

"It's terribly unfortunate that it didn't come up for discussion," King said. "It certainly doesn't say much for the type of participation that we can expect from the faculty standing committee."

Nero said she is concerned that the lack of debate on the report indicates an apathy toward public service.

"Today's meeting gives very little credence to [administrators'] claim that they're concerned about student issues," Nero said.

Both King and Nero said programming could be effected even if the faculty do debate public service at their next faculty meeting on December 13.

"They're cutting it awfully close," Nero said.

And McNeill said she was not surprised by the faculty's silence.

"I think this is one of the difficulties about their idea of having a standing committee with more faculty involved," McNeill said. "They assume that more faculty will get involved. Clearly this is not a priority for the faculty."

Johnson and Epstein also said last night the faculty's silence was not unexpected.

"If our fate is going to be determined by them one of the dangers it that it will be deprioritized and postponed," Epstein said.

And Johnson said the faculty and administration continued inaction toward public service might cause delays in programming.

"It's very difficult to have faith in the future if the present is so uncertain," Johnson said. "If the three professional people can't see their way through to the proper organization of those programs, then we can't see our way through to programming."

Johnson said King's suggestion that PBH would consider withdrawing from the University would be difficult to realize.

"The way that Brooks House has evolved over the years it would be very difficult to come to that arrangement tomorrow," Johnson said

"As regards the recommendation of the report, I understand them to be as follows," Johnson wrote. "That the Executive Director of Brooks House, the Director of the Stride Rite Community Service Program, and the College Director of the Office of Public Service Programs be laid off."

Johnson and Epstein currently hold those positions.

At a meeting of the PBHA Association Committee last month PBHA and HAND leaders charged that University administrators with interfering with their planning for next year by refusing to establish a timeline for the appointment of a new dean.

"The Executive Director of PBHA signs off on about $100,000 of grants and funding proposals," King said at that meeting. "If Greg is let go in the middle of his contract [which ends this June], there's ambiguity about whether he'll feel comfortable signing off on those grants."

At that meeting, Nancy L. Maull, administrative dean for the faculty of arts and sciences, said that if Knowles decides to conduct a search for the new assistant dean, the University would be careful not to interfere with PBHA programming until at least next September.

Yesterday's letter to the faculty recommends the faculty allow Johnson and Epstein remain in their current positions, maintain current public service staff deployment, and appoint a faculty standing committee on public service to oversee public service funding.

Despite the students' attempt to notify the faculty of their deadline, no faculty members spoke about the report or public service at yesterday's meeting.

Faculty members responded with silence to Knowles' request for their comment on the report and the search for a new Dean of the College.

King and PBHA Secretary Harvetta E. Nero '96 said last night they were frustrated by the faculty's apparent lack of interest.

"It's terribly unfortunate that it didn't come up for discussion," King said. "It certainly doesn't say much for the type of participation that we can expect from the faculty standing committee."

Nero said she is concerned that the lack of debate on the report indicates an apathy toward public service.

"Today's meeting gives very little credence to [administrators'] claim that they're concerned about student issues," Nero said.

Both King and Nero said programming could be effected even if the faculty do debate public service at their next faculty meeting on December 13.

"They're cutting it awfully close," Nero said.

And McNeill said she was not surprised by the faculty's silence.

"I think this is one of the difficulties about their idea of having a standing committee with more faculty involved," McNeill said. "They assume that more faculty will get involved. Clearly this is not a priority for the faculty."

Johnson and Epstein also said last night the faculty's silence was not unexpected.

"If our fate is going to be determined by them one of the dangers it that it will be deprioritized and postponed," Epstein said.

And Johnson said the faculty and administration continued inaction toward public service might cause delays in programming.

"It's very difficult to have faith in the future if the present is so uncertain," Johnson said. "If the three professional people can't see their way through to the proper organization of those programs, then we can't see our way through to programming."

Johnson said King's suggestion that PBH would consider withdrawing from the University would be difficult to realize.

"The way that Brooks House has evolved over the years it would be very difficult to come to that arrangement tomorrow," Johnson said