Club Members Criticize Epps

Months after Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III intervened to remove two campus organizations from the power of a recent Harvard graduate, some students said his actions were unilateral.

Konstantinos G. Tsakonas '93 founded the magazine Points of Reference and was director of the Business Club last year. But students said that after he graduated, he tried to control the organizations, appoint his successors and smear his rivals.

Members of the magazine said they are satisfied with Epps' intervention. Some students involved in the Business Club, however, said Epps ignored student concerns when he appointed the club's new president without consulting members first.

The club's constitution at the time stated that its outgoing director could appoint incoming officers, Dimitar J. Genov '94 said last fall. Epps said that other organizations also appoint their officers.

Amid charges that Tsakonas had altered the constitution of the Business Club so he could control it as an alumnus, Daniel W. Hart '95 founded the Enterprise Society last fall.

With two competing organizations on campus and with a graduate leading one of them despite College policy, Epps took action and appointed Henrietta O. Shields '95, according to students.

Shields said "elections were not possible, as Hart had recruited the '92-'93 membership for the [EnterpriseSociety]."

Epps said yesterday he did "not wish to discussKonstantinos Tsakonas."

A former officer of the Business Club said hewas upset that Shields had been appointed "byEpps" without an election.

"But I understand the constitution doesn't callfor a democratic election," he said.

Hart has withdrawn from the college for thissemester and is in California. Citing his distancefrom the college, he refused to comment onTsakonas.

Shields, the president of the Business Club,said Tsakonas is in Russia. She refused toelaborate.

Tsakonas, who has a Cambridge telephone number,could not be contacted.

While at Harvard, Tsakonas founded Points ofReference, a journal of Hellenic culture. Althoughhe graduated in June of 1993, Tsakonas continuedto edit, produce and solicit money for themagazine.

In an editorial in the first issue, Tsakonasbilled the magazine as an "independent"organization, although it was partly funded by anUndergraduate Council grant. Council PresidentCarey W. Gabay '94 said the council gives grantsonly to official organizations.

Natasha Covas '96, the vice-president of Pointsof Reference, said Tsakonas tried to make the clubindependent of Harvard.

"It may have been that he wanted more controlover it as an [alumnus]," she said, referring tothe College's rule that only currentundergraduates may hold leadership roles inofficials organizations.

"Konstantinos was still heading theorganization and he wasn't allowed to do that withuniversity rules," Covas said. "Dean Epps calledus into his office and told us we couldn't dothat, that we had to change the constitution."

Covas said Tsakonas disagreed with Epps and"told him so." She said Epps' response was,"Listen Konstantinos, whether you are right orwrong you are not an undergraduate."

Spyros Poulios, president of the magazine, saidTsakonas "was not a controversial person."

Emmanuela Gakidou '95, Point of Reference'scurrent editor, said the magazine has always beenan official organization, despite Tsakonas'assertion in the fall issue that the journal wasindependent

Epps said yesterday he did "not wish to discussKonstantinos Tsakonas."

A former officer of the Business Club said hewas upset that Shields had been appointed "byEpps" without an election.

"But I understand the constitution doesn't callfor a democratic election," he said.

Hart has withdrawn from the college for thissemester and is in California. Citing his distancefrom the college, he refused to comment onTsakonas.

Shields, the president of the Business Club,said Tsakonas is in Russia. She refused toelaborate.

Tsakonas, who has a Cambridge telephone number,could not be contacted.

While at Harvard, Tsakonas founded Points ofReference, a journal of Hellenic culture. Althoughhe graduated in June of 1993, Tsakonas continuedto edit, produce and solicit money for themagazine.

In an editorial in the first issue, Tsakonasbilled the magazine as an "independent"organization, although it was partly funded by anUndergraduate Council grant. Council PresidentCarey W. Gabay '94 said the council gives grantsonly to official organizations.

Natasha Covas '96, the vice-president of Pointsof Reference, said Tsakonas tried to make the clubindependent of Harvard.

"It may have been that he wanted more controlover it as an [alumnus]," she said, referring tothe College's rule that only currentundergraduates may hold leadership roles inofficials organizations.

"Konstantinos was still heading theorganization and he wasn't allowed to do that withuniversity rules," Covas said. "Dean Epps calledus into his office and told us we couldn't dothat, that we had to change the constitution."

Covas said Tsakonas disagreed with Epps and"told him so." She said Epps' response was,"Listen Konstantinos, whether you are right orwrong you are not an undergraduate."

Spyros Poulios, president of the magazine, saidTsakonas "was not a controversial person."

Emmanuela Gakidou '95, Point of Reference'scurrent editor, said the magazine has always beenan official organization, despite Tsakonas'assertion in the fall issue that the journal wasindependent