Signs of Change: Radcliffe Prepares for Merger

Almost one week after the announcement that Radcliffe College intends to merge with Harvard University, mauve-colored signs along Garden Street still direct visitors to the soon to-be dissolved institution.

With a final, legally binding agreement not yet signed, Radcliffe officials say they're not changing those signs-or the additional markers and kiosks in Radcliffe Yard-quite yet.

The Radcliffe flag no longer files over the porch of Fay House, the former college's administrative office, but vandals-not officials- made that decision last Monday.

"I don't want it to look like we're behind the curve, because we've talked about [necessary changes]," said Radcliffe spokesperson Michael A. Armini. "It’s not even a week since the announcement, so we're still talking about this."

But when the ink on the merger agreement dries and Radcliffe College does transform into the new Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, a challenging web of logistical changes will be required to document the move.

From crest-emblazoned podiums to glossy publications to stationery, the "college" designation is ubiquitous in and around Fay House.

"We intend to conduct a comprehensive audit of our publications and other collateral materials to determine the scope of the changes that will have to be made," Armini said.

The Radcliffe College Web site will need an overhaul-a task Armini said has been in the works for some time. According to Armini, the Office of Communications will play a key role in changing the face Radcliffe shows to the world.

One source told The Crimson several months ago that the office's budget included "change-over" funds in anticipation of the merger.

Armini estimates the institution sends out "tens of thousands of pieces of mail," all on college stationery.

But this number pales in comparison to the veritable forest of paper sent nationwide by the Harvard-Radcliffe Office of Admissions.

According to Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis, her office mails more than 150,000 individual pieces of mail a year, each letter adorned with the names of both Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges.

Since 1975, a joint admissions office has admitted men and women to Harvard and Radcliffe. Upon admission to Radcliffe, women have been enrolled "in the blink of an eye," Lewis has been known to say, in Harvard.

Lewis said her office is not yet changing their letterhead or admission brochures-known affectionately as Rollo.

"Right now we're continuing to use the stationery that accurately reflects our office," she said. 1Lewis said the name of the admissions officewill almost certainly change after thedisintegration of Radcliffe College.

"I don't think this is very complicated," shesaid. "Changing a sign is simple, and, in duecourse, stationery and other pieces of paper willchange."

Next year's Rollo hasn't yet been printed, andLewis said the admissions office must postpone afinal press run until a signed agreementformalizes Radcliffe's changed identity.

"We will need to make a decision fairly soonabout how we're going describe the new Institute inour brochures," she said. "It's the kind of thingwe like to put in our brochures."

But Lewis called the change a "simplifyingstep," one that will actually make explainingadmissions to prospective students easier.

"[This will] make it very clear to women thatthey're applying to Harvard, since they think soanyway," she said

"I don't think this is very complicated," shesaid. "Changing a sign is simple, and, in duecourse, stationery and other pieces of paper willchange."

Next year's Rollo hasn't yet been printed, andLewis said the admissions office must postpone afinal press run until a signed agreementformalizes Radcliffe's changed identity.

"We will need to make a decision fairly soonabout how we're going describe the new Institute inour brochures," she said. "It's the kind of thingwe like to put in our brochures."

But Lewis called the change a "simplifyingstep," one that will actually make explainingadmissions to prospective students easier.

"[This will] make it very clear to women thatthey're applying to Harvard, since they think soanyway," she said