Dean Epps Steps Down After 26 Years

Harvard's longest serving dean of students, Archie C. Epps III, announced this year that he will step down from his post and, through black tie celebrations and fond letters, students have lined up to pay tribute to the retiring dean.

Over 200 students, faculty members and well-wishers attended a farewell dinner held at the elegant Loeb House to praise him for his work during the 28 years he served as dean of students.

Epps will be Harvard's last dean of students, as a new organizational hierarchy that gives most of Epps' responsibilities to a newly created position of associate dean for student activities. David P. Illingworth '71, who currently works in the University's financial aid office, was recently chosen to fill the position.

At the end of Epps' tenure, it seems Illingworth has a tough legacy to live up to. Although Epps was sometimes a controversial figure on campus, the outpouring of appreciation for him since he announced his resignation has been overwhelming.

"Students that have interacted with him are genuinely appreciative of what he's done for the student body," said Undergraduate Council President Noah Z. Seton '00. "Whether you agree with him or disagree with him on any issue, when you hear an opinion from Dean Epps, that's something of value."

Forgive and Forget

Things have not always gone this smoothly for the dapper, contemplative dean who has served as the most visible link between students and the administration through both good times and bad.

Epps came to be a symbol of Harvard's conservatism when, as an assistant dean of the College, he resisted the protestors who forced administrators out of University Hall in the 1969 takeover. He was later one of the three University affiliates who presented disciplinary casesagainst the students involved.

He also provoked protest from some students byattacking the College's final clubs for theirrefusal to admit women and their loose alcoholpolicies.

And his handling of race-related issues--inwhich he has played a significant role since hebecame Harvard's only prominent blackadministrator in 1963--has also beencontroversial.

During his time at the College, Epps shaped andreshaped the administrative structures that dealwith race, most recently by putting into place asystem of race relations tutors in the Houses andhelping create the Harvard Foundation forIntercultural and Race Relations.

He has also been a vocal opponent of amulticultural student center--once widely soughtafter by leaders of minorityorganizations--because he said he feared separatespaces would lead to racial separatism.

But some minority activists said Epps' workmerely gave administrators something to point toin response to complaints about race relations.

In 1992, after a dispute over the plans of theBlack Students Association (BSA) to bringcontroversial Afro-centrist speaker LeonardJeffries to campus, BSA President Zaheer R. Ali'94 charged that Epps was being used by theadministration to "keep the students in check."

But while Epps' sometimes articulated unpopularstances on behalf of the administration, he alsorepresented students' concerns to administrators.

"He was an interpreter of students to all ofus," former University President Derek C. Bok saidin November.

Epps sometimes championed student calls foraction, including the recent demands for a newstudents center, even though many otheradministrators called this idea unfeasible.

Epps advocated for the building--which he saidshould be called College Hall--to accommodate therecent growth in the number of studentorganizations, from 90 in 1980 to over 240 lastyear.

Epps has been involved with some of thesegroups on more than a purely supervisory basis. Hewas a member of the Harvard Glee Club during the1950s and '60s, and to this day sings with them attheir football concerts.

And after dealing with what Epps calls the "hotpotato issues" of his early years as a dean, thestudent center proposal has allowed Epps to leaveon a high note.

"There's been some smooth sailing for a coupleyears," Seton says.

"He's been involved with space and the studentcenter and alcohol policy and stuff like that,"Seton adds. "There hasn't been anythingdevastatingly controversial that he's beeninvolved in that would ignite great passion."

In recent years, even Epps' more controversialstands seem to have been forgotten.

"After 30 years of service, people aresometimes willing to let bygones be bygones,"Seton says. "They see he has transcended all ofthose individual interests and established himselfover a larger period."

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 saysthis attitude might be tied to students' positivefeelings about the College as a whole.

"The climate on this campus in general is verypositive over lots of things," says Lewis, whopraised Epps as an "extraordinary figure."

"Some of the feelings students may have aboutHarvard have spilled over to his credit, which isfine," Lewis says.

'Vindication'

While Epps says his "reputation has changeddepending on the issues" he has focused on, hesays his receptions at this time feels likepayback for his love of the College and itsstudents.

"I see it as a vindication of the way I'vetried to go about things," says Epps, who addshappily that "all the good is coming out as Ileave."

"I'm just a person who likes the way collegestudents are and who has the patience to wait forthem to change and grow up," he says.

With an incomparable memory ofHarvard--spanning the 40 years since he came tothe University as a Divinity School student fromrural Louisiana--administrators said Epps is moreconnected to Harvard's history than almost anyone.

"There's nothing more Harvard than ArchieEpps," Lewis said at Epps' retirement dinner.

With his matching suits, bow ties, andgentlemanly demeanor, Epps sometimes seems closerto the old Harvard presidents whose graves helikes to stroll among than to his currentcolleagues.

"I come out of the tradition of the solitarydean," Epps says. "I come from a generation wherethere's a lot to be said for muddling through andbeing open and not necessarily getting everythingright."

Epps--who said he has received many lettersfrom former students since he announced hisresignation--says his open manner is part of thereason students seem to have so much respect forhim as he leaves.

"I've had a decent, fair relationship withstudents over the years, and I've been straightwith them," he says.

While Epps supported the decision to randomizeupperclass housing assignments, for example, healso supported consideration of the concerns ofthose who opposed the new system. When a number ofHouse tutors signed a letter urging the College toreconsider its randomization policy last year,Epps met with them to discuss the situation.

New Positions, New People

Epps--whose resignation becomes effective July1--said he is ready to give up his job's taxingresponsibilities.

"I've been thinking about this for a number ofyears," he said in November, "My work has beenquite a load and a heavy responsibility. It's timeI turn the day-to-day operations to someone else."

Epps' wife donated a kidney to the 62-year-olddean three years ago, and he said his resignationwill allow him to "protect her investment."

Even so, Epps will continue to work part-timefor the College as a senior associate dean,serving as an "ombudsman, mediator, coordinator ofrace relations and dean for the senior class."

Illingworth, who was chosen last month to takeon most of Epps' responsibilities after anationwide search, has worked at Harvard for thepast 20 years as associate dean of admissions. Hewas chosen in part because, like Epps, he isregarded as a good communicator with students,Lewis says.

Lewis says he changed the title of the positionto better reflect the responsibilities associatedwith the job.

"The title 'Dean of Students' has never had thesame meaning here that it has had in otherplaces," Lewis says in February.

Leaving a Gap

Although Epps--who was not involved in thesearch for his replacement--praised the choice ofIllingworth, he said he is worried about the fateof undergraduates after he gives up the positionhe has held for so long.

"Adults here--not Faculty, the otheradults--are running a major corporation and may betoo preoccupied with the bottom line and issuesthat have little to do with the experience ofundergraduates," he says.

"That's what underlies my advocacy for thestudent center--it's emblematic," Epps adds.

Epps says he believes students may once againcall for a minority student center after heleaves, depriving the administration of one of thestrongest, most credible opponents to such acenter.

"When I leave, I think some of these issueswill surface again," Epps says last month. "Oneexample of this is the area of fraternities,"referring to the founding of two new campusfraternities this past year.

But after nearly a half-century of involvementwith the College, Epps says his own biggestresponsibility will be giving up his connectionsto the College.

"My challenge in the next phase is not toinsist that my way is the best way," Epps says. "Ihave to find a way to be honest andstraightforward but to give the new administrationa chance to find its own approach."TIP OF THE HAT: ARCHIE EPPS announcedtin November that he would retire in July after 29years as a dean.

He also provoked protest from some students byattacking the College's final clubs for theirrefusal to admit women and their loose alcoholpolicies.

And his handling of race-related issues--inwhich he has played a significant role since hebecame Harvard's only prominent blackadministrator in 1963--has also beencontroversial.

During his time at the College, Epps shaped andreshaped the administrative structures that dealwith race, most recently by putting into place asystem of race relations tutors in the Houses andhelping create the Harvard Foundation forIntercultural and Race Relations.

He has also been a vocal opponent of amulticultural student center--once widely soughtafter by leaders of minorityorganizations--because he said he feared separatespaces would lead to racial separatism.

But some minority activists said Epps' workmerely gave administrators something to point toin response to complaints about race relations.

In 1992, after a dispute over the plans of theBlack Students Association (BSA) to bringcontroversial Afro-centrist speaker LeonardJeffries to campus, BSA President Zaheer R. Ali'94 charged that Epps was being used by theadministration to "keep the students in check."

But while Epps' sometimes articulated unpopularstances on behalf of the administration, he alsorepresented students' concerns to administrators.

"He was an interpreter of students to all ofus," former University President Derek C. Bok saidin November.

Epps sometimes championed student calls foraction, including the recent demands for a newstudents center, even though many otheradministrators called this idea unfeasible.

Epps advocated for the building--which he saidshould be called College Hall--to accommodate therecent growth in the number of studentorganizations, from 90 in 1980 to over 240 lastyear.

Epps has been involved with some of thesegroups on more than a purely supervisory basis. Hewas a member of the Harvard Glee Club during the1950s and '60s, and to this day sings with them attheir football concerts.

And after dealing with what Epps calls the "hotpotato issues" of his early years as a dean, thestudent center proposal has allowed Epps to leaveon a high note.

"There's been some smooth sailing for a coupleyears," Seton says.

"He's been involved with space and the studentcenter and alcohol policy and stuff like that,"Seton adds. "There hasn't been anythingdevastatingly controversial that he's beeninvolved in that would ignite great passion."

In recent years, even Epps' more controversialstands seem to have been forgotten.

"After 30 years of service, people aresometimes willing to let bygones be bygones,"Seton says. "They see he has transcended all ofthose individual interests and established himselfover a larger period."

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 saysthis attitude might be tied to students' positivefeelings about the College as a whole.

"The climate on this campus in general is verypositive over lots of things," says Lewis, whopraised Epps as an "extraordinary figure."

"Some of the feelings students may have aboutHarvard have spilled over to his credit, which isfine," Lewis says.

'Vindication'

While Epps says his "reputation has changeddepending on the issues" he has focused on, hesays his receptions at this time feels likepayback for his love of the College and itsstudents.

"I see it as a vindication of the way I'vetried to go about things," says Epps, who addshappily that "all the good is coming out as Ileave."

"I'm just a person who likes the way collegestudents are and who has the patience to wait forthem to change and grow up," he says.

With an incomparable memory ofHarvard--spanning the 40 years since he came tothe University as a Divinity School student fromrural Louisiana--administrators said Epps is moreconnected to Harvard's history than almost anyone.

"There's nothing more Harvard than ArchieEpps," Lewis said at Epps' retirement dinner.

With his matching suits, bow ties, andgentlemanly demeanor, Epps sometimes seems closerto the old Harvard presidents whose graves helikes to stroll among than to his currentcolleagues.

"I come out of the tradition of the solitarydean," Epps says. "I come from a generation wherethere's a lot to be said for muddling through andbeing open and not necessarily getting everythingright."

Epps--who said he has received many lettersfrom former students since he announced hisresignation--says his open manner is part of thereason students seem to have so much respect forhim as he leaves.

"I've had a decent, fair relationship withstudents over the years, and I've been straightwith them," he says.

While Epps supported the decision to randomizeupperclass housing assignments, for example, healso supported consideration of the concerns ofthose who opposed the new system. When a number ofHouse tutors signed a letter urging the College toreconsider its randomization policy last year,Epps met with them to discuss the situation.

New Positions, New People

Epps--whose resignation becomes effective July1--said he is ready to give up his job's taxingresponsibilities.

"I've been thinking about this for a number ofyears," he said in November, "My work has beenquite a load and a heavy responsibility. It's timeI turn the day-to-day operations to someone else."

Epps' wife donated a kidney to the 62-year-olddean three years ago, and he said his resignationwill allow him to "protect her investment."

Even so, Epps will continue to work part-timefor the College as a senior associate dean,serving as an "ombudsman, mediator, coordinator ofrace relations and dean for the senior class."

Illingworth, who was chosen last month to takeon most of Epps' responsibilities after anationwide search, has worked at Harvard for thepast 20 years as associate dean of admissions. Hewas chosen in part because, like Epps, he isregarded as a good communicator with students,Lewis says.

Lewis says he changed the title of the positionto better reflect the responsibilities associatedwith the job.

"The title 'Dean of Students' has never had thesame meaning here that it has had in otherplaces," Lewis says in February.

Leaving a Gap

Although Epps--who was not involved in thesearch for his replacement--praised the choice ofIllingworth, he said he is worried about the fateof undergraduates after he gives up the positionhe has held for so long.

"Adults here--not Faculty, the otheradults--are running a major corporation and may betoo preoccupied with the bottom line and issuesthat have little to do with the experience ofundergraduates," he says.

"That's what underlies my advocacy for thestudent center--it's emblematic," Epps adds.

Epps says he believes students may once againcall for a minority student center after heleaves, depriving the administration of one of thestrongest, most credible opponents to such acenter.

"When I leave, I think some of these issueswill surface again," Epps says last month. "Oneexample of this is the area of fraternities,"referring to the founding of two new campusfraternities this past year.

But after nearly a half-century of involvementwith the College, Epps says his own biggestresponsibility will be giving up his connectionsto the College.

"My challenge in the next phase is not toinsist that my way is the best way," Epps says. "Ihave to find a way to be honest andstraightforward but to give the new administrationa chance to find its own approach."TIP OF THE HAT: ARCHIE EPPS announcedtin November that he would retire in July after 29years as a dean.