Foundation Defends Choice of Damon as Show Host

Students at last night's dress rehearsal for the Cultural Rhythms performance festival expressed mixed reactions to the news that Oscar winner Matt Damon, Class of 1992, will be the host of the show on Saturday.

Foundation Director S. Allen Counter said the Good Will Hunting star deserves to receive the Foundation's artist of the year award and to host the event because of his humanitarian and professional efforts.

"Matt Damon is one of the most brilliant young actors in Hollywood today," said Counter, who is also associate professor of neurology at the Harvard Medical School. "In addition to his outstanding work as actor, producer, and screenwriter, he is also concerned about youth violence and has made important contributions to the Aids Action Committee."

"He is an excellent symbol of achievement and compassion for young people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds," Counter added.

But students at the festival debated the merits of having a white host, rather than a person of color.

Victoria Tse '03 said that choosing Damon for the host of Cultural Rhythms, a festival sponsored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, seems to go against what the event stands for.

"I was kind of confused," she said. "The majority is Caucasian and the point of this show is to let minorities show their culture."

But Kitso Lemo '02 argued that race should be irrelevant to the choice.

"It would be unfair to say he's not cultural just because he's white," he said. "One of the goals of the Harvard Foundation is cultural unity. Why shouldn't [the host] be a white person?"

Jeannette Soriano '01 said that the merit of the choice depends on what the Foundation considers a cultural artist to be.

"The host doesn't necessarily have to be a minority," she said. "But what has [Damon] done that's culturally significant?"

Courtney J. Bass '03 said she did not consider the selection a thoughtful one.

"[Damon] seems like a last-minute choice," she said.

Adam P. Bailey '01, secretary of the Foundation's Student Advisory Committee, said that while there were many choices under consideration, Damon was their top pick from the beginning.

"Matt Damon was by far the first on the list," he said.

While students and Faculty members compile a list of possible performers, the Faculty make the final decision.

The Foundation believes Damon is a positive role model, Bailey said, particularly because of the work he has done to combat youth violence.

And other students said they were excited about the choice because of Damon's recent acting successes.

"I think he's actually a pretty good choice," Lemo said. "He's broadened his role as an actor in recent films like The Talented Mr. Ripley. He's a talented performer."