Diverse Stakeholders Take the Mic To Question FAS Leader

During the question-and-answer session of yesterday’s town hall meeting, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael D. Smith hosted a series of questions from concerned staff workers, perplexed professors, and student activists. Faced with a $220 million deficit over the next two years, every member of the assembly had some reason to worry.

“Each of us represents his or her own segment of a huge, complex organization,” said Robert Darnton, director of the Harvard University Library. “And the questions naturally take the form of ‘What about me?’”

Confirming his own observation, Darnton continued, “I have to admit, Mike, that I’m not different from others.”

“I though you were going to surprise me now, Bob!” Smith replied.

The library system was in a process of erosion even before the financial crisis, said Darnton, who worried that the cost-cutting measures of the next few years would compromise the importance of libraries on campus.

But Darnton sought to stray a little from the mold of questions based on narrow interests, saying he was concerned for the library system on behalf of all of Harvard.

“I think the library does represent the collective interest of the entire Faculty of Arts and Sciences—and beyond that, the entire University,” Darnton said.

Smith got his surprise, after all.

MAGIC OF NUMBERS

After debriefing a nearly full Sanders Theatre about his two-year plan for meeting the deficit, Smith made clear just how steeped he has been in the tumult of FAS finances over the past six months—and his listeners were both grateful and perhaps even pitying.

“I think all of us in this room have enormous sympathy for the challenges you have faced in this past year,” said Government Professor Robert D. Putnam. “I don’t think any of us would want to change jobs with you.”

But Smith, who kept his cool during the meeting and even broke into a smile several times, appeared to be taking the financial crisis in stride, even if it has captivated his own interest.

“I might pull it up,” he said as he searched his computer for a particular graph to answer a question from Putnam. “Because it’s so interesting,” he continued drily.

ONE MORE TIME

Joseph Levy, a senior human resources consultant and associate of Adams House, stepped to the podium to ask Smith to clarify his priorities.

“I think that staff would like to know that there’s a real person who has real priorities that will give them better insight into what is ultimately going to affect them down the road,” he said, donning glasses and a purple tie.

Smith then proceeded to say that his priorities—faculty scholarship, undergraduate education, and the new General Education program—have not changed since he stepped into his office.

Levy also thanked Smith for hosting the town hall meeting, a highly unusual gathering for faculty and staff.

“This was very informative,” he said. “I hope you can come back next month and maybe we can do this again.”

Leaning back against the wood stool, Smith smiled.

“We’ll see.”

—Staff writer Bonnie J. Kavoussi can be reached at kavoussi@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Esther I. Yi can be reached at estheryi@fas.harvard.edu.