Pusey Asks Student Views In Selection of Law Dean

President Pusey has cleared the way for student participation in the selection of the next dean of the Law School.

In a letter to Abram J. Chayes '43, chairman of the School's student-Faculty Governance Committee, Pusey asked that the committee act as "the appropriate vehicle to assist [Pusey and President-elect Derek C. Bok] in canvassing the views of students and making them available . . . during the selection process."

(The full text of Pusey's letter will appear in Thursday's CRIMSON.)

For the first time, Pusey formally acknowledged the need for gathering student opinion before choosing a dean of the University.

"Although the power of appointment rests in the President and Fellows," he wrote, "I think it is of the utmost importance that this power be exercised only after wider-ranging consultation and discussion."

While seeking the advice of members of the legal profession, Pusey said, "not least among those whose views will be valued are those of students now at the [Law] School."

Pusey met with the Governance Committee, which is made up of ten students and three Faculty members, last week to discuss ways of obtaining a broad sampling of student opinion.

The committee began Monday to conduct daily forums to consider the selection of a new dean, but attendance has been sparse. Pusey asked the committee to submit it findings to him by the end of February.

Some Law students have criticized the committee's failure to publicize the daily forums and have questioned its potential effectiveness as part of the selection process.

An informal gathering of about 30 Law students last night in Langdell Hall emphasized the importance of including the views of all groups-such as blacks, women and Chicanos-in any recommendations to Pusey.

Forum

The group also called for the Governance Committee to organize a forum on legal education which would give students a chance to hear the views of the leading candidates for dean.

The proposal, backed by several members of the committee, will be made at Thursday's daily forum set for 1 p. m. at Mallory-Smith.

One problem which has arisen is that the Governance Committee itself is divided on the methods for collecting opinion and its ultimate effect.

Peggy Kniffin, a second-year student on the committee, said last night that the committee's effectiveness lies in its ability to consult with as many student groups as possible and in the response to a questionnaire to be distributed later this week.

Another member of the committee was more pessimistic about the weight of its findings. He called Pusey's letter "innocuous" and said that the idea of students becoming involved in the selection process was a "charade."