One Coming, One Going, One Unsure

This was a week for playing musical House mastership. Wednesday Ursula Goodenough and Paul Levine announced their resignation as comasters of Currier House. Then Abigail M. Thernstrom and Stephan A. Thernstrom refused President Bok's offer of the mastership of Winthrop. Finally, yesterday, Catherine C. Vogt and Evon Z. Vogt, announced they would accept the offer of mastership of Kirkland House.

Levine, professor of Biology, and Goodenough, assistant professor of Biology, announced that because of increasing responsibilities to their family and their work they would resign the co-mastership at the end of the year. Levine and Goodenough--the first couple to share equally in a House master appointment--became co-masters in July 1971.

"We have three lives," Levine said. "Our family lives, our lives as co-masters, and our lives as scientists and teachers." He said that Goodenough, who has been assistant professor of Biology for three years, is under pressure from the University to complete research projects and to publish.

Levine and Goodenough said in a letter to Currier House residents that the birth of their daughter, Mathea, three months ago provided the impetus for the resignation. They also have a son, Jason, who is three-and-a-half years old.

Levine said he and Goodenough told Bok of their decision to resign about three weeks ago. No search for a successor has yet begun.

Abigail M. Thernstrom, teaching fellow in Social Studies, said Thursday that Bok has offered her and Stephan A. Thernstrom, professor of History, co-mastership of Winthrop House, but said they had refused the offer. This means that Bok will have to continue to look for a replacement for Bruce Chalmers, McKay Professor of Metallurgy, who is retiring at the end of this year.

Before making the offer to Evon A. Vogt, professor of Social Anthropology, and Catherine C. Vogt, research assistant in the Anthropology Department, Bok consulted with a search committee composed of undergraduates.

Cynthia E. Dodge '75, a member of the search committee, said that in a final list of five possible candidates for master, three of the suggestions were those of the students, and two were Bok's. She said she believes the Vogts were Bok's suggestion, but added that the committee had approved of the Vogts as co-masters.

Vogt said that before they accepted Bok's offer, they discussed a number of renovations they wished to make on the House, including refurbishing the dining hall and the junior and senior common rooms.

Bok's appointments will become official with the pro forma approval the Corporation and the Board of Overseers, which is expected next week.