Classes Address Minority Issues

In response to complaints that the Harvard curriculum sorely lacks courses on minority issues and culture, the University is offering three courses this spring on American ethnic minorities.

The courses, which will all be taught by visiting professors, were created in response to minority students' complaints that Harvard's academic offerings do not deal adequately with issues of race relations, College officials said yesterday.

Two of the three courses will be included in the General Education department while the third, a seminar on United States-Latin American Relations will be offered through the Government Department.

Because the University decided to create these courses only last spring, they had to incorporate them in the non-degree granting General Education program in order to offer them this year, said Susan W. Lewis, associate dean of freshmen and director of General Education.

"We were seriously interested in seeing what could be done over a long period of time, and whether something could be done sooner rather than later," said Jorge I. Dominguez, a government professor who helped establish the new classes.

The Academic Affairs Committee, a subsidiary of the Harvard Foundation for Race Relations established last year, suggested that the University create these courses to address a gap in the curriculum.

In response to the committee's suggestion, Dean of the Faculty A. Michael Spence asked Harvard faculty members to recommend scholars for visiting professorships who could initiate and teach ethnic courses this year.

Outside experts, not Harvard faculty, will teach General Education 148, "The Asian Immigrant in American History since 1850," and General Education 154, "Puerto Rico in the 20th Century," because the courses are being offered on a trial basis, Lewis said.