Scholarship Ruling Unclear

Although the White House has modified a highly controversial ruling that would have banned many racebased scholarships, Harvard officials say they will await further information before changing any University programs.

In mid-December, Michael L. Williams, who heads the Education Department's civil rights division, surprised the education community and the Bush Administration by declaring that scholarships designated specifically for minorities were discriminatory and illegal.

Williams' action set off a firestorm of protest among educators and minority leaders, who argued that the scholarships play an important role in providing access to higher education for underrepresented groups.

President Bush promised to review Williams' directive, and White House officials worked out a compromise last month that would make it illegal only to use government money for minority scholarships. Those paid for by private sources would be unaffected.

In addition, the revised policy outlines a four-year gradual transition to the new restrictions.

Harvard administrators said yesterday that despite the changes in the ruling, they remain unsure of what exactly the new policy will mean for the University.

"My suspicion is that there is going to be further change before too long," said Vice President and General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54. "Consequently, Harvard is not making any changes any time in the near future."

At the time of Williams' initial decision, Harvard administrators expressed concern that the University's attempts to increase the number of minority Ph.D. students would be crippled. Currently the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) providesfull scholarships for Black, Hispanic and NativeAmerican doctoral candidates.

GSAS Administrative Dean John B. Fox said thatthe University has not received any kind ofofficial notice from the federal government on thesubject of minority scholarships.

"I don't know whether there is a stable policyin place or not," Fox said. "We're waiting untilthe picture becomes a little clearer.