Long-Awaited Guide to The Ad Board is Ready

After years of expectations and months of compilation, the College has published a "User's Guide" to the Administrative Board and will likely distribute it to students next week.

The book--which features such characters as Kirk Land and Canna Day--describes Ad Board procedures and actions and provides examples of typical cases from late study cards to date rape cases. The book also details Ad Board actions for 1991-1992.

In an interview in February, Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 called the book "long overdue," saying the guide should have been out two to three years ago.

Jewett, who chairs the Ad Board, said much of the background information provided by the guide could already be found in different places throughout the Student Handbook.

"What the guide does is provide the information systematically. Students don't spend the time looking through the handbook. This is certainly more user-friendly," he said.

The guide does not list details of Ad Board cases but provides the charges and the actions taken by the board.

According to the guide, the Ad Board considered 2,519 petitions last year, including 183 disciplinary cases and 253 cases of academic review for poor performance.

The guide says last year 16 students were required to withdraw for disciplinary reasons, including one case of sexual assault. Forty three students were required to withdraw for academic reasons.

Jewett said members of the administration, faculty and the Civil Liberties Union at Harvard contributed to the compilation of the 46-page guide.