Grant Money Debated

An $8,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant awarded to an officer of the Undergraduate Council remains in the form of an uncashed check, as Council members allege that the officer apparently misled the EPA about the grant.

Randall A. Fine '96, secretary of the Undergraduate Council, was awarded the grant to develop a student program for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last summer.

But in his role as Council secretary, according to one Council member who requested anonymity, Fine should have presented information on the grant to the full Council as the EPA reportedly requested.

As secretary, Fine would have been the first, and perhaps only, member to have access to information about the grant. The source said that the EPA requested that the Council publicize their grant offer and solicit applications from various campus groups.

Fine, who never received the actual funds from the grant, says the money belongs to him. But a check covering the funds was made out to the Council, not Fine himself, and the final recipient of the money has yet to be determined.

Council Treasurer Carey W. Gabay '94 said that the Council had no knowledge of the grant until he received a check from the U.S. Treasury Department last July for $8,000, made out to the Council.

But Gabay said Council involvement was limited.

"When I received the memo and check from the Treasury last summer I was completely caught by surprise," Gabay said. "I certainly had no prior knowledge of the situation, and I didn't feel that the Council had any business trying to take charge of a sum of money that large."

After repeated requests by Fine that the check be released to himself, Gabay turned the check over to then Assistant Dean of Students Ellen HatfieldTowne.

Upon relinquishing the check, Gabay said, Townetold him "not to worry about it."

"I was glad not to have to deal with it becauseit could have been another Council scandal," Gabaysaid, "which it's not. Randy never told anyonewhat he was doing."

Towne's successor, Sarah Flatley, said,however, that her office has played little role inthe disbursement of the money, which "hasn't beencompletely resolved."

Despite the fact that the check was sent to theCouncil Treasurer, Fine insisted that the grantwas intended solely for him, without involvementon the part of any campus student organization.

"All grants are handled by the HarvardUniversity Office of Sponsored Research," Finesaid. "They were the ones, not the Council, whohandled my money."

According to EPA grants coordinator ShielaBrown, the EPA does not offer grants toindividuals. And Harvard's Office of SponsoredResearch Director of Awards Management andResource Information Patricia B. Tucker said thather office mainly handles fellowships and grantsfor faculty members.

Tucker said that no grant was registered in thename of Fine, the Council, the EPA or ShattuckProfessor of Government Paul E. Peterson, who Finesaid earlier this week was his faculty sponsor.

Peterson is on leave for the fall term andcould not be reached for comment.

Fine was reluctant to name EPA sources whomight confirm his recollection of the summer'sevents.

"I have no names for you; I never really had acontact person on the EPA and all of my financialpapers are still in Washington D.C.," Fine said.

Council Chair Michael P. Beys '94 said hesupports Fine. "Everything that happened with EPAfunds is above board," he said. "There is no foulplay involved, I'm warning you."

Beys conceded, however, that "there might besome accounting mess-up here."CrimsonHaibin JiuRANDALLA. FINE '96

Upon relinquishing the check, Gabay said, Townetold him "not to worry about it."

"I was glad not to have to deal with it becauseit could have been another Council scandal," Gabaysaid, "which it's not. Randy never told anyonewhat he was doing."

Towne's successor, Sarah Flatley, said,however, that her office has played little role inthe disbursement of the money, which "hasn't beencompletely resolved."

Despite the fact that the check was sent to theCouncil Treasurer, Fine insisted that the grantwas intended solely for him, without involvementon the part of any campus student organization.

"All grants are handled by the HarvardUniversity Office of Sponsored Research," Finesaid. "They were the ones, not the Council, whohandled my money."

According to EPA grants coordinator ShielaBrown, the EPA does not offer grants toindividuals. And Harvard's Office of SponsoredResearch Director of Awards Management andResource Information Patricia B. Tucker said thather office mainly handles fellowships and grantsfor faculty members.

Tucker said that no grant was registered in thename of Fine, the Council, the EPA or ShattuckProfessor of Government Paul E. Peterson, who Finesaid earlier this week was his faculty sponsor.

Peterson is on leave for the fall term andcould not be reached for comment.

Fine was reluctant to name EPA sources whomight confirm his recollection of the summer'sevents.

"I have no names for you; I never really had acontact person on the EPA and all of my financialpapers are still in Washington D.C.," Fine said.

Council Chair Michael P. Beys '94 said hesupports Fine. "Everything that happened with EPAfunds is above board," he said. "There is no foulplay involved, I'm warning you."

Beys conceded, however, that "there might besome accounting mess-up here."CrimsonHaibin JiuRANDALLA. FINE '96