Solutions for Phillips Brooks House

The recent stories about differences between College officials and the Phillips Brooks House Association, Inc. (PBHA), which ran June 3 and June 4, fail to emphasize the substantial efforts currently underway to reach agreement between the parties. We have offered two compromise proposals to resolve the issues. First, we would grant a partial exception to PBHA to have non-students on its governing board by creating special trustees who would participate fully in deliberations, offer advice on fundraising and fiscal accountability and strengthen institutional memory. We believe that their voice could be an important addition. Second, on staff, the College has offered to appoint an administrator for PBHA through a mutual search process to strengthen the staff resources available to this complex organization.

Our goal for public service is to achieve sustained excellence through collaboration with students in professional oversight to reduce risks and enhance and manage the sensitive and complex interactions involved in this work.

I wish to acknowledge the importance of Phillips Brooks House Association programs and the contributions of countless undergraduates to the welfare of those served in Cambridge, Boston and environs. We certainly know that the College's role has been supportive and the undergraduate contribution the most important. We hope to maintain this partnership and look forward to a constructive resolution of our differences. --Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III