U.C. Endorses Latin Degrees

Harvard maintains what appears to be a controversial distinction from institutions such as Yale and Princeton--unlike those schools, Harvard College awards its degrees printed in English, rather than the classical Latin. A recent proposal of the Undergraduate Council seeks to change that.

Council Representatives C. Thomas Brown '98 and Eric M. Nelson '99, a Crimson editor, introduced a bill at the council meeting on Sunday, Dec. 7, which called for Harvard College to return to using Latin in its degree certificates.

That bill passed by a vote of 32 to 15.

Before 1961, Harvard degrees were, in fact, in Latin. In that year, under the direction of President Nathan M. Pusey '28, the switch was made to English.

"President Pusey deprived Harvard College of the great tradition of having diplomas in Latin," Brown said on the council floor.

Supporters of the bill pointed to the long tradition of Latin at Harvard College and emphasized its status as a "scholarly language."

"Latin is a tradition that connects all universities," Nelson said. "The intent [of the bill] is to restore a rich and beautiful tradition that [prior to 1961] was intact at this institution."

Sterling P. A. Darling '01 said "I feel Latin, as a language, is very important to Harvard...[and] I see the connections to academic history that come with having the diplomas in Latin."

But other council members, also supporting the bill, argued that something else was at stake--the way the Harvard degree would look hanging on their office walls.

A minority of council members expressed concern about the message that was being sent by the council in calling for a return to Latin.

Diana L. Adair '98, chair of the Student Affairs Committee, described the proposal as "classist."

"I feel strongly that [this bill] raises concerns about classism," she said. Speaking on the council floor on Sunday, Adair stated, "This is an imperialistic attempt to take over the world."

Matthew S. Caywood '98 called the bill elitist.

"We're taking a step backwards from the use of English, our common language, to a language of elitism," he said.

"Latin is the heritage of the 'prep-schoolers."'

Joseph P. DiPasquale '00 agreed that the bill was elitist. "It's stupid and pompous," he said. "It reinforces the Harvard sterotype."

Emma C. Cheuse '98 was more critical. She said the return to Latin would be very negative for students at Harvard, especially those who already felt disconnected from what she described as a "dominant culture."

"You have to ask, 'what tradition are they trying to bring back?' What about students that don't speak Latin? They may already feel very disconnected from the University...what does it do to put their degrees in a language they can't even understand?" she said.

Cheuse also raised concerns that this debate may fall along racial lines.

"Did you notice that most of the students of color voted against [the bill?" she asked.

However, most students who were not on the Undergraduate Council dismissed such concerns.

Eugenie A. Lang '00, board member of the Harvard-Radcliffe College Democrats, said, "It's true that this rings of a tradition of a time that had these problems," refering to allegations that using Latin would promote classism, elitism and racism.

"But [Latin] is not specifically classist or racist," she added. "We have lots of traditions at Harvard...this is one of them."

Bradley L. Davis '00, member of the Harvard Republican Club, also supported the bill.

"I don't think it's a legitimate complaint to say that this is classist or elitist. To say that is to assume that this [bill] is directed to exclude...I don't think that's what it proposes," he said, adding, "This is a return to the classic ideal of a liberal arts college."

Other students felt the entire issue was irrelevent to their lives as students.

"The language doesn't change the meaning of the degree," said Geoffrey B. Mainland '00, a writer for Perspective.

Council members who had supported the bill were concerned that it was perceived by some to be exclusionary.

Nelson said "Why [is] English less 'exclusive'? Latin is more international."

"It is important to be aware of the effects this may have on some students," Darling said. "But there is a precedent for Latin. Harvard is not being elitist, it's being proud of its traditions."

Council Secretary Olivia Verma '99-'00 injected humor into the debate.

"Of course having our degrees in Latin is pretentious, but I like being pretentious--it's part of being at Harvard!" she said.