Seniors Establish Alternate Fund for Dissatisfied Donors

Jumping into the fray surrounding the issue of women and minorities in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), a group of seniors unveiled the Alternative Senior Gift Fund (ASGF) on Mar. 10.

At the Fund's inception, Megan L. Peimer '97, spokesperson for the Alternative Senior Gift Coalition, said that the ASGF would provide a substitute for the traditional Senior Gift Fund for students dissatisfied with University policies on a variety of issues, but would focus on the tenuring of women and minority Faculty members.

The Coalition--a group which includes graduating seniors as well as other undergraduates and faculty advisors--set up the ASGF as an escrow fund, which will be withheld until there is "proof Harvard is making a good faith effort to address these issues," according to Peimer.

"[There was] a pretty consistent dismay with the lack of options with the Senior Gift," Peimer said. "We were not comfortable with giving to Harvard as it stands now but did not want to be ungenerous."

Why Women and Minorities?

ASGF organizers said they considered a variety of issues as protest points--including randomization, section size and ethnic studies--but picked women and minority tenuring because of its visibility and practicality.

The tenure issue had an added advantage because Peimer and others were already in contact with the CEWH which had a fundraising structure in place.

"There was a lot of debate--not because anyone disagreed with this issue, but because there are so many issues on which we've been disappointed with Harvard," Peimer said.

Aligning themselves with the Committee for the Equality of Women at Harvard (CEWH), the Coalition arranged for its funds to be added to the CEWH's existing trust, the Harvard Women Faculty Fund.

The CEWH fund currently holds $500,000.

The terms under which the money raised by the ASGF will be turned over to the University do not include quotas for hiring but rather require that an advisory body--composed of anonymous faculty and administrators--convince the larger CEWH that the FAS is actively pursuing a plan for change, organizers said.

The fate of the ASGF is ultimately linked to the CEWH fund, which will be donated to the University once the Committee is convinced that Harvard "has leveled the playing field in terms of hiring for women," said Chair Peggy B. Schmertzler '53.

Scott L. Shuchart, another organizer of the Coalition, said the group was amenable to including minority hiring, although CEWH efforts are primarily aimed at increasing the number of female professors at the University.

Members of the Coalition said wide-spread acceptance of the tenure issue as a problem was a contributing factor to its selection for the ASGF.

"[The issue] is incredibly blatant. The numbers speak for themselves," said ASGF treasurer Ezra W. Reese '97. "[We] wanted the issue to have broad appeal, to be one in which the University was uncontroversially wrong."

Opposition to the ASGF

The creation of the ASGF was met with criticism from some members of the Faculty and Administration.

Several days after the initial announcement of the Fund, Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 told The Crimson that he believed the decision to establish the fund was rather "self-serving."

"I find it quite extraordinary that students who have willingly accepted scholarships and loans from Harvard for four years, all funded by the generosity of people who have given to Harvard in the past, can, just at the instant when they are about to collect their Harvard diplomas and no longer need any institutional support, suddenly come to the revelation that people should not be giving money to Harvard," he said in an email message last week.

Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr. '53 opposed the fund on different grounds.

"That's the worst kind of pressure on behalf of affirmative action," he said. "It ensures that if and when those goals are reached those people [hired or tenured] will be perceived as inferior and probably will be inferior."

Development Associate Lori P. Stevens, who oversees the traditional Senior Gift Fund, said that while she does not oppose student activism, she could not support the establishment of the ASGF.

"We are not upset that students want to advocate for change and speak their minds. I think that's healthy," she said. "But targeting the Senior Gift which teaches about alumni giving and supports undergraduates does not seem to me to be the most productive approach."

Eli K. Aheto '97, a First Marshal of the graduating class, wrote in a letter to The Crimson that he believes students are unaware of the complex obstacles which face those who attempt to increase the proportion of female and minority Faculty.

"[Although] the Alternative Senior Gift Fund has drawn more attention to the issue [of greater gender and racial equity among Harvard's Faculty], focusing on it has obscured student perception of how Faculty balance might be achieved," wrote Aheto, who is among the organizers of the Senior Gift Fund.

Campus Activism

Supporters of the ASGF said they have been forced into creating the ASGF because they do not believe the administration has been willing to make a concerted effort to address the problem.

"We never would have started out that way [establishing an escrow fund] but we found that the administration was not really interested in having a dialogue with us and answering our concerns in a constructive manner," Schmertzler said.

According to Coalition members, the failure of previous efforts to effect change through more cooperative means led them to adopt the fund as a new tactic.

"ASGF formed because of the realization that Harvard only listens to money," Peimer said.

Reese said he also believes the establishment of the Fund reflects a new trend in student activism.

"I think that activism at Harvard has learned valuable lessons and is becoming more effective," he said.

Organizers said they saw the Senior Gift as the first opportunity to make a statement through monetary means.

"We wanted to use [the gift] as a voice," Reese said.

Shuchart agreed with Reese, confirming the group wanted to counter the tendency of alumni to give without questioning where their donations are going.

"The [Senior] Gift is a pittance," he said. "[But] it gets people into the mind set of giving to Harvard without asking any questions."

Shuchart also said he does not agree that supporters of the ASGF are not appreciative of what Harvard has given them.

"To claim that it's ungrateful completely misses the point of what an escrow fund is," he said.

Shuchart said the ASGF has also produced discussion about the creation of an Alternative Annual Fund to which future classes could contribute.

"We're making a very definite statement," Peimer said. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think that there was potential for change."

According to Peimer, the ASGF has collected some $500 to $700 to date. However, she said at the project's inception, the intent of the project was not to raise a large sum of money, but rather to have a more symbolic impact.

Peimer said the emphasis of the Coalition is on participation. As a result, Peimer said they are accepting donations as little as the change in one's pocket.

Mixed Reactions

Seniors were divided on the value of the ASGF.

"I think it's a good thing for people who are firmly committed to trying to change the composition of the Faculty," said Russell G. Perkins '97, who also said that he personally plans to give to the "regular senior gift."

Charis B. Menschel '97, Senior Gift co-chair, said she believes that "even people who have concerns should still participate in the Senior Gift."

"It's not so much showing support for the administration as much as it is showing support for future classes and appreciation for what we've gotten here," she said.

However, Douglas A. Rodriguez '97 said he wished the ASGF had gotten more publicity.

Although he had already given to the Senior Gift, Rodriguez said, "I would have given to [the ASGF] if I'd known about it."