Women at Harvard

After years of talk about the problems of the low rate of tenure among female Faculty members and lack of female leadership in student extracurriculars, 1997 was a year of action.

Students, professors and alumni have all publicly challenged the University's stated commitment to gender equity, saying Harvard's public stance is not reflected by its private actions.

The conflict surrounding women's issues at Harvard came under particularly intense scrutiny this year, several times putting the University into the national spotlight.

A protest in support of a female junior Faculty member denied tenure, the formation of a senior gift fund to be held in escrow contingent upon an increase in the number of female senior Faculty members and the election of the first female president of the student body all made national news this year.

The year was also marked by alumnae's fighting to maintain Radcliffe's place as an important institution. Graduates protested a University Hall letter to Radcliffe alumnae, saying the letter showed the University no longer regarded Radcliffe as an important figure in the fund-raising process.

At the undergraduate level, the Radcliffe Union of Students (RUS) also decided to take a more activist approach, approving a draft constitution which allowed the group to take political stands and incorporate a self-described radical wing called Radcliffe Women's Action Coalition (RADWAC).

Denied

The decision of President Neil L. Rudenstine to deny tenure to Associate Professor of Government Bonnie Honig led many in the academic community to wonder whether the University's public commitment to diversity is matched in its private decisions.

Rudenstine's decision was vigorously protested in letters to the president by graduate students, junior Faculty members and, most significantly, 15 female senior professors.

The letters followed shortly after Rudenstine spearheaded a 62-university coalition to print a thre e-quarter page advertisement in The New York Times proclaiming the importance of diversity in higher education.

The senior professors' letter, which was termed a "near revolutionary act" by The New York Times, said Rudenstine's decision to deny tenure to Honig "was almost incomprehensible given [his] publicly stated commitment to the equality of women."

Professors also criticized Rudenstine's decision in the media.

"The decision is simply infuriating and it suggests the presence of a double standard," said Professor of Government Seyla Benhabib, a signatory of the female professors' letter.

Rudenstine said he does not try to anticipate the reaction to any of his decisions and that the public outcry had not changed his stance on the Honig case.

"It's a part of my duty as President of this University to do justice," he said. "If it were my duty to do what everyone wants that would be another matter." (See related story, this page.)

Finding an Alternative

A less dramatic form of protest, but one that also stressed the importance of tenuring women, was the formation of the Alternative Senior Gift Fund.

The fund will be held in escrow until the Faculty of Arts and Sciences takes concrete steps to rectify the low levels of women and minority Faculty members.

Former RUS Co-President Megan R. Peimer '97 and campus activist Scott L. Shuchart '97 are leading the effort. They say the intent of the project is not to raise a large sum of money, but rather to draw attention to the issue.

"It's very symbolic because many members of the senior class will eventually have a significant amount of money," Peimer said. "If they're saying now that they're not satisfied with the University, that forebodes poorly for the University's future fundraising attempts."

The fund will be combined with a similar account established in 1995 by the Committee for the Equality of Women at Harvard (CEWH). The CEWH fund is801 targeted at alumni. (See related storry, this page.)

The First Lady

The lack of women on the faculty has been mirrored by a lack of female leadership in many student extracurriculars, and the Undergraduate Council has long been known as one of the places least friendly to women and minorities.

But popularly-elected president Lamelle D. Rawlins '99--the first female president in the council's history--provides hope for the future of women in leadership positions on both the council and at Harvard.

"The election of Lamelle and the presence of a few other women leaders shows that we are not facing a complete campus-wide glass ceiling," said former RUS co-president and Women's Leadership Project co-chair Corinne E. Funk '97, also a former Crimson executive.

Still, there remains a marked lack of women on the council. Only 28 percent of Undergraduate Council members are female.

In addition, many of the larger extracurriculars have witnessed gender disparities in leadership during recent years.

Last year's Institute of Politics' Student Advisory Council contained only four women on its 24-member board. In the past five years, Phillips Brooks House Association has had no female presidents. In the nearly 50 years since women have been on The Crimson, only five women have been president.

Radcliffe Revolts

This April, alumnae protested a report sent by Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles to alumni indicating the slow rate of contribution of female graduates to the University's capital campaign.

Several prominent alumnae signed a letter to Rudenstine criticizing Knowles for distributing the report without consulting alumnae or Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson, and for disregarding Radcliffe's own ongoing capital campaign.

The alumnae called Knowles' report "a divisive strategy" and asked to meet with Rudenstine, a request to which the president has not yet responded.

Radcliffe supporters said they have also felt slighted because in April, Maisie K. Houghton '62 and James R. Houghton '58 donated $1.25 million to Harvard--not Radcliffe--to establish an endowment for a women's initiative project at Harvard.

Despite the protesters, most in the Harvard community consider the gift a boon to furthering the cause of women at Harvard.

"I think the Houghton gift is going to have a huge impact on the lives of all undergraduates, particularly women," Rawlins said. "This type of gift exemplifies the type of forward thinking about improving women's experiences at Harvard that we really need and I think it's going to make a big difference." (See related story in Section F.)

Student Activism

RUS has also adopted a more activist approach this year.

The group, which has a longstanding reputation for being politically neutral, approved a new constitution this year, allowing the group to take political stands and calling for increased contact with Harvard administrators.

"We are instituting a change that has been happening for a couple of years: moving away from being a student group and towards being an activist group for Harvard-Radcliffe women's issues," said Peimer.

The constitutional changes also allow RUS to directly fund the activist group RADWAC, which debuted this year, without facing the application process required of other women's student groups.

RADWAC, according to co-founder Mia Bagneris '99, was formed to create a "visible and unapologetically feminist presence on campus."

In March, RADWAC began a postering campaign to protest final club policies they deemed sexist.

April's "Take Back the Night," an annual week-long series of events intended to promote awareness of violence against women, was also organized in part by RUS.

Mixed Signals

Women's advocates said they were pleased with the April announcement by the admissions office that 48.5 percent of those admitted to the class of 2001 are women, up from 45.5 percent the year before.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons '67 and Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis '70 attributed the increase to intensified outreach efforts aimed at potential female applicants.

"The recruitment of outstanding women has been a top priority for many years," Lewis said.

Less promising this year were enrollment numbers at Harvard Business School (HBS).

The number of females attending HBS dropped below 25 percent this January, its lowest level in at least a decade.

Administrators, who said they were alarmed by the statistic, decided to purchase the names of female students with high GMAT scores and direct-mail them information about HBS.

In addition, the Women's Students Association began a referral service, which aimed to generate a list of women who are likely candidates for admission but might not apply without proactive contact.

"Sometimes women, more than men, need more proactive encouragement to say, 'you do fit the bill for this place,'" said WSA Co-President Cynthia L. Rutherford. "The career opportunities are much larger than I think a lot of women realize."

Another statistic that has raised concern is the low number of female students inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Before 1995, male and female chapters of Phi Beta Kappa selected candidates independently, with each allowed to induct the same number of students.

But since the merging of male and female elections in 1995, males have held a decisive edge. Of the 72 students thus far elected from the class of 1997, only 26, or 36.1 percent, were women.

While students inducted said they did not see bias in the Phi Beta Kappa selection process, others said that any discrepancy deserves attention.

"In terms of selection criteria, the most basic thing to be aware of is...[the need to be] critical of all subjective measures, making sure they are in fact gender- and race-blind," said Kavita Kacholia '98, co-president of RUS.

Those concerned with the equality of women at Harvard were also troubled this year by the University's attempts to comply with the Title IX statute, which prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Figures released by the athletic office show the University spent nearly twice as much on men's as women's athletics in the 1994-'95 academic year, according to a report made public last October through the 1995 Congressional Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act.

Although a 1992 NCAA study indicates that Harvard's figures are less disparate than the national average, Crimson female athletes receive less than 35 percent of the athletic operating budget and less than 20 percent of money earmarked for recruiting.

"It's hard to compare apples and oranges, but when you compare the bottom line, it's a little shocking," said women's swimming coach Costin Scalise.

University officials defended the discrepancy by pointing out that men require a disproportionately high level of recruiting to remain competitive in the Ivy League, particularly in football, which requires a large number of athletes, and hockey, which recruits from a wide geographical region.

In addition, Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 noted that recruiting figures also include contributions from "Friends"--groups of alumni donors who traditionally favor male sports. But by the beginning of next year, Lewis said, alumni donations will be split equally between male and female teams for sports played by both sexes.

Activism for Equality

Amid the emerging focus on concrete action among women's advocates, some caution that change is difficult and will come slowly at Harvard.

"There is a bastion of patriarchy on this campus; you can't expect things to move quickly," said Lisa D. Graustein '97, who served as a member of an undergraduate group formed by Lewis to advise him on issues pertinent to female students.

But most see this year's trend toward more concrete forms of protest as a positive step for gender equity at Harvard.

"The Alternative Senior Gift [Fund] really made people put money where their mouth was," Phillipsaid. "We all know that money is what gets things done around here."

"I've never been one for the Greenpeace style of throwing your body in front of baby seals," said Avery W. Gardiner '97, former chair of the Student Advisory Committee of the Institute of Politics. "But I think people are realizing that activism [combined with] a spirit of cooperative action will breed success."CrimsonMelissa K. CrockerLAMELLE D. RAWLINS '99 is the first female president of the Undergraduate Council.

But popularly-elected president Lamelle D. Rawlins '99--the first female president in the council's history--provides hope for the future of women in leadership positions on both the council and at Harvard.

"The election of Lamelle and the presence of a few other women leaders shows that we are not facing a complete campus-wide glass ceiling," said former RUS co-president and Women's Leadership Project co-chair Corinne E. Funk '97, also a former Crimson executive.

Still, there remains a marked lack of women on the council. Only 28 percent of Undergraduate Council members are female.

In addition, many of the larger extracurriculars have witnessed gender disparities in leadership during recent years.

Last year's Institute of Politics' Student Advisory Council contained only four women on its 24-member board. In the past five years, Phillips Brooks House Association has had no female presidents. In the nearly 50 years since women have been on The Crimson, only five women have been president.

Radcliffe Revolts

This April, alumnae protested a report sent by Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles to alumni indicating the slow rate of contribution of female graduates to the University's capital campaign.

Several prominent alumnae signed a letter to Rudenstine criticizing Knowles for distributing the report without consulting alumnae or Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson, and for disregarding Radcliffe's own ongoing capital campaign.

The alumnae called Knowles' report "a divisive strategy" and asked to meet with Rudenstine, a request to which the president has not yet responded.

Radcliffe supporters said they have also felt slighted because in April, Maisie K. Houghton '62 and James R. Houghton '58 donated $1.25 million to Harvard--not Radcliffe--to establish an endowment for a women's initiative project at Harvard.

Despite the protesters, most in the Harvard community consider the gift a boon to furthering the cause of women at Harvard.

"I think the Houghton gift is going to have a huge impact on the lives of all undergraduates, particularly women," Rawlins said. "This type of gift exemplifies the type of forward thinking about improving women's experiences at Harvard that we really need and I think it's going to make a big difference." (See related story in Section F.)

Student Activism

RUS has also adopted a more activist approach this year.

The group, which has a longstanding reputation for being politically neutral, approved a new constitution this year, allowing the group to take political stands and calling for increased contact with Harvard administrators.

"We are instituting a change that has been happening for a couple of years: moving away from being a student group and towards being an activist group for Harvard-Radcliffe women's issues," said Peimer.

The constitutional changes also allow RUS to directly fund the activist group RADWAC, which debuted this year, without facing the application process required of other women's student groups.

RADWAC, according to co-founder Mia Bagneris '99, was formed to create a "visible and unapologetically feminist presence on campus."

In March, RADWAC began a postering campaign to protest final club policies they deemed sexist.

April's "Take Back the Night," an annual week-long series of events intended to promote awareness of violence against women, was also organized in part by RUS.

Mixed Signals

Women's advocates said they were pleased with the April announcement by the admissions office that 48.5 percent of those admitted to the class of 2001 are women, up from 45.5 percent the year before.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons '67 and Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis '70 attributed the increase to intensified outreach efforts aimed at potential female applicants.

"The recruitment of outstanding women has been a top priority for many years," Lewis said.

Less promising this year were enrollment numbers at Harvard Business School (HBS).

The number of females attending HBS dropped below 25 percent this January, its lowest level in at least a decade.

Administrators, who said they were alarmed by the statistic, decided to purchase the names of female students with high GMAT scores and direct-mail them information about HBS.

In addition, the Women's Students Association began a referral service, which aimed to generate a list of women who are likely candidates for admission but might not apply without proactive contact.

"Sometimes women, more than men, need more proactive encouragement to say, 'you do fit the bill for this place,'" said WSA Co-President Cynthia L. Rutherford. "The career opportunities are much larger than I think a lot of women realize."

Another statistic that has raised concern is the low number of female students inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Before 1995, male and female chapters of Phi Beta Kappa selected candidates independently, with each allowed to induct the same number of students.

But since the merging of male and female elections in 1995, males have held a decisive edge. Of the 72 students thus far elected from the class of 1997, only 26, or 36.1 percent, were women.

While students inducted said they did not see bias in the Phi Beta Kappa selection process, others said that any discrepancy deserves attention.

"In terms of selection criteria, the most basic thing to be aware of is...[the need to be] critical of all subjective measures, making sure they are in fact gender- and race-blind," said Kavita Kacholia '98, co-president of RUS.

Those concerned with the equality of women at Harvard were also troubled this year by the University's attempts to comply with the Title IX statute, which prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Figures released by the athletic office show the University spent nearly twice as much on men's as women's athletics in the 1994-'95 academic year, according to a report made public last October through the 1995 Congressional Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act.

Although a 1992 NCAA study indicates that Harvard's figures are less disparate than the national average, Crimson female athletes receive less than 35 percent of the athletic operating budget and less than 20 percent of money earmarked for recruiting.

"It's hard to compare apples and oranges, but when you compare the bottom line, it's a little shocking," said women's swimming coach Costin Scalise.

University officials defended the discrepancy by pointing out that men require a disproportionately high level of recruiting to remain competitive in the Ivy League, particularly in football, which requires a large number of athletes, and hockey, which recruits from a wide geographical region.

In addition, Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 noted that recruiting figures also include contributions from "Friends"--groups of alumni donors who traditionally favor male sports. But by the beginning of next year, Lewis said, alumni donations will be split equally between male and female teams for sports played by both sexes.

Activism for Equality

Amid the emerging focus on concrete action among women's advocates, some caution that change is difficult and will come slowly at Harvard.

"There is a bastion of patriarchy on this campus; you can't expect things to move quickly," said Lisa D. Graustein '97, who served as a member of an undergraduate group formed by Lewis to advise him on issues pertinent to female students.

But most see this year's trend toward more concrete forms of protest as a positive step for gender equity at Harvard.

"The Alternative Senior Gift [Fund] really made people put money where their mouth was," Phillipsaid. "We all know that money is what gets things done around here."

"I've never been one for the Greenpeace style of throwing your body in front of baby seals," said Avery W. Gardiner '97, former chair of the Student Advisory Committee of the Institute of Politics. "But I think people are realizing that activism [combined with] a spirit of cooperative action will breed success."CrimsonMelissa K. CrockerLAMELLE D. RAWLINS '99 is the first female president of the Undergraduate Council.