WEEK IN REVIEW

Jan 31 to Feb 1

An eclectic mix of drama, music, dance and academia marked Harvard's first Black Arts Festival. From individual performances and rap dances to "Songs We Can't Sing," a musical written and directed by Derrick N. Ashong '97-'98, the weekend inaugurated Black History Month with an inspirational message of creativity.

"We treated the subject of black art with integrity and we made a joyful noise," said festival founder and coordinator Phillip A. Goff '99.

Feb 3

The Student body reacted with surprise and outrage to the arrest of Sophomore Kirkland House resident Joshua M. Elster '00 for the rape and assault of another Harvard student. Elster, who pleaded not guilty, was arrested on Saturday, January 31 and was released on Tuesday on $10,000 cash bail. The Harvard University Police Department inadvertently broke Massachusetts state law by not recording Elster's arrest on its public blotter.

Concerned Harvard students, who met in an emergency ad-hoc meeting Wednesday, discussed measures to increase rape prevention and awareness on campus. "[Rape] is an issue everyday," said Radcliffe Union of Students President Amanda Bagneris '99, "I would like to see a group of students interested in working on this for the long haul."

Feb 3

Kirkland House resident J. Caroline Self '99, who worked as an intern in the office of President Clinton's personal secretary from June-December 1996, testfied before a grand jury in Washington D.C. Tuesday.

Self said that she knew of no improper relationship between Monica S. Lewinsky and President Clinton. Defending the hotly debated White House Intern program, Self urged the country not "to make light of our passion for the government or our commitment to serve."