Radcliffe Alumnae VP Resigns, Cites `Secrecy'

Refusing to divulge information about Radcliffe College's "strategic planning process," the Radcliffe Board of Trustees has angered the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association (RCAA) and prompted its Second Vice President Margaret M. "Peggy" McIntosh '56 to resign her post this week.

In a letter dated Sunday, McIntosh wrote that she is currently unequipped to represent the alumnae who elected her because the Board of Trustees has withheld all information surrounding current talks.

"I think we all deserve the chance to be active in the discussion of Radcliffe's future," McIntosh wrote. "Radcliffe is an educational institution, not a corporation with shareholders whose future should be decided in back rooms."

Radcliffe's Board of Trustees--the institution's 29-member governing body--has been conducting a private internal review since last fall.

Last weekend's meeting of the RCAA Board of Management--in which members had hoped to uncover the nature of Radcliffe's potential changes--proved unsatisfactory for many alumnae, according to RCAA president Jane E. Tewksbury '74.

"The alumnae do not feel they have any information," Tewksbury said.

In a statement released last night, Tewksbury and two fellow members of the RCAA executive committee said they "share many of the concerns [McIntosh] expressed" in her letter of resignation.

Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson and Board of Trustees President NancyBeth G. Sheerr '71 told the weekend meeting's attendees that RCAA would be informed of the details of strategic planning discussions when the time is right.

The time is now, RCAA has said.

In a letter to the Board of Trustees this week blasting the continued secrecy, RCAA's Board of Management demanded "an immediate response" to their request for information.

"The RCAA Board expressed deep concern regarding the lack of opportunity to contribute to the substance of [the Trustees'] discussions," the letter read. "Webelieve trust and credibility between the Collegeand alumnae have been undermined; we feel activelymisled."

According to RCAA Secretary Susan C. Eaton '79,Radcliffe officials had not responded to RCAA'splea for facts as of last night. Officialsyesterday declined to comment to The Crimson onthe letter.

It is unclear when Radcliffe will reveal thedetails of this "strategic planning process."

Wilson spoke with some members of the Radcliffestaff regarding the process this week, but did notreveal details of ongoing private discussions.Additional members of the staff may questionWilson at a meeting Monday afternoon.

While Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine saidlast week that he expects the Radcliffe Board ofTrustees to have completed their internaldiscussions "by the end of the academic year orthe summer," Radcliffe tells a different story.

Radcliffe Director of Communications LynChamberlin said yesterday that "Radcliffe will beguided by its own wisdom and not Harvard'stimetable."

"We're not at the fact stage," Wilson said lastMonday.

Asserting the importance for the Board ofTrustees to conduct talks privately "even if it'suncomfortable for the rest of us," Radcliffe VicePresident for College Relations Bonnie Clendenningsaid the six trustees who are elected by RCAAensure that alumnae interests are represented onthe 29-member board.

McIntosh felt "personal angst at not having aseat at the table," Clendenning said. "But howmany people can you fit around a table?"

While Eaton acknowledged that alumna members ofthe Board of Trustees represent the RCAA, she saidthey have been instructed not to communicate withalumnae--undermining the purpose of the democraticprocess.

If Scheerr does not respond to RCAA by thefirst of next week, "we'll do what we need to do,"Eaton said.

With "lots of potential for sources ofleverage," RCAA is an "important constituency" toheed, bearing both financial and human resources.

Not extending the dialogue to alumnae has been"more than a little bit surprising and painful,"Eaton said. "Peopl

According to RCAA Secretary Susan C. Eaton '79,Radcliffe officials had not responded to RCAA'splea for facts as of last night. Officialsyesterday declined to comment to The Crimson onthe letter.

It is unclear when Radcliffe will reveal thedetails of this "strategic planning process."

Wilson spoke with some members of the Radcliffestaff regarding the process this week, but did notreveal details of ongoing private discussions.Additional members of the staff may questionWilson at a meeting Monday afternoon.

While Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine saidlast week that he expects the Radcliffe Board ofTrustees to have completed their internaldiscussions "by the end of the academic year orthe summer," Radcliffe tells a different story.

Radcliffe Director of Communications LynChamberlin said yesterday that "Radcliffe will beguided by its own wisdom and not Harvard'stimetable."

"We're not at the fact stage," Wilson said lastMonday.

Asserting the importance for the Board ofTrustees to conduct talks privately "even if it'suncomfortable for the rest of us," Radcliffe VicePresident for College Relations Bonnie Clendenningsaid the six trustees who are elected by RCAAensure that alumnae interests are represented onthe 29-member board.

McIntosh felt "personal angst at not having aseat at the table," Clendenning said. "But howmany people can you fit around a table?"

While Eaton acknowledged that alumna members ofthe Board of Trustees represent the RCAA, she saidthey have been instructed not to communicate withalumnae--undermining the purpose of the democraticprocess.

If Scheerr does not respond to RCAA by thefirst of next week, "we'll do what we need to do,"Eaton said.

With "lots of potential for sources ofleverage," RCAA is an "important constituency" toheed, bearing both financial and human resources.

Not extending the dialogue to alumnae has been"more than a little bit surprising and painful,"Eaton said. "Peopl