Radcliffe's Status Faces Scrutiny On Anniversary

Last week, the Radcliffe Board of Trustees continued to dodge requests for information from the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association (RCAA) regarding a possible re-negotiation of its relationship with Harvard.

Meanwhile, sources close to the discussions say Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Nancy-Beth G. Sheerr '71 have brought in outside consultants to advise them regarding the talks with Harvard.

Wilson wrote in an e-mail message yesterday that Radcliffe's strategic planning process includes "consultation with constituents, stake holders and advisors, informally and formally."

However, Sheerr declined to confirm whether Radcliffe has hired consultants to aid with the planning process.

Sheerr also said she met recently with Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine, although both say their discussions are still far from a resolution.

"They're fundamentally about a sense of where Radcliffe thinks it's beginning to go in terms of future plans," Rudenstine said. "To the best of my knowledge, they are some distance away from reaching conclusions."

While discussions continue between Harvard and Radcliffe officials, Radcliffe alumnae are still waiting to learn more about the future of their alma mater.

The RCAA executive committee met with Sheerr and Wilson last Wednesday to discuss the RCAA's requests for information.

Although sources say recent developments in Radcliffe's strategic planning process indicate that the Harvard Radcliffe relationship may soon under go its most substantial change in 20 years, officials and administrators continue to claim that the current discussions are part of Radcliffe's ongoing evolution.

But alumnae say they are not con- vinced.

Wednesday's meeting was the first formalcommunication between the entire executivecommittee, Sheerr and Wilson since April 19, whenthe RCAA board of management drafted a letterrequesting information about the strategicplanning process and registering theirdissatisfaction with the privacy surrounding thediscussions.

Although Mary Carty '74, RCAA's executivedirector, said she believes a written responsefrom Sheerr is forthcoming, Wednesday's meetingleft the RCAA executive committee stillunsatisfied about concerns that Radcliffe may loseits status as an undergraduate college.

"We tried to press more, but to no avail,"Carty said.

Carty referred to Radcliffe's current status asa "technicality," but added, "If this technicalitydidn't exist, we wouldn't have alumni. It's a verypertinent question--would we continue to exist?"Carty said.

Carty said the question of Radcliffe's futureis especially timely because the RCAA's standingcommittee on the group's future, which meets everyfive years, is approaching its next session.

"It's certainly a really appropriate time [forself-examination]," Carty said.

While the RCAA waited for information from theRadcliffe Board of Trustees, the Harvard AlumniAssociation (HAA) held a panel discussion titled"Radcliffe: Past, Present and Future." The panel,HAA's last regular meeting of the academic year,perplexed some by failing to invite Radcliffeadministrators to the panel.

"I am astonished that Radcliffe can be thesubject of a HAA panel, and no one at Radcliffecan be aware of it," said Radcliffe Dean ofEducational Programs Tamar March. "That's not onlya lack of collegiality, but also of sheer'politesse,'" she wrote in an e-mail message.

March said she was concerned about possiblemisconceptions students and alumni may havereceived at the event. She said she was especially"disappointed" by the suggestion from AssistantDean of the College Karen E. Avery '87 thatRadcliffe does not provide an adequate response toissues of sexual harassment and rape.

On the contrary, March said Radcliffe'sresources include literature, occasional speakerson issues of rape and sexual harassment in theLyman Common Room and work in Radcliffe's researchinstitutes on these and other women's issues.

"We are very circumspect about what we do, sothat we stay within the parameters of the [1977]agreement," March said. "I wish I could reallystep in with a bang and do what needs to be done,but I can't."

"But to say Radcliffe does nothing is justabsurd," she added.

However, Colleen T. Gaard '99, a member of theHAA undergraduate relations committee who helpedorganize the panel discussion, said the omissionof Radcliffe officials from the slate of panelistswas not a deliberate snub.

"It wasn't like it was hush-hush in any way--wejust had a limited number of spaces," she said

Wednesday's meeting was the first formalcommunication between the entire executivecommittee, Sheerr and Wilson since April 19, whenthe RCAA board of management drafted a letterrequesting information about the strategicplanning process and registering theirdissatisfaction with the privacy surrounding thediscussions.

Although Mary Carty '74, RCAA's executivedirector, said she believes a written responsefrom Sheerr is forthcoming, Wednesday's meetingleft the RCAA executive committee stillunsatisfied about concerns that Radcliffe may loseits status as an undergraduate college.

"We tried to press more, but to no avail,"Carty said.

Carty referred to Radcliffe's current status asa "technicality," but added, "If this technicalitydidn't exist, we wouldn't have alumni. It's a verypertinent question--would we continue to exist?"Carty said.

Carty said the question of Radcliffe's futureis especially timely because the RCAA's standingcommittee on the group's future, which meets everyfive years, is approaching its next session.

"It's certainly a really appropriate time [forself-examination]," Carty said.

While the RCAA waited for information from theRadcliffe Board of Trustees, the Harvard AlumniAssociation (HAA) held a panel discussion titled"Radcliffe: Past, Present and Future." The panel,HAA's last regular meeting of the academic year,perplexed some by failing to invite Radcliffeadministrators to the panel.

"I am astonished that Radcliffe can be thesubject of a HAA panel, and no one at Radcliffecan be aware of it," said Radcliffe Dean ofEducational Programs Tamar March. "That's not onlya lack of collegiality, but also of sheer'politesse,'" she wrote in an e-mail message.

March said she was concerned about possiblemisconceptions students and alumni may havereceived at the event. She said she was especially"disappointed" by the suggestion from AssistantDean of the College Karen E. Avery '87 thatRadcliffe does not provide an adequate response toissues of sexual harassment and rape.

On the contrary, March said Radcliffe'sresources include literature, occasional speakerson issues of rape and sexual harassment in theLyman Common Room and work in Radcliffe's researchinstitutes on these and other women's issues.

"We are very circumspect about what we do, sothat we stay within the parameters of the [1977]agreement," March said. "I wish I could reallystep in with a bang and do what needs to be done,but I can't."

"But to say Radcliffe does nothing is justabsurd," she added.

However, Colleen T. Gaard '99, a member of theHAA undergraduate relations committee who helpedorganize the panel discussion, said the omissionof Radcliffe officials from the slate of panelistswas not a deliberate snub.

"It wasn't like it was hush-hush in any way--wejust had a limited number of spaces," she said