Bok: I certainly kept in touch with it, by talking to Law School Dean Jim Vorenberg about it. The course is certainly proceeding, the instructors are not changed. I would have been concerned--and would have been somewhat involved--if that hadn't been true....

Far be it from me to give advice to people about tactics, but I think if one is really concerned about the appointment of more people of some particular group, the best way to proceed is to come up with very good candidates.

If I had been in their position I do not believe that I would have tried to pursue the end of greater members of minority faculty by at least seeming to take a very different position--which was that profession who weren't minority or who didn't hold a particular point of view shouldn't teach a particular course.

It was so predictable that that issue would dominate the news. If your real objective was something else. I think that was not the best choice of tactics.

Crimson: Some minority groups in the past several years have complained of what they see as a hostile atmosphere towards them. The Gay Students Association has complained of having food thrown at them in dining halls....

Sexual Harassment

Bok: I've discussed that with the masters, too. I would put that in the category of things that I would look to for advice on. There's no question about what we stand for, what our objectives are and if they are being departed from--as they surely are, if people are throwing food at people because of their sexual preferences--I think the masters are the first line of defense.... I think the masters have a lot to contribute in the leadership they demonstrate in convincing people that that type of behavior is unacceptable.

Crimson: Is there anything specific that you would back in terms of trying to lessen that problem?

Bok: I don't know what you mean by specific. If I saw somebody throwing food at someone. I would certainly back talking very seriously to that student and do everything I could to point out the error of his or her ways. But I don't know whether I have a comprehensive program to deal with it.

I believe in a decentralized system in which we have a chance to talk over the problem with the masters. I don't think a uniform, draconian solution, can be imposed on all Houses. That does usually provoke resentment and evasion of various kinds.

Crimson: Last spring the issue of sexual harassment was raised by the case of a freshman woman who alleged that she had been harassed by a visiting professor. What do you feel should happen in cases where that allegation is verified' What steps should Harvard take?

Bok: Oh, I think it's very difficult because that's an area in which everything depends on the facts and circumstances of the case. There are so many degrees, so many ways it can arise....

I think the only general statement I could make is perhaps almost banal, and that's that when a case like that is verified the University must act immediately to make every appropriate effort to ensure that recurrences don't take place.

It's always nice to talk about, why don't we cut off the head of the offender or throw them out...and so forth, but I'm reasonably sure.... that what Henry [Rosovsky, does of the faculty] has does is effective, that recurrences are very unlikely.... Certainly someone who had this problem occur more than once would be in very serious trouble. It's not nice the first time it happens--to be called in and talked to by the dean and some penalty administered and to forth--...every faculty member understands that recurring activity of that sort would lead to the most serious consequences.

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