Bailyn's prominent role in shaping the Core is what appears to dominate in the minds of those who mention him as a possible candidate for dean. But even these Faculty members acknowledge that is number of factors could keep Bailyn from the throne.

At age 61 Bailyn a number of colleagues say could well be too old for a job that would probably take six to eight years out of a scholar's career.

Similarly Bailyn is described even by close friends as somewhat of a loner someone who just might not have the inclination to immerse himself totally in the administrative affairs of the Faculty. "He plays his cards very close to his chest," says one official.

Colleagues and administrators finally speculate that Bailyn would be reluctant to give up the life of a scholar and especially the freedom at forded him by his prestigious University Professorship, to take the post. Baylin's now actively engaged in research on population history and the settlement patterns of groups in this country.

One friend Trumbal Professor of American History Donald Fleming sums up that even it Bok were to after the historian the dean's job. "It is not at all clear it he would accept."

DOWLING, John E. '57

As one colleague tells it at least one group of people does not fully appreciate the magnitude of the tasks taken on by John E. Dowling '57 Professor of Biology associate dean of the Faculty and Master of Leverett House.

"People around the country who are microbiologist probably don't know that he carries an administrative burden that in other places would be a full time job," says Bullard professor of Neurobiology Richard L. Sidman, a Medical School colleague of Dowling's. This, Sidman explains, is because even with all his administrative responsibilities, Dowling remains one of the world's experts on the physiology of vision.

His responsibilities are not insignificant and over the last three years, there have been few professors as visible as Dowling in Faculty affairs--especially those that relate directly to under-graduates. And his crisp execution of those duties has led some Faculty members and observers to speculate that the soft-spoken Dowling might have an outside chance at the deanship.

It was the 48-year-old neurobiologist, for example, who chaired the student-faculty committee that drew up the plans for the two-year-old Undergraduate Council. Harvard's first funded student government. And Dowling has had a principal role in administering and setting courses for the Science area of the Core Curriculum.

But at least as far as administrative matters go, Dowling's most important responsibility is as associate dean for the Biological Sciences. In this position, Dowling coordinates the activities of Harvard's two Bio departments--Cellular and Development Biology and Orgasismic and Evolutionary Biology--as well as the Biochemistry Department.

This entails, among other things, Dowling notes, overseeing the unified undergraduate Biology curriculum; serving as liaison between Harvard biologists and central administration; and trying to link up Faculty biologists in programs with bio-medical researchers at other Harvard schools.

"It's not a position of clout," one Biology professor says of the associate deanship. He notes that Dowling has had rely on his diplomacy and ability to persuade to get his way on certain issues, because ultimate power rests with Rosovsky and the separate departments.

Still, this and other officials stress, Dowling has had some degree of influence--especially in his smooth handling of the split-up two years ago of the two Biology departments. He is also credited with being a good spokesman for the interests of Harvard biologists.

For all his administrative skills, however, Dowling is enough of a scientist that, as for other experimenters on campus, taking on the job of dean would probably destroy his career.