* The Administrative Board changed from "C" to "pans" the grade of a student who said she was sexually harassed the previous semester by the poet Derek Walcott, a visiting professor in the English Department. It was reportedly the first time the College has changed a letter grade to pass/fail because of a professor's possible bias in determining the grade.

* In an effort to stem the deterioration of the Houses, the College decided to accelerate its $48 million renovation program. All upperclass Houses will be extensively overhauled over the next four years, rather than eight as originally planned. (For more information on the renovation, see page A-11)

November

* Results of a survey of undergraduates conducted the previous May showed that despite reporting minimal contact with tutors and House masters, they were generally very pleased with their overall Harvard and House experiences. The results showed an overall increase in the level of satisfaction compared with three previous surveys conducted over the decade.

* The first comprehensive comparative study of U.S. doctoral programs conducted in the past 12 years showed the Harvard graduate faculty members rank first in the nation in Classics, Philosophy and Spanish. A later portion of the survey, re- after Dr. John R. Darsee had admitted to falsifying research results in the hospital's Cardiac Research lab in May 1981.

March

*Controversy broke out over Harvard's relations with two different branches of the military. A group of students belonging to the Reserve Officers Training Corps, (ROTC) applied to the College to form a friends of ROTC club, which would be the first official Harvard recognition of the program since the University severed ties with ROTC in 1969. After a prolonged discussion stretched over social weeks, the administration approved the club but made it clear they were not supporting ROTC itself.

The second battle came over a planned Navy recruiting visit which students protested because of the military branch's rules forbidding homosexuals from serving. More than 500 people signed a petition forcing the Navy--according to College policy to hold an open meeting on its hiring practices in mid April. The next day, the recruiter came without fanfare and talked to four students

*Harvard Physics Professor Paul Horowitz activated a sophisticated radio telescope designed to defect deliberate signals from extra terrestrials. The 84 foot telescope will scan between 10,000 and 100,000 stars over the next four years (For a description of other lively research projects Harvard professors worked on during the year, see pages B 45).

*In a major reversal of statements made by officials in February, the College announced that unlimited summer storage for undergraduates would continue. The impetus for maintaining the policy was a report compiled by the Under-graduate. Council which catalogued several places through the University where students' belongings could be stored.

*More than 350 Law students packed a Law School lecture hall to attack the school's administration on a wide once range of issues. Close to half the school's faculty attended the two hour exchange, which focused on affirmative action, curriculum changes and the lack of student input in administrative decision making.

*The University announced it would begin construction of a $1 million outdoor track which, designers say, will set new standards for building techniques and surface composition. The new tracks facility will replace two obsolete cinder tracks currently used Officials also said they would spend more than $200,000 to make the football stadium more accessible to disabled students. (For a rundown on Harvard's athletic facilities in transition see page D-7).

*A new study showed that cocaine use at Harvard had risen significantly, from an almost negligible rate in 1977 to 3 percent in 1981. As many as 7 percent of all undergraduates have tried it at least once, according to the report.

*Stanford University sociologist Nancy B. Tuma turned down a tenure offer from Harvard. She became the third scholar in a year to turn down a tenured post, dealing a blow to the department's efforts to build up its senior faculty. All three are specialists in the quantitative branch of sociology, a field split by a general dispute as to the best methods of research. Confusion has bred personnel disputes at Harvard, with professors split over whether to hire data analysis or researchers with more historical and theoretical approaches.

*Student governments from seven schools formed an unprecedented umbrella organization to deal with issues of common concern such as financial aid, minority questions, and tuition.