BSA

Darryl A. Parson '87, president of the Black Students Association (BSA), says the organization keeps the administration's handling of minority relations under constant scrutiny.

"We want to be participants instead of observers. They must consider us as people and not just numbers," Parson says.

BSA's interests cover a wide range of topics. Members would like to have a say in the selection of a new dean of admissions who is sensitive to minority concerns, revamp the Harvard Foundation for race relations, better relations with the Harvard police and the more mainstream student organizations, and most importantly, effect changes in the College curriculum.

"One of the greatest insults was offering a Core course of 'Africa.' There's no way you can cover a continent in a semester," says Parson. The BSA wants to revitalize the Afro-American Studies program and increase the number of minority-related courses in the Core.

"In just think student activism is a necessity around here," says Parson. "You would be doing a disservice to yourself if you became isolated."

According to the BSA's philosophy, the way to reap positive results is to maintain a constant "watchdog" vigil, sustaining pressure on the administration.

Spartacus Youth League

The Spartacus Youth League (SYL) provides a familiar sideshow to almost every campus protest with banners and chanting.

Yet even in this bastion of liberalism, the SYL has trouble persuading students to take it seriously.

"What we want to do is link students with the power of the working class," states League leader Thomas N. Crean '86. "We want people to be class traitors."

Besides selling their newspaper, the SYL offers Marxist study classes, attends various political rallies both on and off campus, and tries to recruit people "willing to fight racist oppression." Although they recognize that their organization does not appeal to the majority of Harvard students, the Sparts remain hopeful that the working class will eventually triumph and revolutionize country.

More than some of its activist counterparts, the SYL has an antagonistic relationship with the University. "I think students have to understand who's on their side and who's not," says Carla D. Williams '86, referring to the Committee on Rights and Responsibilities and the administration at large.

"If students are against racism and U.S. imperialism, we are the organization to look at," Williams declares.