Other core classes, such as Literature and Arts C-16 "Periclean Athens" taught by Thomas R. Martin, Weston Associate Professor of the Humanists--are solving the over subscription problem by moving to larger rooms.

Why?

Why are so many students flocking in Core courses?

Rosovsky, former dean of the Faculty and principal architect of the requirement, said that he "would like to think it's the quality of the courses." He also attributes its popularity to the fact that more and more departments are giving credit for Core classes, and that "not an insignificant number of students are taking Core classes as electives."

Wilcox said that Core enrollment has been rising every year, but that he expects it eventually to stabilize.

Rosovsky agreed, saying that it will be easier to plan once the numbers level off. "Planning is particularly difficult at Harvard because we don't have pre-registration and we do have shopping. We pay a very high price for the present system," he added.

The major reason that courses have to hold lotteries to restrict enrollment is because of the acute shortage of section leaders, said Wilcox. Moreover, many students are taking Core courses--which usually have sections--instead of mid-level department classes, which often do not.

Outside the Core

Some non- courses are over subscribed as well.

Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory Seamus Heanry's English 186, "Modern Poetry, Tradition and Experiment, and Trumbull Professor of History Donald H. Fleming's History 1341b, "European Intellectual History, 1980 to the Present," as well as several, other classes, are moving to larger rooms because of higher than expected enrollment.

Overall, however, Registrar's office official Sheila Stuff said said that the number of courses requesting room changes--13 so far--was about average