But despite the appearance of openness, the committee has kept an airtight lid on information about the status of the search, and the process has been sharply criticized by watchdog groups and some students.
Students eager to predict the name of the next president have been left to sift through an assortment of rumors, "long lists," "medium lists" and "short lists." Some students are betting that the new president will be from Harvard; others are betting that the new president will be an outsider.
But most agree that the only sure bet is that the name of the new president will be a complete surprise.
The Candidates
The list includes:
* Thomas Ehrlich '56
Indiana University President
* Martin S. Feldstein '61
Baker Professor of Economics
* James O. Freedman '57
Dartmouth President
* Philip A. Griffiths
Duke University Provost
* Nannerl O. Keohane
Wellesley College President
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Wellesley and MIT Committee Urges Permanent Adoption of Joint Program