Steppin' Out

In what seems to be a virtual evacuation of the higher echelons of Harvard's administration, Kennedy School Dean Robert D. Putnam last week announced that he will step down after an unusually brief two-year tenure. Putnam says he is quitting to redirect his attention to teaching and research, and will likely teach an undergraduate course. In the meantime, Putnam will finish off two books which were on hold while he was dean.

75 Percent Solution

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons saw both a victory and a defeat this week. First, the good news: 75 percent of students accepted to the class of 1995 are expected to enroll, the highest proportion since 1981. But then, the Justice Department filed suit against Harvard, charging that the "overlap" system was in fact price-fixing. Harvard avoided a messy lawsuit by promptly settling.

He's No Madonna

It could have been Kevin Costner. It might have been George Will. Some say it should have been Colin Powell or even Madonna. But no. This year's Class Day speaker is Colorado Senator Tim Wirth. Many seniors expressed disappointment that Wirth-who speaks frequently at the Kennedy School--will be joining that other all-too-common speaker Derek Bok in what promises to be one of Harvard's less memorable Commencement weeks.

Hot Ticket

Students with large families or easily insulted friends were dismayed to find that Commencement tickets are going for up to $100. Frequent readers of kiosk posters will not find such sky-high prices surprising. Prices for scalped tickets are high every year. But apparently, the phenomenon impressed somebody: news of Commencement ticket prices were reported by the Associated Press and later in The New York Times.