Students and tutors at Mather House expressed frustration yesterday at the slow progress of the search for new Mather masters.

Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 confirmed that the search has taken longer than was originally expected.

"We thought we would have someone last spring," said Jewett. "There have been people who would have been very good...who were not able to accept."

Jewett was unable to give a specific prediction for when a new Master would be chosen. But he said the search is currently one of his top priorities.

Several candidates are under consideration, he said, and he hopes some will be presented to the house in the next few weeks. "We've done the best we can. This is not a process where you can post an ad," he said.

However, several Mather tutors said they believes the administration has handled the search poorly. Leonid M. Fridman '85, a resident tutor of mathematics, said he thinks the administration has not been as effective as it could be.

"I think the administration is dragging its feet. I and many of us here would like to see a very serious search process going on," said Fridman.

Some tutors said Deborah Hughes-Hallett, head preceptor in mathematics, had been mentioned as a possible candidate by the house. However, sources said she had not been officially offered the job.

"I talked to her last spring. The house was very interested in her--she expressed some interest. I think she'd be fantastic," said Roland L. Dunbrack '85, resident tutor of philosophy.

Although two candidates were presented to the house last spring, Dunbrack said, he believed much of the search process had been left up to house members.

"It seemed to be up to students here to walk up to tenured professors and ask them to consider it," he said.

"I'm disappointed the administration didn't take it more seriously."

Several tutors said they had in fact askedprofessors to consider the position and had beenturned down.

Jewett is on the official selection committee,which is headed by President Neil L. Rudenstine.Other members include Dean of the Faculty of Artsand Sciences Jeremy R. Knowles, Dean ofUndergraduate Education Lawrence Buell andRadcliffe President Linda S. Wilson.

An in-house search committee of students andtutors, working with Jewett, was created lastspring. Mather House Committee chair Michelle M.Shih '93 said the committee has not yet met thisyear.

"We haven't heard anything. As far as we know,there's no short list," said Shih, who is not onthe formal selection committee.