While the administration is dragging its heels, those members of the Class of '96 and particularly the Class of '95 who want to concentrate in environmental studies are left in limbo.
With no alternative to a sound, established environmental major, they naturally turn to the Special Concentrations office.
A few years ago, this was a much easier process. The number of students who wanted such a Special Concentration was so small that basically everyone interested was approved after a certain amount of work. At the time, Harvard foresaw no alternatives for an environmental concentration in the near future. And they didn't need such alternatives, because only about 15 people requested this particular Special Concentration.
But the last two years have been different. Now there's much more interest. But the Special Concentrations office cannot and will not approve as many as 100 environmental "special" applications while students wait around for the new "real" concentration.
Special Concentrations simply do not exist to serve such a huge portion of the student body. In fact, the office handles only about 10 to 15 applications each year.
Only the last piece of the puzzle needs to be put in place. Students want the concentration. Many faculty members want it. Even President Neil L. Rudenstine named the "environment" one of his four goals as president. (Let's hope he's more serious about that promise than another president who pledged to support the environment.)
But the major glitch is Knowles and the Educational Policy Committee.
We must insist on the immediate approval of the concentration. We must make sure the committee votes in favor of the concentration when it meets at the end of October. One way to help is to complete the short survey that will be available at dinner in your dining hall this week.
The world leaders united at the Earth Summit in Rio last June, and the Bush administration ignored their recommendations. Let's make sure the Harvard administration doesn't ignore our demands.
Brenna D. Segal '95, a contributing writer for the editorial board, is, as you may have guessed, the chair of Students for Environmental Studies.