Just as disturbing is the administration's inability to be honest about these perks. For example, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons '67 told us there are no ordered lists. Now, he says he never said that. Which is it?
Again, some might argue that letting in less qualified students who are athletes (and most athletes are qualified, some extraordinarily so) will bring Harvard more victories and, therefore, more alumni dollars. Maybe so. But, once again, admission to Harvard should not be about money-making.
Athletes often receive other, lesser perks as well. Easy jobs are often assigned out of the athletics department's Operations Office informally, for example. Of course, many students in many different areas of the University come across easy jobs and other perks through their professors or extracurriculars. All of these jobs should be more open to all students; those not advertised in the Student Employment Office should be.
Men's and women's athletics are integral parts of college life, and they shouldn't face gross inequalities. Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles and the band of soft-headed professors and administrators on the faculty committee ought to start taking a hard look at the athletic department and the pat answers Cleary has been giving to serious concerns.
We also think Knowles, who was either too busy or too out-of-the-loop to answer questions from The Crimson last week, can find the time to have his support staff xerox copies of the budget and fax them to committee members and coaches. If Knowles is too busy, he should ask Cleary to distribute the information.
Harvard must couple its financial concerns about these teams with a concern for fair treatment of all students. No teams should get screwed, and star athletes should have no easier a time getting into Harvard than star viola players or star writers or star community activists.
The time for openness and honesty in athletic department dealings and admissions is now. And the time for equal treatment is long overdue.