Zaheer R. Ali '94

BSA President

"Most of the conflicts were because of a choice of speakers," says Hillel Chair Jeremy A. Dauber '95.

However, BSA Vice President Alvin L. Bragg '95 says relations still could be better.

"When there is a crisis situation, there is a greater sense of anxiety and nervousness and people want to reserve their feelings," says Bragg. "There is no crisis at this moment but there is no partnership."

A Stormy Spring

Last spring, racial tensions flared between BSA and Hillel after a series of unrelated incidents which eventually prompted a shakeup of the College's race relations bureaucracy and the appointment of Epps in a proconsulary role as coordinator of race relations.

In February, the BSA sponsored a speech by Jeffries, who has sparked controversy for his racially charged remarks about whites and Jews.

In April, Harvard Foundation Director S. Allen Counter charged that Crimson writers "active in Hillel" were pursuing an "anti-Black agenda." Subsequently, Counter and The Crimson traded charges of racial insensitivity. Several Hillel officers called Counter's remarks anti-Semitic. A broad minority coalition supported Counter.

In May, the BSA distributed a flyer titled "On the Harvard Plantation," which catalogued grievances against the College administration, The Crimson, and the Harvard police for their insensitive treatment of Black students.

So Much Attention

Some BSA members credit their efforts to publicize unfair treatment of Black students on campus for drawing attention to larger questions of interracial conflict. However, they say most of this concern has been lumped together in studying Black-Jewish tensions.

"Much of the race relations hoopla from the administration has arisen out of the doordrop 'On the Harvard Plantation,'" says Ali. "It's frustrating because we have to demonstrate what the problems are."

I don't see [tonight's] attempt as a desperately needed discussion.

Shai A. Held '94