Funds raised from the University-wide capital campaign will strengthen education and faculty at Harvard, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) Jeremy R. Knowles told an audience of more than 600 Harvard Club officials and Alumni Association (HAA) staff members at the Briggs Athletic Center last night.

The speech was part of a two-day campaign conference for Club officials and HAA staff focusing on the $2.1 billion fund drive.

Briggs was temporarily transformed for the event--the basketball court was covered with paper, on top of which were tables adorned with rose petals, candles and fine wines.

The presentation was intended to spur HAA members to raise more money for the campaign, which has brought in $715 million in the past five months.

Knowles said Harvard has two goals in the capital campaign: to bring the best students to Harvard and to give them the best possible education.

"Financial aid is the single most important lever in ensuring that Harvard attracts the best students," he said. "[It is] the single most important goal [of the campaign]."

Admitting that Harvard is "rather behind its sibling universities" in terms of faculty-student ratios, Knowles said that Harvard is planning to increase the number of faculty members by 40 to ensure that the University gives its students the best education possible.

To add an incentive for faculty to interact more with students, Knowles said, the University is planning to implement Harvard College professorships.

Harvard would give the professorships to professors "who have shown themselves committed to and effective in undergraduate education," according to Knowles.

Harvard College professors would get a five-year chair, a summer salary, a year of scholarly leave and research funding.

Alumni Views

Alumni in attendance at the speech seemed generally supportive of the capital campaign.

But audience member T'ing Pei '65 said he believed that was to be expected, since Knowles was "preaching to the converted"--Harvard Club officials and HAA staff members.

"Those of us who call classmates [to raise money] get a mixed reception," said Charles S. Lipsin '54.

One alumnus had questions about the way that the university went about its fundraising.

"The university can really rival the CIA and FBI in its ability to ferret out information about people and...how much money they have," said Greg Stone '75.

But most alumni interviewed said they were enthusiastic about the campaign.

"[Knowles] gave some very good arguments," Pei said. "I've heard them before, many of us have. But it doesn't detract from its relevance. We're hoping to have a great and successful campaign."

Paul M. Weissman '52, chair of the Harvard College Fund Council and co-chair of the FAS campaign, said he was optimistic about the continued success of the capital campaign.

"The response of the alumni has been just superb. It's encouraging to see such an outpouring of enthusiasm, effort and dollars," said Weissman.