"[The procedure] flew in the face of a tradition of consultation with the faculty in relation to benefits and total compensation," they wrote.

The two professors faulted the administration for failing to consult adequately about the final changes with the faculty advisory group it established.

"The Benefits Task Force's plan of action adduced general statements of concern and values from faculty and others, but it never contemplated seeking faculty comment on its detailed recommendations," Caves and Abernathy wrote. "Neither the Faculty Advisory Group nor the Faculty Council was informed of the exact options considered or recommended."

Rudenstine admitted in the meeting yesterday that the review structure may have caused problems.

"I agree there were flaws," he said. "The degree of consultation was much less than it should have been."

Professor of History William E. Gienapp says he believes that this lack of consultation with faculty led to a solution which constitutes a decline in real income for faculty members.

"The faculty I have talked to are all one way or the other, dismayed or even stronger," he says. "I feel this was simply a unilateral pay cut imposed on the faculty by the administration."

Gienapp says professors should not have been excluded from the review process.

"I could balance the budget in 10 minutes," he says. "Give me the red pen and absolute authority and some things would go."

Yesterday, though, the Faculty's focus turned from the issue of consultation to the issue of actual changes.

Caves and Abernathy concluded their report by recommending that Knowles create a Standing Benefits Review Committee, which would protect faculty members' future benefits.

"Most faculty members, understandably, don't know too much about the benefits that they'll be getting," Caves says. "We thought a committee could serve as an early warning system for these things."

Last week, the Faculty Council proposed that FAS create its own standing committee to monitor benefits. The resolution will be docketed for the December full faculty meeting.

Yesterday, Rudenstine said there will likely be two benefits committee, one within the FAS and one University-wide.

Professors asked that the committees review the changes, especially the pension reduction, and submit recommendations to the President and Fellows for consideration.