Advertisement

For Better and Worse, Public Service Grabs the Spotlight

Nero said Thursday night that the effort to remove her resulted from abuses of the association's governance process. "I think all in all the board lost control of the situation," Nero said. "The strength of the structure is that when we lose control, the cabinet can step in."

But it will take more than the cabinet's assistance to secure insurance for the association's vehicles after its poor driving record this summer.

Annemarie Thomas, director of the University's insurance office, and her assistant director, Lee Ann Ross, attended Thursday night's meeting and told the cabinet that it needs to enforce a vehicles policy.

"There are rules for driving the autos," said Thomas, who likened her own demeanor during her presentation to that of "The Wicked Witch of the West."

"The reason that we're developing the rules is because we're concerned about the safety of children," she said.

Advertisement

The association decertified 15 drivers Monday night, and a new list of students ineligible to drive the association's vans was posted yesterday, Koo said.

Coles' Challenge

University administrators have not publicly commented on statements made by Robert Coles, who has taught at several Harvard schools and leads the popular General Education 105.

But those close to Coles believe he is serious about his challenge to the administration: that if Harvard won't support a project to get faculty more involved in public service, he'll take his teaching services elsewhere. A source close to Coles said he may be considering jobs at Duke and Brown.

"Obviously, if things don't work out, I would leave," the professor said Wednesday.

Two Memos

Memos from the University's top two public service administrators, which were obtained by The Crimson this week, sharply criticized the recommendations in the controversial Report on the Structure of Harvard College. The document was recently submitted to Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles for his consideration.

Gail Epstein, director of public service programs for the College, and Greg A. Johnson '72, executive director of Phillips Brooks House, attacked the report's suggestion that the College eliminate their positions and consolidate the University's public service programs under an "Assistant Dean of Harvard College for Public Service and Director of Phillips Brooks House."

Johnson said last week that putting all of the College's student volunteers under one director without additional staff would be overwhelming. As an alternative, Johnson proposed combining the staff of Epstein's office with existing or additional PBHA employees.

"To reduce staff size and to put Harvard's undergraduate public service systems through an artificially fabricated crisis is not [agreeable to myself or Epstein]," Johnson wrote in a memo to Nancy L. Maull, administrative dean to the faculty of arts and sciences and ah author of the report.

Advertisement