But Phillip J. Parsons, director of planningand senior development officer in the Faculty ofArts and Sciences says that the council has beenconsulted since 1988 and there have been numerousattempts to gain student input.

Parsons claims that plans for Loker todayrepresent exactly what students have asked for.

"[Although] the original feasibility study in1988 showed some interest in a full-scale studentcenter, we felt that it wasn't something thatpeople wanted," he says.

Council members did not disagree with hisstatements, but they say that they were not keptinformed of developments as the process movedalong.

Berry adds that when students were polled theyspecifically did not want a lounge but preferredan area like the one they are being given. Hereiterated, as did all of the administratorsinvolved in planning, that the process wascontinually up for discussion and if studentswanted couches they could be added.

Council members also object to the absence ofplans for a television, saying that theadministration has told them that the College doesnot favor addition of or installation of atelevision because administrators don't wantstudents "hanging around."

But the administrators disagree.

Noting that most undergraduates have readyaccess to televisions in their rooms or houses,Jewett says that he isn't sure that a televisionarea is the best use for Loker's limited space.

Still, he adds that if there is sufficientdemand for the television, the administration willcertainly consider installing one.

Asked whether expressions of demand from thecouncil--the elected representatives of thestudent body--was sufficient, Jewett says that the"U.C. is not the only voice of Harvard students."

Indeed, Berry says that the commons are alreadywired for television, and proposes that one mightbe hooked up in the event of a nationalcrisis--such as the Gulf War--or a large sportsevent.

Finally, council members express concern thatthe administration will not allow dances to beheld as often as undergraduates would like.

But administrators say that Loker Commons willbe available for dances as long as there is demandfor them.

Berry adds that a speaker system has alreadybeen included in the commons to facilitate suchactivity.

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