"I think it's pretty obvious that he was thehands-on top choice," says Rev. Theodore M.Hesburgh--who was newly reelected to a second termas president of the Board of Overseers--in aninterview on Wednesday.

Temporary Loss

Still, many faculty and governing boardsmembers say that the loss of the valuableperspective offered by Slichter is only temporary.Many observers note that retirement seems imminentfor Rosovsky, Stone and Smith--all of whom arenear 70.

"If you look at the ages [of the Corporationmembers], two or three more people are likely tobe replaced in a two-three year span," Hesburghsays.

Therefore, Hesburgh notes, "you don't have tomake the" decision to appoint an academic rightaway.

Hope agrees that several people are likely tostep down in the next few years, providing theCorporation with the opportunity to replenishitself with a third academic, perhaps a scientist.

"I'm sure we'll have opportunities for manydifferent [perspectives] to be brought to theCorporation," she says.

Two other overseers, both requesting anonymity,also point out that other replacements are likelyto be forthcoming.

Other members of the faculty and Universitygoverning boards add that because the boardfocuses on long-term policy concerns, thetemporary absence of an academic won'tsignificantly affect the Corporation.

"You know that the Corporation thinks in termsof decades," Hope said in a telephone interviewfrom Washington yesterday. "Charlie Slichter hasbeen an extremely [important influence] on theCorporation, but you do have Neil [Rudenstine] andyou do have Henry [Rosovsky]."

Hope adds that she might be more inclined toagree "if this were a snapshot. But I think thatthe kind of talent that Charlie brought issomething that will get to be well-represented."

Ironic Timing

The appointment of Houghton, ironically,arrived after the central administration cameunder intense fire for ignoring opinions of FASmembers.

In particular, a controversy over benefitreductions erupted last fall with Rudenstine'sreport suggesting a one percent cut in facultybenefits.

The controversy, which took Rudenstine bysurprise, brought to a head tensions which hadbeen brewing within FAS for some time. The facultyannounced distrust towards an administration thatthey said they felt was run more like acorporation than an academic institution.