At a University-wide meeting on the Dunster House murder-suicide last Thursday students questioned the effectiveness of Harvard's house advising system and its counseling and support resources.

Many faulted the administration for not doing more to prevent incidents like last week's murder-suicide from occurring.

The hour-long information session was attended by approximately 450 students, tutors and others who packed Science Center B to listen to presentations from administrators, the Harvard Vietnamese association (HVA) and the Harvard African Students Association (HASA).

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III fielded inquiries during a question-and-answer session following presentations on the lives of Dunster House juniors Trang Phuong Ho and Sinedu Tadesse, who both died last Sunday.

"We have a lot of re-examining to do here," Epps said in response to a female senior's statement that international students may be reluctant to seek out counseling in a foreign country. "We have a lot of resources but still we hear stories" of failure, he said.

Several students targeted the general advising system at Harvard, saying it is set up so that students with problems must seek out support, which they say troubled students are unlikely to do.

One female student asked whether "it would be better if the University could have tutors or advisers approach students on a regular basis" and inquire about what is going on in the student's life.

Some students were also critical of Epps' reponses to complaints about advising.

"I don't think he addressed adequately the point that the services are out there, but it requires the students to take a very active part in seeking them out," Marco B. Simons '97, a Dunster House resident said. "Many students...may not want to seek help."

The Stress of Harvard?

Media reports of the murder-suicide have been several angles. Some have focused on the stress of the Harvard environment, while others have emphasized reported tensions between the two roommates.

Although he offered no explanation for last Sunday's tragedy, Epps tended to focus on the stress at Harvard.

"We are a very busy college," Epps continued. "When the president took his leave he apparently got 1,500 letters saying, 'Well, I'm exhausted too."'

"We have to slow down," Epps continued. "Faculty and staff have to pay attention to undergraduates and being part of the College. Sometimes we lose sight of that. It's real problem."

Thursday's meeting was sponsored by the HVA. Ho served as vice president of the HVA from April 1994 to April 1995.