Seniors asked in a recent poll to describe their class were stumped. Many students--sounding a bit like admissions materials--say the class is rather like other Harvard classes: "unique, diverse, talented, exciting, stressed."

But from the perspective of one student, Edward H. Wu '96, the Class of 1996 is "infamous," referring to the string of tragedies, traumas and arrests that has befallen this particular group of students.

But in this survey of about 90 seniors, the majority of responses downplayed the significance of the big news events in their Harvard experience.

"It sobered me up about how precious life can be," Marsha A. Elbourne '96 says.

Most students say University politics and the ups and downs of four years of college were more significant in defining their Harvard experience.

A Lacerated Community

The Class of 1996 entered a Harvard community lacerated by controversy over race, gender and minority issues.

Racial unrest in the 1992-1993 year came in many forms.

The Class of 1996 entered with the lowest number of black students since 1972. The statistics reflected discontent already present on the campus. During that school year, the Black Students' Association distributed a flyer titled, "On the Harvard Plantation," which summarized black students' complaints about the University.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III was appointed race relations "czar" to assuage racial tensions and address minority concerns within the College, employing the aid of the Harvard Foundation for Race and Intercultural Relations.

The school also dealt with racial tension in the Harvard University Police Department when an officer was accused of racial harrassment.

Gender issues arose in an examination of the definition of date rape, and procedural changes were made in how the College handles date rape cases.

Another prominent social issue was the controversy over the prohibition of participation by gay students in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program and whether the University should continue to pay MIT for the program.

Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. '53 was at the forefront of all of these controversies, reprimanding the administration for assuming a liberal position on the matters. Mansfield also alleged that a link exists between affirmative action and grade inflation.

Student Life Changes