Harvard Divinity School students gathered last night to voice their opinions on the search for a senior faculty member in the area of Women's Studies in Religion.

Approximately 40 students attended a forum with members of the search committee, voicing concerns with the diversity of the faculty, the manner in which the opening will be advertised, the potential for curriculum development in non-Western traditions, the feminist perspective and interdisciplinary expertise of the candidates.

"If we got someone with feminist theory, we hope that this person would also have an understanding of religion," said Emily R. Neill, a fourth year doctoral student at the Divinity School and one of the two student members on the search committee.

"Putting the two together is what we are looking for in this position," Neill said, responding to concerns about scholarly qualifications.

Neill later noted that this scholar would be important in what she characterized as a "crucial transitional" period at the Divinity School, caused by the departure of scholars in women's studies.

Those in attendance voiced a number of concerns and suggested about 20 names of scholars at other institutions who they felt would be valuable additions to the Divinity School's faculty.

Among the names of potential candidates who were mentioned by students were Patricia Williams, bell hooks, Judith Butler and Kelly Brown.

Dean of the Divinity School Ronald F. Thiemann and Stendahl Professor of Divinity Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, who chairs the search committee, expressed optimism about finding a candidate of exceptional caliber.

Thiemann said that for the first time, candidates for other positions in the Divinity School are also being asked if they can teach feminist theory.

"This is a moment when we may have a critical mass in regards to women's studies," Thiemann said.

Faculty diversity was also on the minds of some attendees.

Chris D. Tirres, a second year student with Nueva Generacion, a student group, stated that the Divinity School has never hired an American Latino or Latina and that Latinas are severely underrepresented at the University as a whole.

Nueva Generacion submitted a paper to the committee which identifies several Latina candidates in mujerista theology, which is the study of theology in the Latina context.

"Harambee, Nueva Generacion and the Women's Caucus are all interested in faculty diversity," said Cynthia D. Johnson '96, a second-year master's student and a committee member, explaining why this search appeals to so many student groups in ways that other searches have not.

Johnson also stressed that the need for faculty who can add to the diversity of the curriculum influenced the open nature of this search.

"I was surprised how many people turned out. I was impressed by some of the names mentioned," Fiorenza said, noting that some of the suggestions will probably not work out.

The next steps for the committee are to draft a job description for approval by the Professory Committee and then to begin advertising the opening.

Also on the committee are Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies Diana L. Eck '76, Warren Professor of the History of Religion William R. Hutchison, Professor of Afro-American Studies and of the Philosophy of Religion Cornel R. West '74 and Houghton Professor of Theology and Contemporary Change Preston N. Williams.

Unlike searches for professors in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, students at the Divinity School are part of the search committee and are also encouraged to attend open lectures by candidates and to write to the search committee in favor of candidates, according to Thiemann.

"It is helpful to get input from the community early on in the process," Thiemann said.

According to Thiemann, open forums like yesterday's have been a regular event in the Divinity School. The search for three additional junior faculty will likely lead to more public discussion in the coming year, he said