Cooke will also be involved in "strengthening Loker," Epps said. The troubled student center, now almost two years old, has struggled to attract undergraduate customers.

Citing her status as a newcomer, Cooke says she wants to take some time to "get a good understanding of Loker and what it is to the campus."

Since her arrival in late August, Cooke has been meeting with student groups but has also identified an immediate challenge: resisting postering in the Yard, particulary on Thayer Gate, located between Thayer Hall and Science Center.

Last year, the College began allowing student groups to poster on the brick walls of the gate, but not on the metal grating.

Cooke says she appreciates student groups' "need to get the message out" but notes that alumni who come back to visit are concerned by the posterladen gate and consider it an eyesore.

"Harvard has a beautiful campus and it is a historic gate which we need to preserve," she says.

The administration also has met with the head of the Cambridge Historical Commission and will make a presentation on postering alternative to the panel on Oct. 9. One of the possible solutions is the installations of new sign kiosks near Thayer.