John Turlais '96-'99, says the conference"fills a vast gap" in a Harvard education, citingrules against cross registering for HBS classesand the lack of business classes at the College.
"I ended up having to do an independentbusiness project to learn basic businessprinciples," he says. "[There are] very fewcourses that offer business education."
Cooke says the College supports students'efforts to supplement their liberal artseducation.
"[It's a] very appropriate role for a studentgroup to play if the students themselves identifythis need," Cooke says of the conference.
Business professors who spoke at the conferenceagreed with students that the conference hadnecessary educational component.
"I do believe an understanding of accounting iscrucial for an undergraduate planing a career inbusiness," says Professor Christopher F. Noe,assistant professor of business administration,Who led a finance discussion on Tuesday.
And Myra Hart, also an assistant professor ofbusiness administration says, "I think its reallyimportant to stimulate more interest in business."
In that regard, the conference seems to havebeen a success.
"It made me reasses my commitment to go intobusiness, and I'm going to be much more seriousabout the process this fall," Jaffe said.
"They really wined and dined us."