Harvard is changing the face it presents to the world, but no one is yet certain what the new model will be.

Paul S. Grogan, a graduate of the Harvard School of Education, officially assumes the role of the University's new vice president for government, community and public affairs on Tuesday, but his first few months in office, he says, will be a time for learning, not for doing. He has not developed goals or set agendas for his term, he says.

"I'm going to spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the University and the administration I'm responsible for," Grogan says.

The vice president is Harvard's advocate and representative at the federal state and local levels. He coordinates all lobbying efforts and is responsible for maintaining amicable relations with the community.

He also directs the work of the News Office which handles the media and publishes the University Gazette, a weekly newspaper.

Unlike his predecessor James H. Rowe III '73, who was known for his political clout in Washington, the Williams College graduate is a veteran of local politics and city resource planning. His appointment leads many to speculate that Harvard is shifting its focus away from Washington and toward mending strained relations on the home front.

Acting Vice President Jane H. Corlette says that while Grogan has the experience in local affairs, he will need to learn more about issues facing higher education.

"Paul will have a learning curve, especially about higher education issues," says Corlette, who will be working closely with Grogan as associate vice president for government, community and public affairs. "On the community relations side there will be a learning curve for communityissues but not as much. I think he's prettyfamiliar with what you have to do to get alongwith the community."

Over the last few years, Harvard's growth hasoccasionally riled its neighbors in the Bostonarea. In June 1997, the University announced ithad secretly purchased 52.6 acres in the Allstonarea of Boston over the past eight years withoutdisclosing its identity. The University made thepurchases anonymously because it feared sellerswould hold out for higher prices if they knew theywere dealing with Harvard.

The disclosure angered city officials andresidents alike. At the time of the announcement,Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino condemned Harvard'spurchases as "arrogant."

Last year, the University detailed plans tobuild the Knafel Center for Government andInternational Studies after a $15 million dollargift by Sidney R. Knafel '52, a New York venturecapitalist, in a primarily residential area nearthe Graduate School of Design. The move againangered members of the community and led theUniversity to rethink its plans.

Now, as Harvard nears the end of a capitalcampaign to raise $2.1 billion, each of Harvard's10 schools will have much more to spend on newbuildings and renovations--creating potentiallyexplosive situations as the University expandsinto Cambridge and the surrounding areas.

Grogan, many hope, will have greater sympathyfor the community.

He emphasizes the "symbiotic" relationshipbetween universities and their host towns. Thecity benefits from increased jobs and business, hesays, but because universities don't pay taxesthey can cause difficulties for city managerstrying to balance their budgets.

As tension with the community appears destinedto mount, however, Harvard's work in Washingtonmay become less crucial. The passage lastSeptember of the Higher Education Act, a victoryfor universities and a five-year renewal of highereducation policy, could symbolize the end of anera of lobbying a Republican Congress for moremoney and more freedom.

During his years in office, Rowe, a Washingtonnative who had once been NBC's top lawyer in thecity, set his sights on America's capital, makingHarvard a formidable influence in thecongressional world. Under Rowe's guidance, theUniversity fought for--and often won on--issues asvaried as continuing affirmative action andincreasing federal funding for scientificresearch.