During the academic year 1998-99, Associate Professor of Government Peter Berkowitz's tenure appeal saw a lot of action and few results. While a mutually satisfactory resolution remained elusive, Berkowitz and Harvard administrators struggled to maintain cordiality through a series of face-to-face and virtual confrontations.

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If nothing else, Berkowitz's campaign to win a new hearing for tenure has demonstrated that there is a role for the Internet in today's academic disputes.

From the scores of e-mails exchanged between the associate professor and various University officials to the official Berkowitz Web site, virtual connections and forums have woven a trail of records, open to all, throughout the case.

While sating the community's curiosity, the availability of almost every missive, statement and document relating to Berkowitz's tenure appeal may have irked the University, which has stamped much of its correspondence "personal and confidential" only to see it appear at the Berkowitz home page, http://cyber.harvard.edu/eon/evidence/berkowitz.ht ml.

The Web site was launched by Weld Professor of Law Charles R. Nesson '60, who has been Berkowitz's ally, adviser and confidante since April 1997, when President Neil L. Rudenstine decided not to grant the junior professor tenure.

From the University's vantage, despite the publicity afforded by the Web site-a minor annoyance for Harvard, which is accustomed to secrecy in its internal proceedings-the year has ended with vindication.

Two weeks ago, an elected Docket Committee ofthe Faculty found Berkowitz's formal grievance,filed with Dean of the Faculty of Arts andSciences (FAS) Jeremy R. Knowles on Jan. 6, to be"clearly without merit."

The dismissal of Berkowitz's complaint by theDocket Committee effectively lays it to rest asfar as the University is concerned.

Knowles confirmed that with the receipt of thecommittee's verdict, "the processes of the Facultyof Arts and Sciences are now complete."

Traceable on the Web site, the grievance's pathto this point-apparently the end of the line forBerkowitz's appeal within the FAS-began with aletter Berkowitz sent to Knowles late last summer.

On Aug. 27, 1998, Berkowitz wrote to the dean,requesting procedures applicable to an appeal of adecision by Rudenstine. Knowles responded on Sept.17 via Secretary of the Faculty John B. Fox Jr.'59, who forwarded Berkowitz a copy of theUniversity's published Guidelines for theResolutions of Faculty Grievances.

In accordance with Phase 1 of the Guidelines,Berkowitz then met with his department head,Williams Professor of history and PoliticalScience Roderick MacFarquhar, who said he was notin a position to overturn a decision of thePresident.

Phase 2 of the Guidelines required thatBerkowitz consult privately with an associatedean. Berkowitz says the obvious choice wasAssociate Dean for Academic Affairs Carol J.Thompson, wife of Associate Provost Dennis F.Thompson. Dennis Thompson figures prominently inBerkowitz's grievance.

In a Nov. 3 letter, Fox urged Berkowitz tocontact either Kenan Professor of English MarjorieGarber or Dean Elizabeth Doherty instead of DeanThompson.

Berkowitz says he saw no reason to approachGarber or Doherty, who are the school's designatedcontacts for affirmative action complaints.