"There is a very close relationship between graduate students and a faculty member, and a lot of weight of their recommendation comes from that advisor. By having multiple advisors, it broadens that base and what possibilities there are for post-Ph.D. research," he says.

And now that students can choose two other advisors, it creates a situation in which at least professors are held accountable for their actions and one professor cannot have sole control over a student's future.

Brian Lawrence, a seventh year graduate student, was a member of Corey's lab and a friend of Altom's, but left when he realized it was not for him.

"The human element was missing. I hardly every talked to him about anything but science," Lawrence says. "From day one you were expected to work at the level of a post-doc."

But Lawrence and others say graduate students and faculty alike have been working to create a better atmosphere for students.

"It's a difficult situation to be in, but the group dynamic is helpful," Haushalter says. "The fact that the other people are there is an asset to me."

Though he was just a first-year graduate student when Altom died, Haushalter had been intimately involved in reforming the department. He is a co-chair of the chemistry department's quality of life committee. The committee organizes dinners with the whole department every two weeks, as well as social and sporting events, all meant to foster camaraderie in the department.

"We want the department to be involved in graduate student life," he says. "If we have an idea, they are very open to student input."