Donors Don't Neglect Humanities

To the editors:

The premise of your editorial (Dec. 4), that humanities and social science departments are disadvantaged in funding because of alumni contributions towards science initiatives, is a curious one. Self-evidently Robert R. Barker '36 and Sidney R. Knafel '52 (as well as many other generous alumns) were approached to help create the Barker Center for the Humanities and the Knafel Center for Government and International Studies before Charles T. "Ted" Bauer '42 was moved to provide the key gift for the new Life Sciences building. Even if there were a problem with differential funding among the disciplines, it could not be solved by taxing alums gifts in order to fund projects which our donors do not want to support. Development involves explaining to alums why the institution's priorities should be theirs, and it is a credit to our graduates that they so often understand our priorities and so generously respond to them.

No account of alumni giving would be complete without some mention of undergraduate financial aid, the most direct form of philanthropy in support of students' Harvard experience. More than $200 million was raised for this purpose in the Campaign; $55 million was distributed for undergraduate scholarships last year, and we are aiming to raise enough endowment so that our need-blind admissions/need-based aid policies will be secured forever. Indeed, your readers should know that Bauer gave $2.75 million for undergraduate financial aid before his recent $25 million gift. Bauer has, in fact, a deep interest in undergraduate life, and he has taken the trouble to meet almost all the students whose education here has been made possible by his generosity.

Harry R. Lewis '68

Dec. 11, 2000

The writer is Dean of Harvard College.