May 1999
5 - The University announces a complete restructuring of the Harvard University Police Department as part of a plan to implement a model of community policing. The department fires seven lieutenants, hires several new administrators and adds more than a dozen new officers--several on bicycles--to the force.

14 - Following a year that included a record number of early action applicants and admissions, as well as a near-record number of applicants overall, Harvard announces that 79.7 percent of those accepted in to the Class of 2003 have agreed to enroll. The yield, up 0.6 percent from 1997-1998, is the highest among all American colleges and Harvard's highest in 25 years.

The Boston Globe reports that former Dean of the Divinity School Ronald F. Thiemann's abrupt resignation last fall was prompted by discovery of pornographic material on his University-owned computer. Thiemann remains a tenured professor but is on sabbatical until 2000.

21 - Associate Director of Financial Aid David P. Illingworth '71 is named a new associate dean of Harvard College. Illingworth assumes the overall responsibility for student extracurricular affairs and other aspects of student life while Associate Deans Thomas A. Dingman '67 and Georgene B. Herschbach wll focus on athletics, advising and health services and finance, technology and classroom space, respectively.

29 - Associate Professor of Government Peter Berkowitz's teaching career at Harvard ends, following President Neil L. Rudenstine's spring 1997 decision to deny him tenure. Berkowitz had filed a very public formal tenure complaint, accusing the University of failing to follow its own procedures when considering him for tenure. A grievance committee charged with reviewing Berkowitz's complaint found it to be "clearly without merit."

September 1999
13 - Harvard agrees to pay the City of Boston $40 million over 20 years in lieu of taxes, ending a two-year battle of town and gown.

15 - Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 announces that the maximum size of blocking groups will be halved from the current cap of 16 to eight, starting with the Class of 2003. Lewis stands by his decision even after first-years present him with a petition, signed by nearly half the class, in the spring.