Nothing bad can be said about the substance of Fineberg's record, but a somewhat paradoxical criticism has emerged: sources on the Board of Overseers, in the central administration and in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) say they fear the strengthened provost's office created by Fineberg has diluted the autonomy of the University's faculties. Fineberg's very success may be his undoing.

In particular, these sources say, inherent structural tensions between the faculties and University central administration have been aggravated by the increased role of the office.

The problem's origin lies deep in Harvard's history.

"The bottom line is that Neil decided one of his priorities was to make the University greater than the sum of its parts," said a senior administration official. "This was after 360-whatever years of the University moving in the opposite direction."

It was the provost's office that Rudenstine charged with the tasks of increasing collaboration between the faculties and consolidating central administration.

Fineberg took over the office as momentum for change gathered and he has been extraordinarily effective as provost. Consequently, he has become--for some--a magnet for resentment over these issues.

"There are some things that are high-profile that are pissing people off," said a senior administrator. "I think Harvey is in the position of being assigned some of the most complicated tasks. That's just what the provost's portfolio is."