Yesterday’s Faculty meeting was not remarkable for its virulent discourse, but as the unusually large collection of administrators and professors shuffled out of University Hall, there was a palpable tension between the administration and faculty members.

While a change in the name of the Committee on Degrees in Women’s Studies and curricular review announcements were the top priorities on the agenda, University decision-making was the unspoken theme of the day, as professors quizzed administrators on whether they would be consulted on Allston planning and fiscal belt-tightening.

Following his appearance at last month’s Faculty meeting, when he joined his colleagues in protesting a perceived lack of consultation over Allston, Professor of German Peter J. Burgard directed the first question of the open discussion period to whether the Allston plans would be up for a full vote by the Faculty.

“We will be voting today on changes to the Women’s Studies department,” Burgard stated. “Will we vote on Allston as well?”

University President Lawrence H. Summers had a quick reply: “No.”

Burgard’s follow-up question, “Why not,” was met with a prolonged silence.

“It has not been the practice of the Faculty to vote on new buildings, on the physical plant or on questions relating to the allocation of slots,” Summers said. “Dean [of the Faculty William C.] Kirby and I will consult extensively with members of the Faculty, but for reasons deeply rooted in University governance and tradition... matters that are curricular are matters of the Faculty, but matters regarding the allocation of resources by Massachussetts Law are reserved for the Harvard Corporation.”

While professors shifted in their seats, Summers continued to delineate the role of the Faculty in the physical planning of Allston.

“Obviously it is the Faculty who sets the intellectual agenda, which has implications for the other aspects of physical planning,” Summers said.

Later in the meeting, following the subsequent vote on the change in name of the women’s studies committee (please see story below), Kirby rose to discuss Allston and the financial state of the Faculty.

”Let me repeat a warning that I had to give also last year at this point,” Kirby began. “Our financial picture remains difficult.”

While Kirby noted that the 2 percent payout from the Corporation was an unexpected plus (please see story at left), he said that the rising costs of the Faculty, combined with increases in fringe benefits rates, offset the payout increase.

“Obviously, this cannot continue for long,” Kirby said. “Budgets, in short, will be even tighter. And we will have to make careful financial decisions.”

“If we are not very careful financially now, we will be in real difficulty soon,” he added. “Our unrestricted funds are already stretched thin. I will be asking for, and I will need, your cooperation in curbing spending and, where appropriate, in using restricted restricted funds to meet the goals and standards of the Faculty.”

Kirby also sketched out the role he envisions for professors in the planning of Allston.