Several professors fiercely denounced a proposal for preregistration at a Faculty meeting yesterday, throwing into doubt the plan’s chances of passing when it comes to a vote before the Faculty later this month.

Dean of the Faculty William C. Kirby sat silently through the unusually heated debate as professors leveled wide-ranging complaints against the plan, which he has been pushing since last spring.

“It was, as diplomats say, a full and frank exchange of views,” Kirby wrote in an e-mail after the meeting.

The debate raged for almost an hour before University President Lawrence H. Summers intervened and stopped the discussion.

“To those who have taken a more apocalyptic view, that preregistration would mean the end of academic life as we know it, almost every other great university in this country does fine with preregistration,” said Summers.

Summers also addressed the advocates of preregistration, noting some criticisms of the plan were valid.

Also yesterday, a professor called for an emergency meeting to plan the University’s response to the impending war with Iraq, Ethnic Studies was approved as an official standing committee of the Faculty, and new academic requirements for first years were approved.

Additionally, the Faculty Council was designated the official body to handle all concerns regarding the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

Spurning Preregistration

Yesterday’s outpouring of opposition against preregistration was an unexpected turn in what had seemed to be a cut and dried issue. Most administrators had seemed in favor of the plan, and professors had seemed indifferent.

Even Monday night, Summers was fairly confident of the proposal’s chances of success.

“I would hope that if as I expect the proposal is adopted that students will make extensive use as they see fit of adds and drops,” Summers said at a Kirkland House study break.

But after yesterday’s meeting, Summers said he understood professors’ concerns.

“I think obviously in light of the sentiments expressed, there is going to need to be a lot of consideration in what we do in this whole area,” he said. “As I suggested to the Faculty, it’s very important that we appropriately balance the clear importance of flexible student choice with the need to have rational academic planning.”

In its current form, the plan would require students to select classes before the term begins. It has encountered widespread opposition among undergraduates, who organized a petition against it that garnered 1,200 signatures.