“At many schools, these efforts have crashed and burned because there has been a failure to achieve consensus,” she said, reminding students that the race for curriculum reform would be “more of a

long-term process—a marathon rather than a sprint.”

Racing Across the River

While Kagan frequently solicited students’ input in response to their own questions, when the discussion turned to a possible campus in Allston, she readily presented her own views.

She drew on her administrative experience as the head of the Locational Options Committee, which University President Lawrence H. Summers convened in 2001 to discuss the law school’s options both in the North Yard and across the river.

Matthew DelNaro, a third-year student at HLS, asked Kagan about the logistics of a move to Allston.

Summers will have final say in the decision, Kagan told students, adding that the committee has “done a good job, better than anyone else” addressing the question of who might move, and where exactly they could go in Allston.

She listed several different scenarios, including moving professional schools, science laboratories and graduate student housing.

Many questions remain unanswered about Allston, she said, including how much money Harvard will spend on creating new campuses.

HLS’ opinion on the Allston acreage is divided, Kagan said.

“This is a divided campus, a two-headed beast,” she told students. “And while faculty spaces are fine, what is not fine about our campus is student spaces—the student center, the gymnasium, the dorms.”

This disconnect causes divided opinion, Kagan said.

“So if you ask faculty if they want to move to Allston, you will find something close to profound, vehement opposition. But students have more conflicted views,” she said. “Right now, we are just waiting to see what happens next.”

Culture Clash

While administrators worry about finding adequate space for students, several students yesterday said problems at the Law School extend beyond building additional classrooms or dormitories.