Leaning added that spirits are high among the committee members and all who support its actions.

“The mood is pretty solid,” she said. “The students are with us. The fact that the Ad Board language is changing is further evidence of [the Faculty’s] support.”

Also at yesterday’s meeting, Dubois Professor of the Humanities Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr. moved that the name of the department of Afro-American studies be changed to the “department of African and African American Studies.”

Gates said that the name change comes in response to a growing interest at the College in Africa and its culture, language and history.

Formally creating a track in African studies, he said, “would nurture and provide a stable, programmatic base” for students interested in pursuing studies of Africa.

Kirby also announced that the new chair of the economics department will be Professor of Economics Alberto F. Alesina and read the names of the professors who are to be honored with the title of Harvard College Professor next year.

The new Harvard College professors are Professor of Latin Kathleen M. Coleman, Professor of History James Kloppenberg, Fairbank Professor of Chinese Society James L. Watson and outgoing Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis ’68.

Kirby also announced six new members of next year’s Faculty Council: Cabot Professor of Social Ethics Mahzarin Banaji, Director of the Harvard Foundation S. Allen Counter, Gurney Professor of English Literature James Engell, Associate Professor of History Lisa M. McGirr, Welch Professor of Computer Science Stuart M. Shieber and Professor of Greek and Latin Richard F. Thomas.

—Staff writer Laura L. Krug can be reached at krug@fas.harvard.edu.