Under the restructuring, PBHA will have more influence in the decisions about the distribution of PBH resources and PSN will have more contact with PBHA.

The collaboration between Swift and Corbin in the oversight of PBH is the most unanticipated element of the report and will lead to an overall shift in the setup of the College’s public service system.

The new recommendations will help to level the playing field for PBHA, according to Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Committee on Public Service Chris Winship, who also led the restructuring committee.

“The new structure gives PBHA an equal and thus a far greater say in the running of PBH than it had in the past,” he said. “More generally, the committee felt that the new structure was the best way to maximize cooperation between Harvard and PBHA.”  

The restructuring committee was composed of Winship, Kidd, Corbin, former PBHA president Ayrini M. Fonseca-Sabune ’04 and former undergraduate council president Rohit Chopra ’04. Swift and current PBHA president Kristin M. Garcia ’05 joined the committee in March.

A HOUSE UNITED?

The changes also reflect a shift in the dynamics between PSN, PBHA and the College. PBHA and PSN fall under PBH, a title which refers both to the department of the College that oversees all public service and the physical premises which house the offices of both groups.

Swift said that she doesn’t think that PSN and PBHA were in competition for resources from the College, but she also suggested that some students felt differently.

“A lot of students thought they were competing for recognition, funding and support,” she said.

PBHA is a student-led non-profit organization that is independent from the College, but is required to report to the College; PSN is an umbrella group that encompasses the Center for Public Interest Careers and about 30 public service groups that are not affiliated with PBHA, including City Step and Project HEALTH.

“This model ensures that all public service groups are represented in department decision making,” Corbin said.

When Kidd arrived at the College in 1996, she took an office in the PBH building—marking the first time PBHA faced on-site oversight.

According to Swift, the new restructuring reflects a greater willingness on the part of PBHA to de-emphasize that independence.

“PBHA wanted to remain very independent from the College. [The change] shows a greater interest on PBHA’s part in being closely influenced by PBH,” she said.

But according to student leaders of PBHA, the changes will simply bring about an increase in College assistance for the group.