Commencement speaker Zayed M. Yasin ’02 becomes the center of controversy after The Crimson reports he would speak about the concept of jihad, as applied to the graduating seniors’ lives. More than 600 persons sign a petition protesting Yasin’s selection as an orator. Yasin has since changed the title of his speech from “The American Jihad,” and is still scheduled to speak.

Summer

A new Administrative Board sexual assault policy sparks the U.S. Department of Education to investigate after a student files a complaint arguing that the policy violates Title IX gender discrimination policies.

2002-2003

September

Harvard agrees to pay Watertown $3.8 million annually with a 3-percent increase in each of the next 52 years. The payment will compensate the town for the loss of tax money resulting from Harvard’s purchase of the 30-acre arsenal site.

For a second year in a row, Harvard’s endowment loses value, having fallen $800 million during the 2002 fiscal year. The endowment reportedly stands at $17.5 billion.

October

Randy J. Gomes and Suzanne M. Pomey plead guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 from the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. Gomes is sentencecd to five years probation and Pomey two. The pair is later dismissed from the College by a vote of the full Faculty.

Dean of the Faculty William C. Kirby announces plans to have students preregister for classes a semester in advance.

Because of an error with the new payroll system, known as PeopleSoft, dozens of student workers do not receive checks for their first several weeks of work. They are eventually paid later in the semester.

As a result of student complaints about his teaching ability, Economic Lecturer Robert H. Neugeboren ’83 agrees to step down from teaching Economics 1010a, “Microecononomic Theory” for three weeks in order to spend time preparing his lectures.

November