A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

The construction of a new campus across the Charles River in Allston marks the largest physical expansion in the University’s 369-year history—and the most ambitious goal of Summers’ presidency.

Since his October 2003 letter that laid out “planning assumptions,” committees have rubber stamped all of his central ideas. The campus, as Summers had outlined, will be composed of undergraduate Houses, a major science complex, and the education and public health schools.

Faculty across the University—and especially those affected by the plans—say that despite some central administration attempts at outreach, their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

“The building of Allston is very much being undertaken as the central administration prerogative and responsibility and although there’s been some involvement from different schools on the planning groups, it’s largely centrally driven,” says Mendelsohn. “To undertake something like that you do need a sizable degree of centralization, but there also should be a much more substantial role for the faculties.”

At a tense meeting in the fall of 2003, Summers told FAS professors flatly that they would not vote on Allston plans.

“Dean Kirby and I will consult extensively with members of the Faculty, but for reasons deeply rooted in University governance and tradition... matters that are curricular are matters of the Faculty, but matters regarding the allocation of resources by Massachusetts Law are reserved for the Harvard Corporation,” Summers said then.

Even those who aren’t affected directly will have to pay for the campus—the central administration has begun to drain one-half percent of each school’s endowment annually over the next 30 years to pay for the planned expansion.

FUNDING THE FUTURE

Summers has also presided over centralization of functions more subtle but equally important to the future of the University.

Most notably, the consolidation of some fund-raising capabilities in the University Development Office (UDO) has strengthened Mass. Hall’s ability to target fund-raising for key Summers initiatives.

“Everybody’s noticed the consolidation upwards of discretion in the way fund-raising is done and used,” said a professor who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It’s fine if you agree with Larry’s priorities and not fine if you don’t...But it makes them just his list of priorities, since he never gets consensus on what those are.”

The UDO is currently consolidating donor databases from across the University, which will allow the central administration more say in fund-raising across Harvard.

But Vice President for Alumni Affairs and Development Donella Rapier says that the consolidation will allow better coordination across the University but will not encroach on school-specific fund-raising.

“We want to approach our alumni and donors in the most friendly and efficient way possible,” she said.