Joint Concentrations For Afro?

BEING A JOINT CONCENTRATOR IN Afro-American Studies and Sociology by no means makes me an expert on either department. But due to the "controversy" surrounding the Afro-American Studies Department, my two years at Harvard have been as much an education in the present and future status of Afro-American Studies as in my particular areas of Afro-American literature and history. Transferring from Boston University to Harvard in 1971, I planned concentration only in the Afro-American Studies Department. I had cross-registered in Harvard courses while at B.U., and spoken with a tutorial instructor here about my transfer, yet the single most important influence on my transfer was the prospect of working with Dr. Orlando Patterson, a sociologist renowned for his historical studies of slavery.

After my transfer, much I had anticipated disappeared. Dr. Patterson had decided he'd rather switch than fight as he became a newly tenured professor in the Sociology Department. Distinguished visiting professors were found an impractical substitute for permanent faculty appointments, and an unusually large number of courses have been postponed each year. These difficulties and others are dealt with in the Report of the Committee to Review the Department of Afro-American Studies. During my first semester in the department, I became increasingly aware that I would not be able to do honors work in the department. The department had no Afro-American historian and doing a thesis under a visiting professor would be impossible. (Note: This year the single Afro-American history course is being taught by the chairman of the department for lack of a visiting professor.)

As the Afro-American Studies Department proved inadequate, and since I had come to Harvard to study under Dr. Patterson in the first place, I chose to joint concentrate in Sociology. I was required to take an introductory Sociology course and a methods course. In my case, I felt these "disciplinary" courses proved to be pure punishment. I think that my time was wasted. During this period of required courses I could have supplemented my background with additional directed study or perhaps course work in other departments.

I am strongly opposed to Dr. Martin Kilson's proposal to the faculty that joint concentration be mandatory for Afro-American Studies concentrators. Although this proposal was defeated, the narrow margin of the vote (69-66) indicates that there is strong sentiment in favor of this measure. Kilson argues that joint concentration would enable concentrators to learn a "discipline." If taken seriously, the vague notion of "discipline" could be a crippling factor to both students and the department.

To a student, this ethereal "discipline" is acquired by taking the prescribed number of courses. As a concentrator in Afro-American Studies, one is restricted to one of two areas--the Social Sciences or the Humanities. A concentrator now is additionally required to take courses within both areas. If a student is interested in a particular field, such as African history, which would be benefited by a joint concentration, perhaps with the History Department, then the student feels free to joint-concentrate. Joint concentration should expand the student's opportunity for depth and breadth in his or her area, allowing for full use of the University's faculty resources. But this "discipline" may be found in one's own Afro-American Studies Department through tutorial, through methods courses presently offered, and through contact with individual professors. Discipline can best be afforded to the students through expansion of the department's faculty. Presently, the Afro-American Studies Department needs strong measures for internal improvements. To try to solve the problems of the department by interdepartmental means would be a further weakening of the department. Students and faculty alike within the department viewed this proposal as an ill-disguised attack upon it.

Another argument against mandatory joint concentration is, once again, from my own personal experience. Joint concentration may result in a waste of valuable time. The combined requirements for joint concentration strap the student into a rigorous schedule with very little time for elective work. Joint concentration is a choice, and a choice that should be left up to the individual concentrator.

Catherine Clinton is a senior in Lowell House.