Council Seeks Student Ad Board Members

Outraged at recent action taken against a Crimson editor, several Undergraduate Council members have called for student representation on the Administrative Board, Harvard's disciplinary body.

The demand comes in the wake of the Ad Board's decision to place William L. Kirtley '97 on disciplinary probation for making a prank telephone call to Room 13 as part of an article for Fifteen Minutes, a publication of the Crimson.

"We think a student voice on the Ad Board would add another perspective on a lot of matters," said Parliamentarian Justin E. Jones '97.

Next Tuesday, the council's student affairs committee will review the bill, co-written by Jones and fellow council member Eli M. Ceryak '99, with assistance from non-members Thomas J. Kelleher '99 and Sozi T. Sozinho '97.

Council members stressed that the disciplinary boards of most other Ivy League schools include both faculty and students.

"Most have student representatives...and many have the majority or at least 50 percent of the disciplinary body comprised of students," Jones wrote in an e-mail message. "It's amazing how behind the game Harvard is on this one."

If the proposal passes the committee, it will probably go before the entire council in two weeks, council members said.

Representatives from the council will meet with Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68, the chair of the Ad Board, on Thursday to discuss the proposal.

Council members said they fear that without Lewis' support, the Ad Board will not respond to their demands.

"We have to force Lewis to acknowledge the issue and come out on one side or the other," Jones said.

Lewis could not be reached for comment.

The student affairs committee will review a related proposal tonight that would ask the Ad Board to review its decision to put Kirtley on disciplinary probation.

"We read about Kirtley in the newspaper, and it perturbed us, and we worked with our U.C. reps to get something done about it," Kelleher said.

According to Ceryak, no council members have contacted Kirtley, and some council members said they are unsure of the proposal's prospects.

"It's been difficult for us to work with the administration on this issue because it's not the practice of the administration to discuss details pertaining to an individual student's Ad Board case," said Eric M. Nelson '99, chair of the council's student affairs committee, and a Crimson editor

Lewis could not be reached for comment.

The student affairs committee will review a related proposal tonight that would ask the Ad Board to review its decision to put Kirtley on disciplinary probation.

"We read about Kirtley in the newspaper, and it perturbed us, and we worked with our U.C. reps to get something done about it," Kelleher said.

According to Ceryak, no council members have contacted Kirtley, and some council members said they are unsure of the proposal's prospects.

"It's been difficult for us to work with the administration on this issue because it's not the practice of the administration to discuss details pertaining to an individual student's Ad Board case," said Eric M. Nelson '99, chair of the council's student affairs committee, and a Crimson editor