Student Committees Examine Perspective of Harvard Blacks

Several Harvard students are forming ad hoc committees to assess the effects of a predominantly white college on black students.

Robert P. Young Jr. '74, chairman of one of the informal groups, said yesterday his committee is "interested in examining Harvard from a black perspective."

Young noted that other colleges, such as Michigan University, have extensive orientation programs for all students and special programs for black students. The informal committee, will attempt to determine whether Harvard should have a black orientation program, Young said.

At present, Young's committee is in an organizational stage and has not conducted any research. Young said, "If we find there is something worth investigating, then we will look more closely at it."

No Particular Focus

He said the committees are "looking at all facets of black life at Harvard." He said that his committee has no particular focus, but may become more specialized if it discovers specific problems among black students.

Wesley E. Profit, teaching fellow in Afro-American Studies, has also formed a group to investigate the problems black students may face. He said yesterday, "These are students discussing their lives at Harvard."

Publicity

The committees have received support and publicity from Afro, an organization for Harvard-Radcliffe black students. The Word, a newsletter published by the Afro-American Cultural Center, said in last week's issue, "It would also be a hip thing for each of us to involve ourselves with some type of committee performing work in the struggle."