Keeping Track

Keeping Track will appear from time to time in The Crimson with short items of interest about Harvard and Cambridge. Compiled by Jim Hershberg.

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A little more than two years ago, Galina Orionova said good-bye to the Soviet Union and her position as a researcher at the Institute on the USA and Canada, Moscow's prestigious "think-tank" on American affairs run by chief specialist Georgi Arbatov.

She defected. After studying at Oxford University in England, the former "Americanologist" is making her first visit to this country. She'll be speaking here today in a seminar open to the public. The talk, sponsored by the Russian Research Center, will concern "The Role of Arbatov's Institute on the USA and Canada in the Policy-Making Process of the Soviet Union," and take place at 4 p.m. in Room 4, Coolidge Hall, 1737 Cambridge.

And tomorrow, another prominent Russian emigre is in town: Lev Kopelev, who along with his wife, Raisa Orlova, was forced into exile earlier this year. The two writers, who apparently drew the ire of Soviet authorities because of their satirical writings, will discuss the "Contemporary Opposition Movement in the Soviet Union" in Room 2 in Coolidge Hall at 4 p.m.

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WHRB listeners make more money, buy more records and stereo equipment, attend more movies, and drink more wine than the average Boston radiophile, according to a recently conducted survey by Harvard's student-run radio station. HRB execs hope the results will help them sell more advertising (at $15 per minute). Right now, though, the station is $4500 out of pocket due to the cost of the survey, conducted by the Boston firm of Wallace and Washburn, Inc.

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Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger '38 is under attack for using taxpayer money to pay for five trips to his summer home in Maine, including two weekend jaunts that included meetings at Harvard.

The criticism comes from Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wisc.), who released military travel manifests describing the trips and charged that the government-paid flights for Weinberger and members of his family cost the Pentagon more than $20,000 "during the very period he is insisting the Pentagon budget is uncuttable."

A Defense Department spokesman replied that every one of Weinberger's stays in Bar Harbor, Me., in June, July and August, was a working vacation. On two instances cited by spokesman Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mark Brender, Weinberger dropped in to participate in informal "executive seminars" sponsored by the Kennedy School of Government.

A former K-School visiting committee member, Weinberger lunched with fellow speakers on the final day of a "Senior Managers in Government" program on August 13, but didn't stay to eat after the "National and International Security" discussions on August 28, said Kathleen Fox, an assistant to Graham T. Allison Jr. '62, dean of the K-School.

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Looking to flatter your professor/parent/roommate/prospective date? Then take note. Nominations for honorary-degree candidates are now being considered--lucky winners will receive the awards at Commencement ceremonies next June 10. Send suggestions, before October 10, to Robert Shenton, secretary to the Corporation, at 17 Quincy St., Cambridge, 02138.

Screening the nominees will be the "Corporation-Overseers-Faculty Advisory Committee on Honorary Degrees." This year's members are: Francis H. Burr '35, senior fellow of the College; Joan T. Bok '51, an Overseer; Dudley R. Herschbach, Baird Professor of Science; Robert J. Kiely, professor of English; George W. MacRae, Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Theological Studies; Wallace T. MacCaffrey, Higginson Professor of History; Dr. Mary Ellen Avery, Rotch Professor of Pediatrics; and Fred L. Glimp '50, vice president for alumni affairs and development.