LaO, Raza Leaders Meet With Knowles

Campus Latino leaders met yesterday with Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles to discuss their concerns about a dearth of Hispanic courses and faculty at Harvard.

Efrain Cortes '94, president of La O, the campus Puerto Rican organization, said the meeting was successful and he is hopeful for the future.

"It was very positive," he said. "Dean Knowles seemed very receptive."

Cortes--along with Lilia Fernandez '95, president of Raza, the campus Mexican-American group, and Mariano-Florentino Cuellar '93, who chairs the Harvard Foundation's Academic Affairs Committee--met with the dean in his office at University Hall.

Although no concrete steps have come out of the conversation, Cortes said he is"definitely looking forward to progress in thisarea."

"We just asked if he could help us, and weasked his input on what he could do," Cortes said.He hopes that "the productivity of the meetingtoday" will set the tone for the future.

Two weeks ago, Knowles wrote a letter decliningto meet with the students and advising them toconsult University race relations officials. Thatletter frustrated some students, who said itshowed a lack of interest in their concerns.

Following a letter from Latino student leadersand student meetings with other administrators,including Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III,Knowles agreed to talk with the students.

The positive atmosphere of yesterday's meetingindicated a more serious commitment on Knowles'part to dealing with the groups' concerns, Cortessaid

"We just asked if he could help us, and weasked his input on what he could do," Cortes said.He hopes that "the productivity of the meetingtoday" will set the tone for the future.

Two weeks ago, Knowles wrote a letter decliningto meet with the students and advising them toconsult University race relations officials. Thatletter frustrated some students, who said itshowed a lack of interest in their concerns.

Following a letter from Latino student leadersand student meetings with other administrators,including Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III,Knowles agreed to talk with the students.

The positive atmosphere of yesterday's meetingindicated a more serious commitment on Knowles'part to dealing with the groups' concerns, Cortessaid