Harvard Owes Aid to Families

To the editors:

Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles seems to have a very selective memory when he states that expanding financial aid would be similar to having "to sell the family silver just to keep food on the table" (News, March 2).

Harvard improved its already strong financial position in the '80s when it, in concert with other top schools, conspired to illegally fix tuition costs and eliminate merit-based financial aid. This practice increased tuition rates much more rapidly than most family incomes. Knowles would have more accurately described expanding financial aid as returning illegally-obtained funds to the American public. If the administration is serious about making the Harvard experience available to all, it should move to increase financial aid to working-class families. CHRISTOPHER G. ROBERTS '01   March 2, 1998