University Forms New Allston Planning Committees

A diverse team of senior academics and administrators were selected to plan aspects of the new Allston campus ranging from the development of new science facilities to the creation of new undergraduate Houses, the University announced yesterday.

The five planning committees include representatives from all nine schools but do not have any student members.

The undergraduate life task force culls professors and administrators from Mass. Hall, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), Harvard Divinity School, the Office for the Arts (OFA) and the Radcliffe Institute for Advance Study.

Undergraduate Council president Rohit Chopra ’04 criticized the University for failing to include students, who he said would bring a valuable perspective to the process, slated to begin in January.

“To not have undergraduates on the undergraduate life committee is just comical,” Chopra said.

“I am surprised that the president has chosen not to involve students, especially because people of our age are going to be asked to pay for all this in 10 or 15 years,” he said.

The undergraduate life task force is one of five Allston planning committees whose charge is “to try to work out some program opportunities that can be taken by a planning firm and rendered into physical possibilities,” said Kathy A. Spiegelman, chief University planner and director of the Allston initiative.

University officials said the committees’ recommendations will incorporate undergraduates’ opinions.

“Each task force is to seek input from students as well as faculty, staff and alumni,” spokesperson Lauren M. Marshall said.

Divinity School Dean William A. Graham and Director of Athletics Robert L. Scalise will co-chair the undergraduate life working group.

The possible construction of undergraduate housing in Allston could squeeze Harvard’s athletic facilities on the south side of the Charles River.

Only one of the undergraduate life committee’s members received a bachelor’s degree from the College: Black Professor of Political Economy David T. Ellwood ’75.

But although Graham matriculated at the University of North Carolina, the Middle Eastern studies scholar and longtime FAS professor is no stranger to Harvard’s undergraduate life.

After 12 years as Currier House master, Graham stepped down from the post in January, months after his temporary Divinity School deanship was made permanent.

“The qualities that made Graham a good choice for head of the Divinity School also make him a good choice for head of this committee,” said Professor of History James Kloppenberg, who will serve on the task force under Graham and Scalise.

“[Graham] knows as much about undergraduate life as anybody,” Kloppenberg said.

Other members of the undergraduate life committee are Diker Professor of Sociology and of African and African-American Studies Lawrence D. Bobo, Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Drew G. Faust, OFA Director Jack C. Megan, Mather House Master and Professor of Literature Sandra Naddaff and Associate Vice President for Higher Education Policy A. Clayton Spencer.

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Jeffrey Wolcowitz will serve in an ex officio role.

The committee will report to FAS Dean William C. Kirby.

“It is nice to see former and current house masters and senior tutors in the group,” Chopra said.

The five committees include members from all nine of Harvard’s faculties and aim to build upon the preliminary framework for the Allston campus set forth by University President Lawrence H. Summers in an October letter.

University Provost Steven E. Hyman chairs the science and technology task force, which has already begun work on a plan to shift FAS science facilities to Allston.

The task force on professional schools will handle the relocation of the Graduate School of Education (GSE) and the School of Public Health (SPH) which are strapped for space in their current Cambridge and Longwood locations.

The Ad Hoc Master Planing Selection Committee will vet potential architects for the Allston campus, according to member and former Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles.

Only two administrators are on multiple planning committees: Law School Dean Elena Kagan and Kim B. Clark ’74, dean of Harvard Business School, which will soon be acquiring new neighbors at its Allston location.

Kagan rose to her current post after garnering praise for her work on a committee studying the possibility of moving HLS across the Charles.