The senior member of the corporation is Charles P. Slichter '45, a University of Illinois professor. Legend has it that until recently, Slichter had not spoken to an undergraduate since his own day at Harvard.

Another Corporation member is Henry Rosovsky, In addition to his post there, Rosovsky holds the prestigious Geyser University professorship and is a former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. A consummate insider, Rosovsky is easily one of the most powerful people at the university--earning his nickname, "Mr. Harvard Yard."

More open, but far less powerful, is the Board of Overseers, the University's secondary governing board. Elected each year by alumni to serve six-year terms, the overseers meet to form committees, approve appointments, from committees, discuss issues and from committees.

A number of famous people sit on the Board, including Sen. Albert Gore Jr. '69 (D-Tenn.), actor John A. Lithgow '67, South African Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu and Red Cross President Elizabeth H. Dole. The Board's president is former ambassador to the Soviet Union Arthur A. Hartman '47.

The Vice Presidents

While most undergraduates have heard of the two governing boards, few know that the University has a team of five vice presidents. These positions were created by former President Derek C. Bok in the 1970s to create a super-bureaucracy for the University.

The most visible of the five is usually the vice president and general counsel, who for many years was Daniel Steiner '54. After 20 years at Harvard, Steiner left this summer, and his successor is still unknown. Rudenstine will probably appoint a new general counsel by the fall; until then, Frank J. Connors will act as Harvard's top lawyer.

John H. Shattuck is frequently in the public eye--because that's his job. As vice president for government, community and public affairs, Shattuck represents Harvard in Cambridge and Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Glimp '50 will likely see his position grow over the next few years, as the University launches its immense fund drive. Glimp, the vice president for alumni affairs and development, is in charge of keeping graduates happy and making sure the money flows in.

Vice President for Finance Robert H. Scott controls and distributes the money once it gets here. It's a big job, considering the University has assets of more than $5 billion.

Until four years ago, Scott was vice president for administration, a post now filled by Sally H. Zeckhauser, Harvard's first woman vice-president. Zeckhauser is responsible for the bulk of the University's massive bureaucracy, including Harvard Real Estate, Harvard Dining Services, Facilities Maintenance and Human Resources.

The Faculty

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) administration is one bureaucratic layer closer to the undergraduate, but don't expect to spend too many Thursday sipping tea with the denizens of University Hall's top floors.

FAS is the biggest and wealthiest of Harvard's ten faculties. It includes everything from Harvard College and the Graduate School of Arts and Science to Widener Library and the Fogg Art Museum.

Rudenstine appointed Jeremy R. Knowles as dean of the Faculty in the spring of 1991. Since then, Knowles has brought a British flair to his task of dealing with a budget crunch and building the ranks of the faculty.