In the 1980 surveys, Black and white studentsdiffered most significantly over specialconsideration for minorities admitted to Harvard.
The Epps committee issued 13 recommendationsincluding the establishment of a procedure forracial grievances, more minority tutors, and theaffirmation of racial integration. The committeealso encouraged the University to support minoritypresence on campus in a number of ways.
But some would argue that the 1980 effortyielded much talk and few concrete results. Eppsdoes have a tendency to idealize: his eyessparkle, his voice drifts into Olivier-esquecadences, and he talks of curing societal ills inbrush strokes surprisingly broad for a veterandetails man.
In addition to race relations issues, Epps hashad other ambitious plans fall by theway-side-including most recently a publicationcenter vigorously championed by the dean
But now, Epps, who has always defied hiscritics, is back on the rise. And he knows it.
Last year, a number of student leadersexpressed satisfaction with his concerned responseto problems of race relations.
Asked about his resurgent popularity, Eppschortles, then sheepishly grins. Not given tohyperbole, he concedes his image is clearly "onthe plus side."
He will need this reputation. His job--finetuning the experiment in diversity which isHarvard's pride and joy--will not be an easy one.