"Frankly, [We] forgot that overseers don'talways look at their faxes as soon as theyshould," Corlette said. "It made it look like sucha surprise."

Evasions

Green and Rudenstine have gone to great lengthsto avoid discussing the topic Both canceledinterviews and cut off contact with the pressafter the botched announcement of the provost'sdeparture.

When Rudenstine spoke-and gaffed-in explainingthe provost's departure at the May 12 capitalcampaign press conference, Green took the awkwardposition of breaking his silence to maintain hissilence. Green's May 18 letter to The Crimsonsubtly suggested that he was staying silentbecause the truth could be damaging to Harvard.

"I will be guided by the principle that anystatements I may make should be consistent withthe University's best interest," Green wrote.

The provost granted a short interview to TheChronicle of Higher Education, offering only thatit was "not a bad time" to leave the job becauseplanning for the capital campaign had beencompleted.

Several officials have confirmed that Green'sdeparture fell between the planning and initiationstates of the campaign.

A Larger Mystery

More mysterious than the reason for theprovost's departure may be the nature of the jobitself. Throughout Green's two-year tenure, theposition and its responsibilities have seemedilldefined .

Green is the University's first provost sinceWorld War II. Rudenstine created the position aspart of his effort to foster unity within theUniversity when he became president in 1991.

Last month, McArthur, the Business School dean,said Green's departure was indicative of a largerproblem with the conception of the post.

"People have had unfairly unrealisticexpectations of what Jerry or you or I can do,"McArthur said. "It isn't just a one-personproblem."

Instead, in a surprising statement from anadministrator who has been seen as the principalopponent of greater integration among Harvard'sschools, McArthur said the provost'sresponsibilities should be handled by more thanone individual.

"We need several provosts probably or in anycase several people who concern themselves withhow the educational teaching might be evolved"McArthur said. "It needs more energy put into it."

Rudenstine has not yet heeded that advice. Lastmonth, he replaced Green with just one man, Deanof the Kennedy School Albert Carnesale.