Sources at PBH have told him that the search committee has referred to his 1993 decision in deliberations, Johnson said. As a result, he said, he has sought assurance that his suggestion for new staff members would not be part of the search committee's discussion.

Preserving the Search's Integrity

Student members of PBHA also say that maintaining the integrity of the search is vital to the future success of PBH's programs.

Pan, president of PBHA and a member of the search committee, said he wants to make sure "that it's a legitimate, open-minded committee that's looking to pick the best person with accurate information."

Although Pan and a student coordinator of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND), a public service program in the houses which is administered by Epstein, are on the search committee, Pan says it would be easy for the students to become "token."

This Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, five students from PBHA, two PBH staff members and Epstein will be allowed to talk to the candidates.

But Ehrlich said he has little hope that the search committee will take the students' point of view into consideration.

"My concern is that we've been consulted and not heeded so many times," Ehrlich said, referring to students' input for the qualifications for the new dean, the right person for the job and the entire search itself.

If the search committee does not choose Johnson or Smith as the new assistant dean, PBHA members said, students in the organization might write letters to its 13,000 alumni informing them of the situation or hold a large rally.

In August, PBH held a celebratory rally at the end of its summer programs, but it was not at all in protest, Ehrlich said.

Structural Possibilities

Whatever the outcome of the dean search, PBHA members and PBH staff say they will consider a new structure for the organization.

To do that, they want to gather together many different people to discuss with the administration possible structural changes.

Ehrlich, Pan and Eric D. Dawson '97 have already met with President Neil L. Rudenstine, Provost Albert Carnesale, Knowles and Lewis over the past month.

Ehrlich said that all four were amenable to suggestions about a different structure for PBH, although Rudenstine and Carnesale deferred to Lewis and Knowles on any decisions.