Conflict between the administration and students over control of the Phillips Brooks House Association Inc. (PBHA) and its programs reached new heights this year, possibly threatening the very existence of many programs.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III has threatened to evict students from the Phillips Brooks House and cut off $750,000 in University funding unless PBHA rescinds its plans to create a governing board which includes non-student voting members.

The move follows one of the largest protest rallies in recent history, the resignation of two students from a student-faculty committee on public service and an increasingly bitter power struggle over the fate of Cambridge's largest public service group.

The History

The 1994 Report on the Structure of Harvard College recommended replacing the positions held by PBH executive director Greg Johnson '72 and Director of the Office of Public Services Gail Epstein with a new position of assistant dean of public service.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68, a co-author of the report who became dean last fall, chose Judith H. Kidd, a candidate whose main background was in banking, from a list of four finalists provided by a search committee.

This decision was met by outrage from student leaders, who said their input was completely disregarded and that Kidd was the least qualified candidate.

"The individual selected by Dean Lewis in no way reflects our opinions or recommendations to him," former PBHA President Vincent Pan '95-'96 and Central HAND Coordinator Elizabeth J. Finger '96 said in a statement.

"It is quite remarkable that the University chose not to listen to the pretty much unanimous opinion of the students and staff as to their views of the candidates," Anne Peretz, chair of PBHA's Association Committee, told a board of alumni and community leaders that advises PBHA.

December Rally

Opposition crystallized in a much-ballyhooed December 7 rally in front of University Hall, which drew a crowd of 750 students and several community leaders.

As protesters held signs reading "Harvard, Keep Your Hands off PBH" and "Student Need, Not Harvard Greed," Cambridge Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 accused University leaders of "mooning" students.

"A moon is when someone drops their pants and turns and looks at you," Reeves said. "So I am here because I feel that you have been mooned and we have been mooned."

Lewis set off another firestorm by saying in an interview that he could not attend a rally because of a previous commitment.

"They didn't check my calendar," Lewis said.

Agee Professor of Social Ethics Robert Coles '50, who previously has threatened to leave Harvard because of its attitude towards public service groups, mocked Lewis at the rally.