As both sides appear ready for a court fight, the University and Associate Professor of Government Peter Berkowitz moved a step closer this week to exhausting the school's avenues for resolving disputes internally.

Meanwhile, a few new faces have entered the fray, with Buttenwieser University Professor Stanley H. Hoffmann joining Berkowitz's camp, and Jeffrey P. Swope '67 of the Boston law firm Palmer & Dodge signing on as counsel for the three Faculty members of the Docket Committee.

Wednesday morning Berkowitz met with the Docket Committee, which is in the midst of evaluating the formal grievance Berkowitz submitted to the University Jan. 6.

According to the University's formal Guidelines for the Resolution of Faculty Grievances, the Docket Committee must assess whether the complaint is or is not "clearly without merit."

Berkowitz and Weld Professor of Law Charles R. Nesson '60, who has been advising him since he was denied tenure in 1997, said Secretary of the Faculty John B. Fox Jr. '59 attended in addition to the members of the Docket Committee.

Fox, who refused to confirm that the meeting took place, said the Berkowitz tenure review remains an "entirely confidential matter" from the standpoint of the administration.

The Docket Committee is composed of Richards Professor of Chemistry Cynthia M. Friend, Pearson Professor of Modern Mathematics and Mathematical Logic Warren D. Goldfarb '69, and Professor of Economics David M. Cutler '87.

According to Berkowitz, Friend chaired Wednesday's meeting, which lasted about an hour and forty-five minutes.

Also present was Hoffmann, who appeared as a character witness for Berkowitz.