Since 1965, the Institute of Politics (IOP) has been a powerful campus presence. It attracts prominent speakers from countries all over the world and serves as a beacon of political inspiration for Harvard students.

But for the past two years, students and staff involved with the Institute say the IOP suffered in fulfilling its mission--to inspire undergraduates to get involved in politics--because the institution was becoming too bureaucratic and insular.

In response to these critiques, the IOP spent the year reforming itself. In December, the Institute disbanded its student leadership body and by reading period of the spring semester, the first popularly elected president, vice president and treasurer assumed office.

Concerned with administrative problems, the IOP faced the challenge of maintaining its programming while undergoing drastic internal changes. And, most would say, the Institute did an admirable job of balancing the two.

A New Day At The IOP

On Nov. 6, former Sen. David H. Pryor, director of the IOP, announced his plan to dissolve the Institute's Student Advisory Committee (SAC), the IOP's student governing body.

Pryor says SAC has become too "vertical" and stagnant, attracting only political junkies with little diversity.

At the time of action, SAC was preparing to take applications. In past years, SAC had self-selected new members based on applications, an interview and demonstrated involvement with activities. This method had been criticized for being unfair.

Erin B. Ashwell '02, a former SAC member, says self-selection is inherently problematic and fosters favoritism.

"There is a large group of students who really have been hurt by SAC policies," Ashwell says.

SAC had recognized the necessity of reform, and had begun, in the spring of 2000, to present changes to its Senior Advisory Board.

In addition to controversial policies, the IOP had also become less welcoming to students, staff say, and therefore was not fulfilling its original mission.

Executive Director Catherine McLaughlin says when she came here eight years ago, the IOP was a haven for student groups on campus and a place that reached out to all undergraduates.

"In years past, SAC was really a service to students to inspire them in politics," McLaughlin says. "[SAC was] an outward looking group who surveyed students, found things that interested the undergraduate body and searched for a political bend to campus affairs that would involve particular organizations."