"Topping Off" the New Barker Humanities Center. Photograph by Kris Snibbe
In Cambridge, conversion of the Harvard Union into the new Barker Humanities
Center continued: In August, the last steel roof beam was hoisted into place.
In keeping with "topping off" tradition, the beam was signed by
members of the construction crew, adorned with a treelike pine bough, and
hung with an American flag (at left).
Double Dose
The case of two Currier House students arrested for drug possession and
distribution last spring ("Aftermath of a Drug Bust," September-October,
page 72) has ended with a guilty plea. William A. Blankenship '96
and Stephen V. David '96 received suspended sentences and were placed
on probation for two years.
The news was overshadowed by a report on Harvard's own drug problem. On
September 30, University Health Services (UHS) entered into a civil settlement
following a federal investigation-initiated by Harvard--of the diversion
of 7,500 doses of codeine--fortified cough syrup by a UHS pharmacy technician.
Harvard paid $775,000 in fines as part of the settlement, which was the
second largest assessment ever under the Controlled Substances Act. The
U.S. Attorney's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration found lax
security and several improper pharmacy practices. Since then, pharmacy personnel
and procedures have been completely overhauled, according to UHS director
David S. Rosenthal '59, M.D., who said in a prepared statement that
"there is no evidence that the health of any UHS patient has in any
way been compromised."
Construction Notes
The School of Public Health dedicated its newest building, on Huntington
Avenue in Boston, on October 2. The $20-million structure, named for François-Xavier
Bagnoud, a Swiss rescue pilot who died at 24 in a helicopter accident,
was supported by the foundation created in his memory by his family. Their
gift also established a center for health and human rights and a professorship
in the same field, now held by Jonathan Mann '69, M.P.H. '80, M.D.,
the center's director.
Nota Bene Academic adjutant: Dennis F. Thompson, Ph.D. '68, has been named
associate provost, a new post. The Whitehead professor of political philosophy,
Thompson also holds an appointment at the Kennedy School of Government.
That dual status, and his experience as the founding director of the interfaculty
program in ethics and the professions, should serve him well in his new
half-time responsibilities. He will work with Provost Albert Carnesale
on University-wide academic matters, including international studies, the
interfaculty initiatives, and intellectual property.
Kissinger's coif. Photograph by Bern Schwartz
Personnel people: Polly Price, M.A.T. '67, has become the University's
associate vice president for human resources, succeeding Candace Corvey,
M.B.A. '80, who has relocated to the University of New Hampshire as vice
president for finance and administration. Price was formerly associate dean
for human resources in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Deceased: For almost 50 years Charles Ferrara, sometimes known as
Carmine, cut the hairs of the Aga Khan, Henry Kissinger, Arthur Schlesinger
Jr., and the merely aspiring at Massachusetts's oldest barbershop, LaFlamme
on Dunster Street. The very model of a gregarious, cheerful barber, he died
in August at the age of 81.
