February 28, 2005

Dear President Bollinger,

Time presses. When the Ad Hoc Grievance Committee began its work, we had hoped to conclude our responsibilities by today. Despite frequent meetings, some three each week, this goal has not proved possible. To date, we have met with more than 50 students, faculty, and administrators. These have been productive sessions, and it is hard even in retrospect to see which we might have skipped in the interest of expeditiousness.

This phase of our work is nearly done. After today, only a very small number of key face-to-face discussions remain, including those with some students who have now agreed to come forward. We are meeting today, from 3-10 pm, to conduct the bulk of these outstanding conversations. The rest will take place by next week. The subsequent effort to assess what we have learned and reach substantive conclusions will wrap up by the start of Spring Break. We will use that week to draft both the committee’s report to the Vice President for Arts and Sciences and the public summary of our findings. We will review and issue these documents by the close of the following week.

My colleagues and I appreciate your patience.

Sincerely,

Ira Katznelson
Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History