Studying the Stele on a Campus with Few Public Works of Art, the Monumental Chinese Stele—17 Feet Tall, Weighing in at 27 Tons—Would Seem Hard to Miss

JohnJohn Harvard’s Journal

Studying the Stele On a campus with few public works of art, the monumental Chinese stele—17 feet tall, weighing in at 27 tons—would seem hard to miss. Yet it has been sadly neglected in the shadows along the western flank of the massive Widener Library. Its identify- ing sign is missing, its black paint is long gone, and even its inscription is in danger of disappearing as the marble corrodes. (Although covered in winter, the stone is deteriorating.) At risk is a significant history—Chinese and Harvardian. The stele itself, dating to c. 1820, stood in the Yuan Ming Yuan (the

The Peabody Museum’s Alexandre A. Tokovinine, a lecturer on anthropology and research associate, is shown at work within a protective tent during the scanning of the Chinese stele—conducted at night for optimal results.

In this Issue

47 Harvard Portrait 53 Brevia 48 Learning’s Leading Edges 55 Meta-journalism 50 The Libraries’ Rocky Transition 56 The Undergraduate 51 Focus on the Future 58 Sports 51 Yesterday’s News 60 Alumni 52 Decanal Duo 64 The College Pump

Photograph by LesJim HarrisonVants Aerial Photos/courtesy of Harvard Art Museums Harvard Magazine 39 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 John Harvard’s Journal

Old Summer Palace), in northwestern Bei- of our countries, intellectual progress and liams ’78, M.B.A. ’82, jing, until the complex was destroyed in attainments may be further enhanced.” But the executive director 1860, during the Second Opium War. It came there were interruptions: China was about of the Harvard Center Visit harvardmag.com/ extras to view scans and to Harvard in 1936, a Tercentenary gift from to suffer a catastropic invasion by Japan, Shanghai, began cham- additional images of Chinese alumni, who had a new inscription internal collapse, and the endgame of the pioning the cause some the stele. carved, expressing their admiration for the brutal civil war that resulted in the victory years ago, when he was University and appreciation for their ed- of the Communist Party. (Times continue president of the Harvard Club of the Repub- ucation. By then, there were nearly 1,000 to change; today, China sends more interna- lic of China. As a first step, this September, Chinese alumni, the text notes; according tional students to the University than any the center and the Harvard China Fund—in to a contemporary translation, its donors other country.) concert with the Peabody Museum of Ar- expressed the “fervent hope” that “in the In past decades, a Straus Center conser- chaeology and Ethnology—arranged for the coming centuries the sons of Harvard will vator, faculty members, and even a gradu- stele to be documented in virtual form via continue to lead their communities and that ate student have sought a better fate for the high-definition, three-dimensional scan- through the merging of the civilization[s] monument. In their wake, Jeffrey R. Wil- ning—the project shown under way here.

Investigating Academic briefing, Harris explained that a teach- ing fellow observed problematic material Misconduct while grading exams and raised the issue On August 30—just before fall classes with the course professor; the professor began on September 4—Harvard College then reviewed the exams and brought the announced that it was investigating alle- issue to the attention of the board in May, gations that “nearly half the students” in prompting a comprehensive investigation. a spring 2012 course “may have inappropri- According to the section on “academic ately collaborated on answers, or plagia- dishonesty” in the Harvard College Handbook rized their classmates’ responses, on the for Students, “Students must…comply with final exam….” Given the potentially serious the policy on collaboration established for violation of academic norms on an unprec- each course, as set forth in the course syl- edented scale, the statement was accompa- labus or on the course website.…Collabo- nied by e-mailed messages from Faculty of ration in the completion of examinations ffice Arts and Sciences (FAS) dean Michael D. is always prohibited.” Punishment for vio- ews O Smith to the faculty, and from dean of un- lations, if any are determined by the board,

dergraduate education Jay M. Harris to the may be as severe as the requirement that a n/Harvard N l student body. (Read their letters at http:// student withdraw from the College for up harvardmag.com/misconduct-12.) to a year. Jay Harris According to the announcement, an Harris noted that the examination ex- rose Linco initial investigation by the College’s Ad- plicitly prohibited collaboration among proceed individually, student by student, ministrative Board (the committee that students. Many College classes encour- and that none had been adjudicated as of interprets and applies FAS rules to un- age students to work together on assign- the announcement. The evidence, he said, dergraduates, and so serves as FAS’s chief ments and problem sets (the Office of includes “answers that look quite alike to disciplinary organization) “touched off a Undergraduate Education sets out how answers that appear to have been lifted comprehensive review” of the more than faculty members may specify that sort of in their entirety”; the pattern appears to 250 take-home final exams submitted. collaboration in a course syllabus), but show “clusters of students who seem to That review resulted in cases before the Ad Harris said this course did “not to my have collaborated,” not any single, unified Board “involving nearly half the students knowledge” permit such efforts on earlier effort. Given the seriousness and scope of in the class.” (Dean Smith and President student work. the issue, he said, the College would, at Drew Faust are ex officio members.) In a He observed that board investigations the end of the board’s proceedings (which he characterized as “tak[ing] the time it takes” to investigate, given the numbers), In this Issue disclose their outcome in the aggregate. The College declined to identify the 41 Harvard Portrait 48 The Undergraduate course or professor. Student identities are 43 The Corporation, Complete 49 Brevia protected legally, but Harris said under- 44 The Endowment Eases 52 Sports graduates from all four class years were 44 Classroom in the Cloud 55 Alumni involved, —meaning some had graduated. 46 Revitalizing Tozzer 59 The View from Mass Hall The timing of the disclosure appeared 46 A Victory—and a Campaign 60 The College Pump to reflect several factors. First, Harris 47 Yesterday’s News said, a “critical value” was at stake. In the

40 November - December 2012 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746