FOCUS: Breaking the Trust Part II

The inability of schools to discuss the financial aspects of future plans and policies -- which is outlined in the 1991 consent decree and reaffirmed in Bechtle's ruling -- has spilled over into areas not strictly related to financial aid. Provost Michael Aiken said the conversations which he used to have with colleagues at other Ivy League schools are barely worth having now, because so much is off limits. "It's like washing your feet with socks on," he said. Aiken said the fact that a violation of the decree could lead to a criminal contempt conviction has made him and other University officials nervous. "Do you think that has a powerful effect on limiting the conversations that you have?" Aiken said. "It certainly does. You never know when you're going to cross the line. It's too dangerous." Janice Madden, vice provost for graduate education, said that although officials can discuss past policies or approaches to certain situations, there is an uneasiness that such discussions could be construed as violations of the decree. "What is history? History can be used to extrapolate the future," she said last week. "There is nervousness even about what seems to be okay."