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as the custodian for both nations for the Barro Colorado Nature Monument. It is hoped that any actions taken by the U.S. executive or legislative branches (particularly those aimed at withholding certain payments by STRI and its employees to the Government of Panama) will recognize the Smithsonian's obligations under the Canal Treaties and will ensure that these efforts continue unimpeded. All necessary security and other procedures are in place to ensure the safety and welfare of the Smithsonian's employees, research associates, and visitors.

[[underlined]] AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INITIATIVES [[/underlined]]

At Mr. Adams' request, Under Secretary Anderson briefed the Regents on developments since the following report was prepared. He said that 16 proposals had come forward from Smithsonian bureaus and offices to hire under special terms minority Ph.D.'s in areas of expertise ranging from American art history to tropical ecology, from American Indian programming to conservation science. For the most part these are professional colleagues -- about twice as many women as men in this first group -- who are known to Smithsonian staff and who are therefore known as highly prized additions to the Institution's ranks. Under the provisions of fast-track hiring that have been worked out with the Personnel Office, Mr. Anderson added, it is hoped that a majority of these individuals will be on board before the end of the fiscal year, depending on when they can be extricated from the obligations of current academic appointments. This first wave of professional hiring will represent a significant step forward in the Institution's affirmative action program.

Mr. Adams emphasized that this is only the very first round, and it shows that the program now in place can be expected to continue to produce candidates that the Institution's professional staff really want to attract. Mr. Adams went on to say that while the Smithsonian is taking the steps that need to be taken and is prepared to go further, it will continue to require a good deal of deliberate activity to effect a widespread change which will be apparent throughout the Institution.