Students Blase, Leaders Fearful

There were no protests in front of the John Harvard statue or angry exchanges over the Undergraduate Council e-mail list.

As women learned that Radcliffe had agreed to give up all control over undergraduate education, life went on as usual for most students--dining hall chatter aside.

Even Radcliffe student leaders said most students did not seem upset by the news.

"If you talk to most students on this campus they will say `Who cares, it's not like Radcliffe matters,"' said Radcliffe Union of Students (RUS) Co-President Kathryn B. Clancy '01.

But students offered different reasons for the quiet on campus, with some saying students are happy with the decisions and others saying they are simply confused about what the merger will mean.

Many students said Radcliffe has not played a significant role in the lives of undergraduates.

"I haven't met anybody who actually cares aboutthis," said Eunice K. Pae '01, who said she hasnever used any of Radcliffe's programs.

Although Radcliffe provides externships,mentorships and fellowships for undergraduates,most women do not utilize these programs.

"I don't think a majority of women at Harvardreally know about these programs." said ElizabethD. Chao '00, president of Women in Science atHarvard and Radcliffe (WISHR), who said she triesto provide information about the offerings tomembers of her organization. "Most women are morefamiliar with the Harvard programs."

And some undergraduates said they had toolittle time to interact with an organization whoserole in undergraduate life was often unclear.0

"I think Radcliffe is like a lot ofopportunities at Harvard," said Jane J. Zhu '01."It's a good opportunity, but I've never had achance to get to them."

"It's not like during freshman week you have todo some event at Radcliffe," Zhu added. "A lot ofpeople just aren't affected."

No Answers

Those who have benefited from Radcliffe'sresources said they don't know whether the mergermeans slashed funding or increased opportunity.

While the agreement will create a new researchinstitute that specializes in the study of gender,the University has not decided the fate oftraditional Radcliffe undergraduate offerings,such as externships, mentorships, fellowships andRUS offerings.

"I can't tell whether or not these programswill still exist," Chao said. "It seems like theymight either disappear or be assimilated."

Chao's organization, WISHR, receives most ofits funding from non-Radcliffe sources includingthe Undergraduate Council and the HarvardFoundation, she said.

But other organizations, such as RUS, may findthemselves strapped for cash if Radcliffe becomesless involved in undergraduate programs.

Clancy said Radcliffe Dean of EducationalPrograms Tamar March told her that starting withthe 2000-01 school year, RUS can no longer raiseit $30,000 budget through the term-bill fees ofRadcliffe-affiliated undergraduates becauseRadcliffe College will not exist.

"We're basically going to have to completelyrevamp what RUS is," said Clancy, who said shemight try to raise funds from alumnae or seekgrants from the University.

Since much of RUS's budget is given out ingrants to undergraduate programs, RUS leaders saidcuts to its budget would probably mean less moneyfor other women's groups as well.

"Any groups that has women's issues as theircentral focus has to be affected by this whetherthey want to be or not," said RUS co-presidentCourtney E. Ellis '00.

And while RUS members have not taken action toprotest the merger thus far, they said they mightdo so in the future.

"There will be a stronger reaction laterbecause RUS is going to make this happen," Clancysaid.

Some women have also discussed planning aRadcliffe vigil to protest the merger, accordingto Undergraduate Council Vice President Kamil E.Redmond '00, who said she opposes the merger.

10,000 Women of Harvard

But while some student are planning protestothers are celebrating the decision.

"I see this a victory for women in highereducation," said former Council President LamelleD. Rawline '99. "This represents the completion ofthe project that was begun by the women who fundedthe Harvard Annex in order to give women access toa Harvard education."

Even some who said they are upset about themerger said they see a silver lining in theresponsibility it gives the University forundergraduate women's well-being.

"Nobody has the excuse of saying we don't needa women's center because we've got Radcliffe,because we don't have Radcliffe anymore," Clancysaid

"I haven't met anybody who actually cares aboutthis," said Eunice K. Pae '01, who said she hasnever used any of Radcliffe's programs.

Although Radcliffe provides externships,mentorships and fellowships for undergraduates,most women do not utilize these programs.

"I don't think a majority of women at Harvardreally know about these programs." said ElizabethD. Chao '00, president of Women in Science atHarvard and Radcliffe (WISHR), who said she triesto provide information about the offerings tomembers of her organization. "Most women are morefamiliar with the Harvard programs."

And some undergraduates said they had toolittle time to interact with an organization whoserole in undergraduate life was often unclear.0

"I think Radcliffe is like a lot ofopportunities at Harvard," said Jane J. Zhu '01."It's a good opportunity, but I've never had achance to get to them."

"It's not like during freshman week you have todo some event at Radcliffe," Zhu added. "A lot ofpeople just aren't affected."

No Answers

Those who have benefited from Radcliffe'sresources said they don't know whether the mergermeans slashed funding or increased opportunity.

While the agreement will create a new researchinstitute that specializes in the study of gender,the University has not decided the fate oftraditional Radcliffe undergraduate offerings,such as externships, mentorships, fellowships andRUS offerings.

"I can't tell whether or not these programswill still exist," Chao said. "It seems like theymight either disappear or be assimilated."

Chao's organization, WISHR, receives most ofits funding from non-Radcliffe sources includingthe Undergraduate Council and the HarvardFoundation, she said.

But other organizations, such as RUS, may findthemselves strapped for cash if Radcliffe becomesless involved in undergraduate programs.

Clancy said Radcliffe Dean of EducationalPrograms Tamar March told her that starting withthe 2000-01 school year, RUS can no longer raiseit $30,000 budget through the term-bill fees ofRadcliffe-affiliated undergraduates becauseRadcliffe College will not exist.

"We're basically going to have to completelyrevamp what RUS is," said Clancy, who said shemight try to raise funds from alumnae or seekgrants from the University.

Since much of RUS's budget is given out ingrants to undergraduate programs, RUS leaders saidcuts to its budget would probably mean less moneyfor other women's groups as well.

"Any groups that has women's issues as theircentral focus has to be affected by this whetherthey want to be or not," said RUS co-presidentCourtney E. Ellis '00.

And while RUS members have not taken action toprotest the merger thus far, they said they mightdo so in the future.

"There will be a stronger reaction laterbecause RUS is going to make this happen," Clancysaid.

Some women have also discussed planning aRadcliffe vigil to protest the merger, accordingto Undergraduate Council Vice President Kamil E.Redmond '00, who said she opposes the merger.

10,000 Women of Harvard

But while some student are planning protestothers are celebrating the decision.

"I see this a victory for women in highereducation," said former Council President LamelleD. Rawline '99. "This represents the completion ofthe project that was begun by the women who fundedthe Harvard Annex in order to give women access toa Harvard education."

Even some who said they are upset about themerger said they see a silver lining in theresponsibility it gives the University forundergraduate women's well-being.

"Nobody has the excuse of saying we don't needa women's center because we've got Radcliffe,because we don't have Radcliffe anymore," Clancysaid