WHEN Archie C. Epps III, dean of students, invited the leaders of four principle minority organizations on campus to sit on his new committee to review the nature of race relations at the College, he never expected accusations he was denying minority members a voice in the students selection process.

The committee, chaired by Epps, includes eight students, two of whom are white, two professors and four administrators, all selected by Epps.

Epps said the committee's purpose was to study and review racial interaction here and issue preliminary findings and recommendations for action in the spring.

The controversy has arisen over Epp's apparent failure to clarify the scope of the committee, and whether minority organization leaders would be attending as individuals or representing the members of their organizations.

Minority leaders contacted this week said they are afraid students won't have enough input into the committee, and that it may not focus on the tougher problems minorities face here.

Epps, however, says many students have misconstrued the purpose of his committee.

"It is not meant to be a legislative body but a study group," Epps said. He had intended the committee to study how minorities and non-minorities interact here, not to focus on "other related issues" such as affirmative action policy and minority admissions, he said.