On other issues, Bok said:

He feels the new mission he outlined for the University in his Commencement address--increasing informed debate on the nuclear weaponry issue--is being implemented smoothly.

He cited a number of public events scheduled on the subject, including several designed to educate journalist, and apparently good progress on a book on nuclear issues that he has commissioned from five Harvard professors.

He is "reasonably satisfied" that Harvard is presenting an "appropriate deterrent" to professors who sexually harass students.

The fact that Dean of the Faculty Henry Rosovsky "latervenes personally" with professors who have been found to have been found to have harassed students helps make recurrences unlikely, Bok said. He added: "Every faculty member understands that recurring activity...would lead to the most serious consequences."

He said he has not heard of a recent grievance filed against University Health Services (UHS) for its gynecological practices but intends to make inquiries about it.

He said the University plans "intensified recruiting" to combat a drop in the number of Black students who accept Harvard's offer of admission this year. He added that Harvard will heighten communications to allay student fears that Harvard has cut back on its financial aid offerings. "We're not waiting another year to do something," he said.

The following are excerpts of an interview Wednesday with President Bok. The interview was conducted by Crimson reporter Paul A. Engelmayer;

The Law Boycott

Crimson: There have been a couple of incidents on campus where minority groups have used tactics that have drawn some protest. The boycott at the Law School drew some resistance.... What sort of tactics would you prefer to see [used by disgruntled campus groups]?

Bok: I think the most important thing, first of all, is to be clear about what we stand for. The second thing is to try to recognize that this is an educational institution and therefore it's not enough just to make sure that our view prevails but that we try to educate people about why we have those views.

With a minority group that feels a particular pries should not be allowed to teach a particular course...the most important thing is to make sure that we don't yield on the principle that people don't teach courses because of the color of their skin or because of their particular ideological perspective. We choose people to teach is course because of their competence to teach it..

Crimson: A minority group dissatisfied about something--in what manner would you recommend in general that they go about achieving their aim?

Bok: I hesitate to preach to protesting groups how they should make their protest known.... Obviously I would hope they would do it peacefully. I would hope they would also understand that if they're really trying to achieve some change in policy that the people responsible for policy are going to be impressed by argument, not by rhetoric or demonstrations of various kinds.... We're not very impressed, particularly on matters of principle, by demonstrations that rely on rhetoric or noise or ridicule....

Crimson: What about the specific case this summer of the symbolic boycott?