Aside from the fact that Rosovsky's logic doesn't account for those who opt for the five and six-year plans, it is remarkably apt.

That fact is difficult to accept for those impatient with the status quo.

But what is lost or. those who demand immediate change is that Harvard--for all its 350 years of imagined immortality--does change. Not overnight, not in a day, not in a year.

It takes time, often longer than the four years most of us are here. And it is for precisely that reason that Harvard often appears to change with all the frequency of the Ice Age.

For those armchair deans who doubt that the University has made tremendous strides in recent years consider three of the biggest Harvard-related stories of the last twelve months:

.In February, the University affirmed its commitment to dealing with cases of sexual harassment when it secured the historic resignation of a tenured professor after a complaint of sexual harassment had been filed against him.

The resignation of Professor of Government Douglas A. Hibbs Jr. marked both the first time ever that a tenured Harvard professor--whose job is usually guaranteed until at least age 70--resigned over allegations of sexual harassment and the first time the University had officially confirmed that action had been taken on a specific case of harassment.

The step, though understandably clouded in secrecy, differed markedly from the way Harvard handled previous allegations of sexual harassment, when it refused to discuss the matter publicly. This time, Harvard proved its willingness not to tolerate such behavior by securing Hibbs's resignation.

Whether or not Hibbs offered his resignation in the wake of Harvard's investigation or whether Harvard demanded it is still unclear. Whichever, the University's ability to remove Hibbs from a position of authority sent a reassuring message to the Harvard community and a stern warning to the faculty that times have changed.

.Similarly, after years of wavering on the issue, Harvard finally cut its ties to the nine exclusive, all-male final clubs in July.

Though largely symbolic, the move seemed to demonstrate the University's desire to provide equal opportunities for all.

Whether or not the final clubs will miss Harvard's Centrex phone service or its steam heating is of little consequence. They won't. But Harvard won't miss its affiliation with the clubs either. After years of pressure, the University moved in the right direction by breaking its ties with the elitist and sexist clubs.

.Also in July, after years of prodding and pressure from a variety of organizations, the Harvard Corporation reversed its position on the need for a sweeping University-wide anti-discrimination policy.

The new policy marked the first time Harvard had passed legislation affecting every one of its 12 usually independent schools.

At the time, Harvard President Derek C. Bok said that no specific events had produced the formulation of the legislation, but that evolving discussions with deans and students had led him to believe such a public statement might be useful.