Activist Role?

As have the Alumni Against Apartheidcandidates, both Raines and Montgomeryacknowledged that it would be difficult to use apost on the Board of Overseers as a platform fromwhich to press for a change in Harvard'sinvestment policy, which is controlled separatelyby the Corporation.

In contrast to the Corporation, whichsupervises all financial matters as well as theday-to-day operations of the University, theOverseers assert their authority through thereview of personnel appointments and the settingof long-term academic policy for the variousfaculties.

Beyond echoing arguments long-held byUniversity officials, several candidates whoopposed divestment said in interviews this weekthat they agree with the Bok letter and believe itis inappropriate for Overseers to get involvedwith such an issue.

"Mrs. Bok put the election in the properperspective," said candidate Henry Van der Eb '42,who chairs the Harvard College Fund, the annualUniversity fundraising effort. "The Overseers donot set policy of this nature."

"The intent of the letter was fair," saidcandidate Dr. Glen D. Nelson '59, chairman andchief executive officer of American MedCenters."Whether the result is fair, only time will tell,we'll see who gets elected."

Two candidates said they have yet to decidewhat their position is on divestment. One of them,James C. Dudley '43, a venture capitalist, said:"It's a very complicated issue, there is no blackor white.