Pruance refused to comment about HSA activitieswhen contacted last night.

But Epps said his initial reaction to thepetition was to check its legality given theframework of HSA's charter to the University. Hesaid part of the corporation's Harvard chartercalls for it to serve in an educational role foremployees and to contribute to the University'sfinancial aid program. He said that limiting thepower of administrators and alumni on the boardmay hamper these mandates.

"I have to make decisions for the long-run goodof Harvard College," Epps said.

But Epps added that he saw room for compromise."Quite frankly, there may be ways of addressingthe problem without radically changing thestructure and putting [HSA's] future at risk," hesaid.

But students played down these concerns. "Idon't think by making the majority of students wewill suddenly become inept," Selwyn said. But heagreed with Epps that passage of the amendment maynot be the only solution to current problems.

"If it does fall away, it still says somethingabout HSA that a group of students were followingthe bylaws very closely and then they were stillbeing blocked," Selwyn said.

HSA employs more than 1300 students and earnsgross revenues of over $2 million each year, withnet income ranging between $20,000 and $50,000 inthe past five years, Selwyn said