No, instead what seems to be at issue is a problem of inertia.

Because Harvard is the oldest college in the country; because many perceive Harvard to be the best university in the country; because its house system is considered a model residential system; because Harvard is Harvard, it is easy to dismiss significant problems here as idiosyncratic, temporary or in line with national trends.

And should administrators be so quick to dismiss the fact that less than 4 percent of the survey's respondents were Black students--a figure less than half of the College-wide representation of the least satisfied racial group in the survey? Do facts like these really suggest that "no ground has been lost" in race relations?

Doesn't the fact that the commonly-held perception--and now all-too confirmed view--that what is missing at Harvard is a coherent, consistent attention to undergraduate education suggest action should be considered, something beyond pleasant acknowledgement? It's time we placed student's concerns above tradition, a busy faculty's convenience or an active student body's impressive dedication to work in the face of disappointing odds.

Harvard obviously is an excellent university. All those who seem to be paying attention say it is one of a handful of the best. This is nothing to be swept aside, and a matter for self-congratulation.

But doesn't Harvard's B-, the Group III ranking it receives from undergrads, deserve an better response than, "It beats a C-?"