"The point being that the campaign has not stopped," Monad says. "This is like a long-distance relay race and they're just passing the baton to the new president."

Ironically, many--like Robert H. Scott, vice president for finance--say the delay might even work to Harvard's advantage, by giving the University more time for planning.

"The University has a great deal of planning to do in order to get the foundations of this campaign ready," Scott says. "I am sure the transition to a new president is going to slow down and keep us away from the timetable we would like, but it will not be that disruptive."

In fact, Thomas M. Reardon, director of development, says observers of the Harvard fundraising plans were too quick to pin the drive to a timetable. He says that starting a campaign by fall 1991 was never the "expectation."

Reardon adds that the Development Office will need to work extensively on the pre-drive effort, especially if the drive's goal is pushed to $3 billion, as some Harvard insiders expect.

"Even if there were no changes, we'd still be doing a lot of planning," Reardonsays. "So. in the meanwhile, I think we'll havethe chance to clarify some of the campaignpriorities."

"On the positive side, the more time you haveto prepare, the better you can deal with theissues," Nahm says. "The more time you have totalk to potential donors."

Tomorrow: The competition for donationdollars.