McCormack, however, said Tabak's view is more compatible with Belai's because it favors ending Harvard's connections with ROTC.

ROTC provides Harvard students with tuition, fees, uniforms and a percentage of their book costs. In return, students commit to year-round training sessions and four years of military service after graduation.

During the meeting, McCormack said that he and his family, like many others, are caught in a "middle-class financial aid gap" and would not have been able to afford Harvard without ROTC.

Belai pointed out that, while he did not want to "start the debate," he felt that McCormack's description of financial aid was "inconsistent with Harvard policy."

The committee plans to have reports ready three weeks after the group's next meeting. The exact meeting time has yet to be announced, but will likely be some-time next week.

The council's ad hoc committees are open to all members of the Harvard community