But some students say Harvard should in facttake a stronger stand than state law, despite thedifficulty of enforcing the Task Force's proposal.

Officials cite lawsuits which could arise if astudent was found guilty of date rape by Harvardbut not by Massachusetts. They concede that theUniversity must now seek a definition which allowseffective disciplinary action while upholdingmoral standards.

The main difference between the two definitionsis that the Undergraduate Council version pinsresponsibility on the victim, while the TaskForce's definition holds the perpetrator moreaccountable, according to Radcliffe Union ofStudents Co-Chair Minna M. Jarvenpaa '93.

According to Jarvenpaa, the task forcedefinition would focus on the actions of theperpetrator by requiring him or her to activelyseek consent of the victim.

"It certainly would require us to rethink whatwe do in sexual situations," said Assistant Deanfor Coeducation Janet A. Viggiani, who is alsoco-chair of the Task Force. "I'm not sure that'ssuch a bad idea. It could create a reluctance, ina disciplinary situation, to act."

A compromise seems to be in the works. At theFaculty Council meeting, Task Force members andUndergraduate Council Chair Malcolm A. Heinicke'93 seemed poised to work together in formulatinga new definition.

And the Task Force indicated that it was readyto amend their definition in order to forge onethat could be formally approved by the fullFaculty.

Task force members have been upbeat, despitethe highly publicized rejections of their work.

Viggiani, a driving force behind the TaskForce's definition, has said that while both theFaculty Council and the Ad Board rejected thedefinition in practice, they believe in it inspirit.

"Our next business is to bring a smallcontingent together to fight until we work itout," said Viggiani. "I have every confidence thatwill happen.