"I'm still kind of dumbfounded. I just have noidea what it's about," Ostrowksi said, aftertalking with a Harvard lawyer.

Attorney Peter W. Adler, who is representingBattenfield in the lawsuit, said it seemed strangethat Harvard would file a response denying thecharges without talking to Ostrowski about thesuit.

Battenfield refused to comment yesterday. Herhusband, Norris E. Dickard, who is also aplaintiff in the case, could not be reached.

Adler said in a statement last Thursday that heand Battenfield will be able to prove Ostrowskisexually harassed Battenfield and that Shinageland Harvard mishandled her complaint.

"Our chance of winning a jury verdict on allcounts is high," Adler said.

Adler said there are witnesses who willcorroborate Battenfield's allegations. He alsosaid the University may have received complaintsthat Ostrowski sexually harassed two other femalesat Harvard.

According to the suit, Battenfield complainedabout Ostrowski to Shinagel in May 1991. Shinagelallegedly said during that meeting, "That's sexualharassment."

Battenfield charges in court documents thatShinagel then proceeded to ignore her sexualharassment complaint and cover up the matter.

The University Policy on Sexual Harassment saysthat when a complaint is made, "Universityauthorities will explore the allegationsexpeditiously and thoroughly."

But Adler said, "Harvard's policy about sexualdiscrimination turned out to have been written ininvisible ink."

Adler said he met with Harvard in late Augustand demanded a $125,000 cash settlement. TheUniversity refused the offer. Adler said that nowthe likelihood for settling out of court seems"very low."

The lawsuit also names Sue Weaver Schopf, aresearch coordinator at the Extension School, as adefendant in the case.

Schopf, who is accused of contributing to ahostile work environment, said the generalcounsel's office told her not to discuss the case.She refused to comment further.

Other Extension School administrators declinedto comment on the case or did not return phonecalls.

Gady A. Epstein contributed to the reportingof this article.