But a year later, dissatisfied by theatmosphere in Durham, Gates made the jump again,after another lengthy recruiting effort, toHarvard.

McKay says the universities could have avoidedthe bidding wars that go on over school ars likeGates if, 10 years ago, they had used moreforesight.

"When Black studies was young, the educatorsdid not nurture or set about growing a faculty tomeet this kind of need in the 1990s," she says.

Schauer says that administrators now realizethe increased difficulties in luring professors.

"There was a lag time between Harvard alwaysgetting the person they wanted, and therealization that acceptances wouldn't come," hesays. "The realization has sunk in. Harvard is nolonger complacent about the issue.

Harvard's offer wasn't enough for McKay.Thenoted Black literary scholar says that a historyof a lack of institutional support at Harvard forBlack and other non-traditional studies compelledher to say no and stay at Wisconsin.

McKay, the author of a widely respectedanalysis of 20th century author Jean Toomer, saysthat after weighing the various issues forherself, she found that Harvard had not displayedthe same commitment to her field of interest ashad her own university.

Her case has similarities to that of history ofscience professor Allan M. Brandt. who was offereda lifetime post early in 1991 while he wasteaching at the university of North Carolina.Brandt served as an associate professor at Harvardfrom 1982 to 1990, and was refused tenure when theHistory of Science Department offered a seniorappointment to Penn's Rosenberg in 1989.

In order to lure Brandt back, Harvard agreed togive him more power to build a stronger program inthe history of medicine. He finally accepted lastfall after the University demonstrated itscommitment to the field by agreeing to fund ajunior faculty position.

But Harvard is limited in how manybonuses--like supporting junior faculty positionsor six-figure salaries--it can use in luring thehigh-profile free agents.

At Harvard other top schools, Schauersays, it's sometimes difficult to rationalizeoffering newcomers more pay than already presentprestigious faculty members receive.

"Harvard probably finds itself, because of thedistinction of its faculty, less able to offer itspeople the moon than less distinguished placesare," Schauer says.

Harvard's average salary for senior professorsis over $90,000, which is higher than that atother similar research institutions.

Knowles says that Harvard's offers don'tusually include tremendous salary increases orspecial treatment of "stars."

"Harvard doesn't really operate the starsystem in those terms," he says. "Every one of ourfaculty could go to another university as itsstar. In those terms we are vulnerable."