Derrick A. Bell is Weld professor of law no longer.

The former law professor captured public attention two years ago when he announced that he would take an unpaid leave of absence until the Law School offered tenure to a woman of color.

In July, Rudenstine dismissed Bell from his position for exceeding the two-year limit on unpaid leave. In an unprecedented hearing, Bell appealed to a special committee of Harvard's governing boards. But in August, the Corporation denied his request to extend his leave of absence.

Bell will remain a visiting professor at New York University Law School.

FAMILY VALUES

As the nation plunged into a rowdy debate about "family values," Cambridge began its own efforts to address the issue this summer.

At several hearings throughout the summer the City Council debated the merits of a proposed "domestic partnership" law which would extend rights to some unmarried couples.

Councillor Alice K. Wolf introduced the ordinance, which would allow unrelated couples--both heterosexual and homosexual--to gain a "domestic partnership" license from city hall for the cost of a marriage license.

With the license, non-biological parents could access the school records of a domestic partner's children, and domestic partners could obtain visiting rights at Cambridge hospitals and health care benefits for domestic partners.

Several councillors said they would oppose the law because it does not allow siblings and other couples to register as domestic partners.

But some on the council's progressive majority accused the dissenters of trying to torpedo the entire ordinance.

The council will vote on the bill in September.

WINDFALL

The largest donation ever from an individual--$3 million--wouldn't ordinarily cause many complaints from Harvard Law School alumni or faculty.

But some say they are worried that Reginald F. Lewis's donation may send the wrong message to an administration that has been lax in promoting faculty ethnic diversity.