Regardless, when Epps' job is done, he willcontinue on his way as the College's Mr. Fixit.

"A dean of students is always going aroundtrying to see what is tattered in the fabric ofthe institution and he or she should be there,"says Epps. "And perhaps when it gets fixed, go onto something else."

Clearly, Epps fancies himself a man of action.He may project a veneer of conservatism and oldHarvard stuffiness but as a registered Democratand a veteran of the civil rights movement, hemasks an activist past.

In 1963, he led the New England contingent tothe Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s march onWashington.

And his long-standing interest in Malcolm Xbegan in 1964, when the influential Black leaderspoke at Leverett House. Epps is now a leadingauthority on Malcolm X, having published ananthology of Malcolm X's speeches at Harvard.

Epps says his fascination with Malcolm X wasrooted in dissatisfaction with King's teachings,then the gospel of the civil rights movement.Indeed, King was then criticized for being overlyidealistic and conciliatory towards whitebenefactors and politicians.

Ironically, some students have criticized Eppsfor his idealism and links to the white Harvardestablishment.

But it is his scholarship on Malcolm X and thepolitics of race--in addition to his experience asdean of students--that Epps believes qualifies himto be "race czar."

"Because of the Malcolm X book and earlierworks, it is probably thought that I have somecompetence and understanding," says Epps, whoconcedes that his race was likely considered inthe decision as well. "I also have some strengthsin mediation and negotiation badly needed in thissituation."

He discounts the notion that, as a minority, heis uniquely qualified to handle race relations.

"It's not always the case that minorities arethe most sensitive to race relations," says Epps."Sometimes they're part of the problem. Myqualification is scholarship and experience, notrace."

Epps says associates warned him in 1980 not toget mired in a controversy over race relations. Heacknowledges the precariousness of his position,as a Black man trying to represent anoverwhelmingly white administration and strugglingto stitch together an increasingly diverse campus.

"It involves risk-taking," he says. "I wouldnot have led the committee in 1980 if I hadlistened to my peers. All of them said, 'Don't doit. It'll blow up in your face. It'll hurt yourcareer.'"

The nuts and bolts of Epps' new plan remainunclear. He says he will try to elevate the statusof the existing race offices, intervene personallyto help develop a discourse on race and helpstudents of different backgrounds get to know eachother informally.

The first major event Epps plans is a racerelations retreat today for student leaders, racerelations tutors and proctors, and College staff.