But in the last year, Radcliffe and its studentgovernment seem to have begun to find some commonground.

"There has been some miscommunication going onduring the past couple of years," says Jarvenpaa."Right now we've sorted out a lot of things."

This sorting out has taken place as RUS hasmade a deliberate effort to broaden itsconstituency and to tone down some of itsactivities, in line with the administration's lessconfrontational philosophy.

One student formerly involved with RUS, who didnot want to be identified, says, "People whoconsider themselves more radical in RUS feelRadcliffe is trying to tell them, `Don't be soradical. Be more inclusive of all women, even ifthey don't call themselves feminists.'"

Administrators like Bovet view this trendpositively. "My feeling is that [RUS] is beingsuccessful in its outreach," Bovet says, thoughshe adds, "There's always more work to be done."

However, the student, who says she left RUSwhen she "realized what petty issues came up" atits meetings, says that it remains difficult topin down the group's ideological stand at anygiven time.

"RUS is kind of stuck between two things. Ithink back and forth it would be a little moreradical, a little less radical, a little moreconfrontative, a little less confrontative," shesays.

This vacillation seems a good enough compromisefor Radcliffe. "We're eager for RUS, since it is astudent organization for all women, for theirportfolio to respond to the interests of allwomen," Wilson says. "They'll probably do itsequentially by having more than one kind ofprogram."

RUS and Radcliffe have also now straightenedout some past disagreement over financial matters,according to the group's officers. The formalbasis of the relationship between the college andRUS is financial, since the group is supported byterm bill dues from female students.

RUS co-president Olivia D. Williams '93 saysthe group has begun to keep clearer records oftheir financial activities. "We've been reallyworking on documenting things," she says.

Radcliffe officials have in the past criticizednot only RUS's accounting procedures but the wayit chooses to distribute its money, Williams says."They say we're only using our money to supportcertain causes," Williams says.

Williams says this is not true, pointing outthat the group has given grants to both Alliancefor Life and Students for Choice. "We can't letour own points of view determine what's right forwomen on campus," she says.

RUS co-secretary Melissa S. Weininger '95agrees. "We give money to any one who has acohesive plan for helping women."

Bovet says she is pleased by the revisions inthe group's accounting procedures, including a newprovision that groups must have been active withRUS for some period before receiving funding.

Transforming Society?