Students leaders also did not agree with the letter's censure of the Harvard Negotiation Project's study on race relations.

Cheng and Hwang said that the Project, commissioned by Epps, shows "a lack of consideration for the students" by not dealing with students directly. But Patel said the Project "made a huge effort to interview all of us [students]" and called the letter's gripe "inaccurate."

Students did support the charge that Epps fails to involve students in decision-making, but called this a general failure of the administration, not a personal failure of Epps.

"I think that the article is indicative of a larger problem," Bragg said. "The bureaucracy which the University has created to address issues of race complicates and confuses matters more than it streamlines them and makes them accessible. I fault the authorities that are higher than Epps."

Despite their criticisms, student leaders did support Cheng and Hwang's right to express their concerns.

"Although we support AAA, I wasn't as informed on the issue," said Benjamin Lui, president of the Hong Kong Club. "My support is in that if they have grievances they should address them to Dean Epps. My support is more for the sake of communication."

Stephen E. Frank contributed to the reporting for this story.