Chong said she thought Harvard has not offered a convincing account of the move.

"If it is true that this move is merely prompted by a desire to renovate, why didn't Dean Epps simply mention that, and second, why aren't there plans to move the Foundation back into University Hall when renovations have been completed?" Chong asked.

"In light of Knowles' record on race relations, nothing short of a written promise that the Harvard Foundation will be moved back into University Hall following renovations will convince me of the administration's good will and commitment."

Shetty, however, said he has no problem with the move because administration have convinced the foundation that it was prompted by renovations.

"While it's nice to have an office in University Hall, I believe that it's because they're doing renovation," he said. "The administration has been very good working with us to try to make sure that the move has gone off smoothly."

But he added: "We'd like to have the opportunity to move back once the renovations are complete."

Other student leaders, however, remain most worried about the symbolic effect of the change.

"Because the Foundation is such an integral part of the maintenance of a healthy campus, University Hall has always seemed an appropriate location," said Kristen M. Clarke '97, president of the Black Students Association. "The sudden move of the office to a basement of a student dorm suggests that its role is only remedial and parallel to that of any other student organization.