Several said they backed Clarke and Kennedy's effort to stir discussion but disagreed with the opinions offered in the first paragraphs of their letter.

"I think Kristen makes an excellent point in bringing up the effects of something like this," Gutierrez said. "When you look at social pathologies of urban areas these days, you have no support institutionally and you have so many vices to distract you from intellectual achievements."

Ho said he agrees with the letter's points about the book's potential effects.

'What race relations needs at this point is a renewed understanding that the current state is far from equal' Derek Ho '96

"I think they've articulated well the challenge that faces us in race relations today. [Clark and Kennedy] are right that many people think that minorities have had enough time to catch up," he said.

"I think that what race relations needs at this point is a renewed understanding that the current state is far from equal and that more radical steps have to be taken finally to promote equality," Ho said.

Cho said he questions the scholarship of the researchers Clark and Kennedy cite that assert the superiority of Blacks.

"There are a lot of things other than melanin or melatonin that are crucial [to intelligence]," he said. "Especially one's environment, which [the letter] points out."

Gutierrez said he disagreed with the examples in the first paragraph of Clarke and Kennedy's letter, but was glad they were brought into campus discourse.

"Ironically I think it's a very good thing," said Gutierrez, who said he found racism in The Bell Curve. "It's a blatant example that in this day and age people have age old biases about race."