But several mentioned that though the service has a phone number, no one knows when it will be activated.

Opinion varies within the group as to exactly how ready the organization is to actively negotiate campus conflicts.

"The mediation service has already made a couple of presentations. It really plans to come into full swing in the next couple of weeks," said Assistant Dean of Students Sarah E. Flatley-Wheaton, who worked closely with Epps in developing the program.

Mediator James N. Miller '95-'96, however, said he felt the group had not yet defined how it will make itself available to students.

"We're still definitely figuring out how we're going to put ourselves out this year," Miller said.

Miriam Johnson, mediator and race relations tutor in Leverett House, said she hopes "people don't get discouraged" by the time it takes for the group to get going this semester.

"I think that in order to do something this difficult well, it is going to take a little time," Johnson said

But Epps said he is confident that the mediators is ready to step in should a group request their services.

He stressed that "there are enough experienced mediators to handle a situation should one arise."

Epps said the group has determined its basic structure. The mediators will be assigned to "beats," areas of the college which two to three mediators might cover, he said.

Beats might include houses, student organizations, campus publications and police and community relations, though Epps said the service will remain flexible.

Epps said students will work in teams with faculty and administrators.

Remaining Issues

One of the issues the service is still deciding is what kind of conflicts the mediators will negotiate.

"Originally Dean Epps had the idea to create the Harvard Mediation Service to deal with conflicts surrounding issues of race and ethnicity," Andre said. "But from an early point, we thought we'd extend the focus to move into the area of other conflicts, especially among organizations."

Epps said the mediation service is interested in offering assistance to the Undergraduate Council.

But former council secretary Randall A. Fine '96 said he is skeptical of Epps' offer.

"I have my doubts about this whole theory of conflict mediation," said Fine, who is currently running for re-election. "Who's going to call and request a student to mediate their problems?