"I cannot speak for the Corporation," Rudenstine said. "But I believe the Corporation would be sensitive and thoughtful and wish to hear the concerns of the faculty."

He did emphasize that any faculty proposals would have to address the $10 million structural deficit.

Paul and McKay Professor of Applied Mathematics Anthony G. Oettinger were scheduled to propose a vote at yesterday's meeting that would ask the Corporation to rescind two of the changes.

But both professors withdrew their proposals after Rudenstine guaranteed faculty participation on the two standing committees.

Some Effects

The Faculty's insistence on participation is new. For much of the process they let the task force do its work and waited to be consulted.

But when the Faculty finally did protest at their October meeting, the task force listened. The final report differs markedly from the preliminary copy some professors had at the meeting.

Paul, who obtained a copy of the earlier version from a colleague, says he noticed the report's writers had changed the term "employees" to "faculty and staff."

"It's a cosmetic change," Paul says. "It doesn't change their attitude. They are employers, and we are employees."

Knowles has also appointed Administrative Dean Nancy R. Maull and Associate Dean for Human Resources Polly Price to evaluate the actual fiscal impact on faculty members the changes will have.

"It's my responsibility as Dean of the FAS to be sure that however proper the decisions University-wide are,...each group is not improperly impacted by the changes," Knowles says.

Although he cannot make changes to the benefits package, as dean of the Faculty, Knowles does have control over salary levels.

The Faculty and the President

The last time the University reviewed its benefits, in 1973, Derek C. Bok was just beginning is two-decade long tenure as Harvard's president.

Following Bok's 1990 announcement that he would step down, administrators said that the then-president had usually proved willing to hear what protesters said.