Williams Professor of History and Political Science Roderick MacFarquhar, who chaired the subcommittee that recommended Oi's tenure to the government department, said he was "disappointed, very disappointed" with the decision.

"[Oi] is one of the leading figures in political science covering China and her works are read by a large number of people outside the China field," he said.

Several graduate students said Widner helped create a strong interest in African studies in the government department.

"My feeling is that it is a real loss to the University because at least in the graduate department the study of Africa was really on a roll, and I think Jennifer had a lot to do with that," said Dan N. Posner, a fifth-year graduate student.

The government departments' recommendation of Widner came under some fire last May when Thomson Professor of Government Martin Kilson charged that Widner had "racially humiliated" him in a public dispute four years earlier.

At the time, Kilson, who is Black, said Widner had argued with an intensity she would not have shown to a white senior faculty member. Widner has denied that the incident had any racial basis.

Pharr said last night that Kilson's charges played "no role" in the President's tenure decision.

Reached last night, Kilson said he did not have "any reaction" to Rudenstine's decision.

"That's the University's decision, not mine," he said. "No academic makes that decision--all you have the right to do is make an input into it.