After the stresses of the 1991-92 activism,even student leaders are ready to try a morelow-key approach, students say.

"That spring [of the sit-ins in Law Schooloffices] was emotionally draining," says thirdstudent Wendy Patten, co-editor-in-chief of theHuman Rights Journal.

Patten, who was involved in the agitations ofthat spring, says that "people are now looking formore constructive ways than communication bypaper: posters, daily fliers in the mail and soon."

Another explanation students offer for thepresent Law School peace is good, old-fashionedpublic relations work. Dean of the Law SchoolRobert C. Clark has done successful spin control,they say, even while substantive change is stilllacking.

Clark is quick to defend himself and says he ismaking concrete efforts to diversify the faculty.There is a larger pool of women and minorities todraw from at the non-tenured assistantprofessorship level he says.

"I think we're doing a lot of good andpromising things this year," says Clark.

"This is a very sensitive time in the processand we have had an unusual volume of activity,"says Clark "We have interviewed. and heardpresentations for a number of juniorappointments."

The candidates include both women andminorities, he says.

Clark says that he cannot guarantee the finaloutcome of the current faculty appointment processbut he is optimistic about the talks.

"The prospects are encouraging at this moment,"he says, adding that he is talking to a number ofwomen and minorities for visiting positions.

"The most dramatic input for us has been in theteaching evaluations from students," says Clark,stressing that his discussions with variousstudent groups "are on occasion very helpful."

Clark also points to progress already made inthe junior faculty ranks.

Tax expert Diane Ring will arrive this fallform private practice in Washington, D.C., in anon-tenured faculty post. In addition, there aretwo non-tenured offers out to women, says Clark.

Clark says the Law School will also continue tobring female and minority visiting professors tocampus: he is wooing five women and three minorityfaculty members to visit next year.

But rig now the Law School's 65 professorsstill include only six women and five minorityfaculty members, according to Law Schoolspokesperson Michael Chmura.