Another pre-frosh said she had read criticismof the core curriculum in The Crimson, whichrecently published a three-part series on theprogram.

But Rudenstine defended the curriculum, sayingthat most students do appreciate the program.

"There is always criticism of classes,especially large ones where there are manystudents," he said. "But, most students give thecore very high ratings."

Rudenstine said that students are more likelyto appreciate the core as they grow older andgraduate.

"As student look back on their undergraduateyears, I think only appreciate the opportunity totake classes in other disciplines," he said.

He cited his experience at Princeton as anexample. "I took a science I did not want totake," he said. "I knew I couldn't take physics orchemistry, so I took geology, and I learned anenormous amount."

Rudenstine responded to a question about freespeech at Harvard by saying that the Universitydoes not restrict what students say or write inthe school's various publications.

"We have not intervened in anything a studenthas said or published," he said. "Unless it isintimidation, which is not free speech."

Rudenstine described the University as being"about inquiry and debate."

"I hope that it goes both ways, that if you saysomething you will listen to what others say," hesaid.

Senior Admissions Officer Patricia B. Callaghan'89, who directs the visiting students program,said she was pleased that Rudenstine spoke to thepre-frosh.

"I think it is important for them to see thatthe faculty and the president are all interestedin them," she said. "This is just onemanifestation of the fact he cares deeply aboutthe pre-frosh here."

Elizabeth T. Bangs contributed to thereporting on this story.