The numbers speak for themselves: a record count of Asian American, Black, Hispanic and Mexican American student's were admitted to Harvard's Class of 1998.

In a time when "multiculturalism" and 'diversity" are buzzwords in college admissions office nationwide, Harvard has found success in its vigorous effort to recruit minorities.

But the College's success raises questions about the role race should play in a student's application. Though the University has successfully parried reverse discrimination charges filed with the Department of Education, the age-old question remains: in striving for a more diverse student body, is the College just aiming to increase its numbers?

As of last week, the Class of 1998 included a record 147 Blacks, a record 325 Asian-Americans and 712 women.

The Class also has 47 Mexican-Americans, 25 Puerto Ricans, 54 Hispanic Americans, and 11 Native Americans.

This year the yield of Black students was 71 percent, a figure just slightly below the overall yield of 75 percent.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons '67 attributes the increase in minority admits to the admissions office's continued recruiting effort to target minorities.

"We did a 'second search' again this year," Fitzsimmons says. "We did calling again, which we had done the previous year. The primary purpose is to get people we may have missed first time round."

He adds that recruiting for Black students is "probably the most intense of any ethnic group." The lowest number of Black Students since the College instituted affirmative action in 1969 matriculated in the Class of 1996. After that dip, the College has worked toward regaining minority representation and leveling the admissions playing field.

While Harvard only offers needbased financial aid, admissions officers and student representatives have been selling the virtues of Vritues across the country at high schools and college fairs to battle the tempting merit-based scholarships offered to Blacks by other schools.

Reverse Discrimination?

The intense recruitment of minorities has raised some concerns about reverse discrimination in the name of diversity.

Fitzsimmons toes the party-line about the importance of race or ethnicity in an applicant's folder: a student will not be admitted on the basis of race alone. But, if the minority student is qualified or has managed to achieve in the face of avdversity, then that student can add an important element of diversity to a class.

"Ethnicity of all kinds could turn out to be a positive factor," Fitzsimmons says. "It wouldn't have to simply be a person designated as a minority background by the U.S. government."

But Harvard's admissions policies, as well as those at other colleges across the country, are being questioned by some who allege that they are victims of a politically correct quest for multiculturalism.