"I did not ask the University to reconsideranything," he said. "I know that the College iscertainly not going to renege....I gave them theinformation and said that what they did with theinformation was up to them."

Marlyn McGrath Lewis, director of admissions,refused to directly comment on the case yesterday.Cummings said, however, that Lewis first sent hima letter informing him of Failoni's statements andasking Cummings for an explanation, and thencalled him some time thereafter to tell him thatthe College did not plan to take any action.

"She said she liked my speech and congratulatedme on my accomplishments," Cummings said. "Shealso talked to my mother, and I think that wentwell."

Lewis said yesterday that the admissions officegets "more letters than you'd think," bothpositive and negative, each year regarding futurestudents from other members of their communities.

She said that, in cases of negative letters,she contacts students if she judges the sender tobe legitimate.

"First, we're very concerned about everythingwe can learn about people coming to Harvard,"Lewis said. "But second, when someone sayssomething negative, a student should have thechance to respond to it."

Failoni said in his letter that Raymond'saddition "had a chilling effect on many graduatesand invited guests," and a story on the New YorkTimes news wire last month said that schoolofficials said they had received phone calls andletters from unhappy parents.

But Cummings said that he has had a lot ofpositive feedback.

"The immediate reaction was applause--numerouspeople came up to me afterwards and congratulatedme, both Black and white people," he said. "A lotof friends have called me."

The Dade County School Board is currentlyconsidering rules that would ensure autonomy forstudents speaking at school events, according toarea newspapers.

Cummings said officials at his school have notcontacted him about the matter. But CraigDePriest, the school principal, told localnewspapers that Failoni was being stripped ofhis title as activities director over theincident. DePriest could not be reached forcomment yesterday.

Failoni said that he stands by his letter, butthat he has "always been opposed to" censorship ofstudents.

"I'm getting blasted, I'm [being called] aracist," he said. "I think that if there had beensome rules to follow this never would havehappened.