"I think that all things considered, with so many people having class and with the weather, at any given point I was impressed by the number of the kids who were there," Hyman said. "Seven hundred and fifty is not 5,000, but it was a pretty good indication of support and affirmation."

But other students expressed confusion regarding the goals of the demonstration.

"I wasn't clear on the issues," said Hadi N. Deeb '99. "I didn't like lending my voice to something I wasn't clear on. For me it was too early to side with [Kidd] or the leaders of the administration."

Another student said the atmosphere of the rally seemed unfocused.

"It didn't seem like a rally in terms of what I thought a rally should be. It didn't seem like a protest but more like a big get-together in the Yard," said Jason E. Schmitt '98.

"The rally was confusing because it was a discussion on the virtue of public service which nobody seems to have a problem with anyway," Schmitt added.

Lewis and Skocpol circulated a letter entitled "Harvard's Commitment to Voluntary Public Service" in dining halls earlier this week. Published as a guest commentary in The Crimson on Wednesday, the three-page letter briefly summarizes the history and present status of PBH as well as outlines the criteria leading to the re-evaluation and subsequent administrative changes.

In an attempt to answer "misleading statements" and "in the spirit of reconciliation and for the sake of clarification," the letter outlined Harvard's commitments. Among them were continued support for the autonomy of public service organizations such as the House and Neighborhood Development (HAND) program. The "modest changes being made now should not disrupt any existing public service activity or program," the letter stated.

"The letter is a generality," said PBHA Treasurer Andrew J. Ehrlich '96. "We've already seen two positions get eliminated. I'd say that's a big change."

"The crux of this debate is where the control for these programs should be." Ehrlich added, "whether it should be from the top down by people solely accountable to the College, or by students, staff, alumni and faculty in the community, all groups that make [community service] happen."

Skocpol said Lewis' absence from the rally was understandable in light of his prior commitments and the lack of a formal invitation.

"Neither one of us were invited to the rally and neither one of us was invited to do a speech," Skocpol said. "Had we been, we would have accepted; at least, I would have...I don't think it's improper that [Lewis] wasn't there. That's not an indication that he isn't serious about this issue, because he has been spending a lot of time with PBH.