"It was not a debate about Mr. Will's views,"Hoffmann said. "The basic question discussed aswhether it was wise to appoint someone who wouldspend just two hours a week. The rest is justjournalistic fantasy."

Students--conservative and liberalalike--praised the choice of Will as a visitingprofessor yesterday.

"I think it's welcome news," said G. BrentMcGuire '95, a former council member of thePennisula, Harvard's conservative magazine. "Itwill help to provide some sort of balance in adepartment strewn with liberals and socialists."

"I guess even though I'm a liberal I'm sort ofhappy that it happened," said Ho, who is alsopresident of the College Democrats. "I think he'sa very intelligent person and will add a lot tothe government department, especially because ofthe lack of conservative voices in thedepartment."

"He's very intelligent, albeit controversial,"Ho said. "He'll be one to incite vigorous, butinsightful and fruitful discussion. I think it'llbe a course students shouldn't miss."

Professors interviewed, however, were moredivided in their opinions of the appointment ofthe columnist.

"We should not hold it against him that hisPh.D. in political science is from Princeton,"Sandel said. "His book Statecraft asSoulcraft, based on the Godkin Lectures hedelivered at Harvard, is a small gem."

"He's written a recent book on term limits,"Price said. "I think it's a bad book and a badidea, but he's written on the subject. It's notgoing that far out right field to find someone.It's too bad we don't have additional funding foranother program to provide a little variety."

But Price also said that he sees some value inmembers of the department working with Will.

"Some of us are interested in the area of massmedia and political columnists," Price said. "It'sinteresting to study as a phenomenon in itself."

Shepsle said he is personally looking forwardto working with Will.

"Just as a private personal matter, I've alwaysbeen a fan of George Will's," Shepsle said."Nominally he satisfies the criteria we usuallyrequire. For my personal enthusiasm and for thefact that he has the credentials, I thought itsounded splendid."

Valerie J. MacMillan contributed to thisreport.