As a high school senior, Erica E. Marsh '91 had no intention of coming to Harvard.

In fact, if it hadn't been for a warm reception from the Black Students Association [BSA] during Prefrosh Weekend, Marsh says she would never even have considered enrolling. But the sense of comfort the BSA provided helped to change Marsh's mind.

"I think any student can come to a university and feel a little alone and a little out of place," says Marsh, who served as the president of the BSA during her junior year at Harvard, "And this is particularly relevant for students of color who are in the minority."

Part of her goal as president. Marsh says, was to make sure Black students did not feel alone or out of place. "I wanted to continue that tradition, making students feel welcome and a part of Harvard," she says.

But times have changed since Marsh was involved in the BSA.

Now, according to many observers and officials, the organization is no longer so concerned with the solidarity of the College's Black community as with the racial climate outside of Harvard's walls.

This year the BSA has been widely noted on campus for bringingcontroversial Wellesley Professor of AfricanStudies Anthony L. Martin to speak, as well aslaunching a protest against the equallycontroversial book The Bell Curve.

Furthermore, the BSA has begun a new pushtoward community service, forging links with thePhillips Brooks House Association (PBH)committeesthat serve Black communities in the Boston area.

But while some see this new focus on politicsand economics as the natural next step in theevolution of the organization, others see it as asource of dissension that may ultimately underminethe BSA's mission of making all Black studentsfeel comfortable and united.

Of the 509 Black students at Harvard, outgoingpresident Kristen M. Clarke '97 estimates 150 to200 are members of the BSA.

"A majority" of those students are activelyinvolved in BSA activities, such as speeches orcelebrations, she says.

This year's board "touched on all parts of thespectrum from politics to economics," says Clarke,specifically mentioning the Bell Curveprotest and a job fair held for BSA members, aswell as Harvard's first Kwanzaa celebration.

But for all the different areas of heradministration, Clarke says she realizes hertenure will be remembered best for politics, andshe makes no apologies for that fact.

"Gov[ernment] is the most popular major atHarvard, The [Institute of Politics] is one of thelargest organizations," Clarke says. "Politics isa big issue at this school, so it is inevitablethat we are going to be confronted with politicalissues."

However, many BSA officials admit that thepolitical stance of the BSA can put off somemembers of the Black community who perceive theorganization's agenda as too "radical."

"Republicans have told us they wouldn't becomfortable in the BSA," says former presidentAlvin L. Bragg '95.