An overflow crowd packed Emerson Hall last Thursday to hear a debate on the role of ethnic groups on campus, supported by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations and the Asian American Association (AAA).

Separately that night, the Foundation's Student Advisory Committee (SAC) met to disburse $10,642 to 30 ethnic and cultural organizations, out of 77 applications, at its biannual grants meeting.

And on Nov. 13, SAC Co-Chair Sarita M. James '98 confirmed last night, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will speak at Harvard, an event to be organized by the Foundation and the University Marshal's. P>The flurry of activity points to the continued prominence among Harvard's minority community of the Foundation, created by the University in 1981 to foster race relations and bridge cultural divisions at the College.

"Every group is allowed to come to the Foundation to explore their own cultural background," said Dr. S. Allen Counter, director of the Foundation and associate professor of neurology, in an interview.

But, Counter added, "[Students] don't have to be with a group to have [their] ideas pursued."

The Foundation was conceived after students produced a pamphlet called "Unfair Harvard," which argued that minorities were "in Harvard but not of it," Counter said.

Derek C. Bok, who was then Harvard's president, formed a committee led by Peter J. Gomes, Plummer professor of Christian morals and Pusey minister in the Memorial Church, to find ways to alleviate dissatisfaction among minority students.

"Once [the committee] was established, I met with students from every ethnic group at Harvard," Counter said. "I asked them to see how we could help Harvard adjust to its growing diversity."

The Foundation has continued that work as the number of ethnic and cultural student groups at the College has skyrocketed from just five, in 1981, to more than 60 today.

The Foundation itself hosts three main annual events: a spring intercultural film festival, a conference on minorities in science and Cultural Rhythms--a musical and dance festival in February.

The Foundation invites every student cultural group--including such pan-cultural organizations as the Woodbridge Society of international students--to participate in Cultural Rhythms, which was first held in 1984.

About 27 groups participated in February's festival, which was hosted by the comedian Sinbad.

Grants to Groups

Even closer to home for many student groups, though, is the funding the Foundation provides to support events ranging from study groups to food fests.

The Foundation's grants come from from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) and from private donations. Recently the Foundation received a donation from Sean T. Brady '89.

"Through the Foundation I was able to meet and work with outstanding students and faculty from all cultural and racial backgrounds," Brady wrote in the letter that accompanied his donation.