Jorge I. Dominguez, former chair of the Committee on Ethnic Studies, said the creation of the new position is consistent with the Faculty's dedication to ethnic studies.

"There are, to be sure, many previous regular Faculty appointments of professors who teach about various aspects of ethnicity in the United States," Dominguez said. "Nonetheless, [FAS] will certainly benefit from the Dean's decision to increase for yet one more time the teaching resources to the study of ethnicity."

Other said they believe that congratulations are not yet in order.

"The appointments in Asian-American literature is long overdue and until we see more appointments in areas such as Latino and Native American studies, there shouldn't be any patting of backs quite yet," said Mina K. Park '98, a member of the Ethnic Studies Action Committee.

And Gonzalo C. Martinez '98, president of Raza-the undergraduate Mexican-American/Chicano student organization-agreed, saying that he believes Harvard is neglecting Chicano studies.

"[Latinos] are supposed to be the largest minority group within the U.S. come the 21st century, yet our presence has been all but ignored by the Harvard administration," he said. "Only a weak commitment to ethnic studies would attempt to appease one student group by ignoring another."

What's Next?

Lee said he would eventually like to see two floating academic chair positions-an undergraduate concentration and a graduate minor program-to increase the presence of ethnic studies on campus.

But Lee said that an ethnic studies department will not emerge any time soon because a majority of the Faculty does not support it.

At the same time, he added that a "California model" of multicultural studies-which advocates formal centers and departments in fields including Asian-American and Chicano studies-may not be the best option for the University.

"A lot of people believe that without a department you have no power," Lee said. "I think we should have our intellectual agenda established first."

While he said "students should continue to exert pressure," Lee also said he believes that measures such as hunger strikes and sit-ins at other Ivies "waste time."

"I occupied a building myself once," Lee recalled. "But what did we really get accomplished?"

Lee said he hopes instead to "light up the fire...for intellectual combustion."

Supporting "a more international conception of ethnic studies that links American domestic discourse with a changing international situation," Lee said he seeks to "heighten awareness," and is currently fundraising for the Committee.

Lee said he has organized a symposium titled "The Future of Ethnic Studies: New Directions in Curriculum, Research and Theory" on Oct. 24 to reexamine Ethnic Studies at Harvard.

Lamelle D. Rawlins '99, president of the Undergraduate Council, said she has high hopes for the future of ethnic studies.

"The establishment of an Ethnic Studies department would be a tangible sign of Harvard's commitment to diversity," Rawlins said. "In time, Harvard will embrace ethnic studies.