And even some students who saw a place for junior college called Clin- ton's strategy misplaced, saying that more emphasis on basic education should precede concerns about college and computers.

"I'm a bit skeptical of making the first two years of college as universal as high school. I don't know how universal a high school education actually is," said Jonathan R. Miller '99.

"Classrooms that don't have textbooks really don't need access to the Internet," said Liana R. Tuller '99.

The majority of students who didn't hear the address said that political apathy kept them away.

Still, political interest isn't entirely dead at Harvard.

"I know that what the President says may not be about the most pressing issues and on the minds of everyone, but it shows what's on his mind right now, and I think that's important," said Tuller, a social studies concentrator who persuaded her roommate to join her in listening to the address.

"Also, you can't say anything for or against a president unless you know what his ideas are.