The alumnae called Knowles' report "a divisive strategy" and asked to meet with Rudenstine, a request to which the president has not yet responded.

Radcliffe supporters said they have also felt slighted because in April, Maisie K. Houghton '62 and James R. Houghton '58 donated $1.25 million to Harvard--not Radcliffe--to establish an endowment for a women's initiative project at Harvard.

Despite the protesters, most in the Harvard community consider the gift a boon to furthering the cause of women at Harvard.

"I think the Houghton gift is going to have a huge impact on the lives of all undergraduates, particularly women," Rawlins said. "This type of gift exemplifies the type of forward thinking about improving women's experiences at Harvard that we really need and I think it's going to make a big difference." (See related story in Section F.)

Student Activism

RUS has also adopted a more activist approach this year.

The group, which has a longstanding reputation for being politically neutral, approved a new constitution this year, allowing the group to take political stands and calling for increased contact with Harvard administrators.

"We are instituting a change that has been happening for a couple of years: moving away from being a student group and towards being an activist group for Harvard-Radcliffe women's issues," said Peimer.

The constitutional changes also allow RUS to directly fund the activist group RADWAC, which debuted this year, without facing the application process required of other women's student groups.

RADWAC, according to co-founder Mia Bagneris '99, was formed to create a "visible and unapologetically feminist presence on campus."

In March, RADWAC began a postering campaign to protest final club policies they deemed sexist.

April's "Take Back the Night," an annual week-long series of events intended to promote awareness of violence against women, was also organized in part by RUS.

Mixed Signals

Women's advocates said they were pleased with the April announcement by the admissions office that 48.5 percent of those admitted to the class of 2001 are women, up from 45.5 percent the year before.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons '67 and Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis '70 attributed the increase to intensified outreach efforts aimed at potential female applicants.