Bahat, who had spoken out for months against the compromise, said yesterday he was not surprised by the Board's decision, and pledged to work toward its successful implementation.

"The decision to accept Harvard's proposal was made through a fair and democratic process, and my job is to work to make the decision of the Board a successful reality," Bahat said in a statement.

Bahat said it would not be possible to determine whether the Board made the right decision in accepting the deal for about five years.

"I don't think that you can characterize this as a win or a loss," he said in a telephone interview. "It will be a victory if in five years we've done it, we've made PBHA the kind of organization that in our dreams it can become."

Mike W. Ma '98, vice president of PBHA and the most vocal student supporter of the deal with the University, expressed more confidence that the Board had made the correct decision.

"I can finally get a good night's sleep," Ma said. "I find it rewarding because I think PBHA will finally have the latitude to make the decisions that are in the best interests of its programs, and stop bickering."

But Ma said he was disappointed by Bahat's decision not to sign the agreement. Instead, Ma and PBHA Treasurer Judy Hung '99 will do the honors.

"When the president of the organization refuses to put his name to an agreement that the Board decided overwhelmingly [to approve], it shakes my faith in the office of the presidency," Ma said. "I'll expect and demand the full cooperation of all officers and trustees."

Bahat reiterated his pledge to work on behalf of the agreement, but declined to comment on his decision not to sign.

Epps declined to comment on the deal, referring questions to a press release issued by the Board.

Prior to the Board meeting, both Epps and Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 expressed their support for the agreement.

It Ain't Over

The College agreed in the deal to hire additional PBHA staff-including an assistant director and a development director-and the students agreed to give administrators a say in the selection of the organization's director.

Moreover, the shift to the title of executive director is a significant concession to the Board, said a source close to PBHA who wished to remain anonymous.

"That's a very big deal in my mind, that title," the source said. "[The College] didn't want there to be a turf war between this person and Judith Kidd; they have recognized that this person is the head of PBHA and not Judith."