"Is the experience of the current undergraduate woman the same as the experience of an undergraduate man?" said Sarah T. Smith '69. "I don't think so."
Wilson told the audience that some female undergraduates would disagree.
"There are many young women at Harvard and Radcliffe who believe that the play field is totally equal," Wilson said, drawing gasps and chuckles from the audience. "They are quite unwilling to hear otherwise."
When many women graduate and work professionally, however, "they make an about-face," and seek out Radcliffe's support network, Wilson said.
Alums also registered concerns about the future of Radcliffe's nearly $200 million endowment.
Wilson reassured one alum that gifts to Radcliffe would be used for their intended purpose, despite the form of Radcliffe's "successor institution, if any."
"The stewardship will remain," Wilson said. "One of the first things we can do is relax."
Jill T. Cheng '67 vice chair of the Board of Trustees, said her colleagues on the Board take their fiduciary responsibilities seriously. "There's a real sincerity in wanting to hear from you--this is not simply a show," she said.
Alum opinion, which has varied widely since the beginning of Harvard Radcliffe negotiations, ranged from that of Pricilla Redfield-Roe '42, who said she hopes her alma mater will retain the name "Radcliffe College" for symbolic purposes, to Moon, who suggested an international focus to Radcliffe's projects.
As Marie Costello '35 said, "if you can find two alumnae who agree, I'll give you $ 1,000."
The New York City tour stop--held at the Harvard Club on Oct. 13--drew more than 50 people, according to event moderator Ellen G. Reeves ' 83.
It's very clear that people think it's important to offer contact between alums and undergraduates," Reeves said.
Atlanta and Philadelphia saw smaller audiences, though Wilson said she met with three times more attendees in Atlanta than she expected.
Michael A. Armini, a Radcliffe spokesperson, said about 15 people came to the event in Atlanta.
Wilson addresses alums in Dallas tonight.
--Rosalind S. Helderman '01 contributed to the reporting of this story.