But Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 declined to sign the bill, meaning he will not advocate the changes to University officials.

To change the diplomas, Harvard and Radcliffe would have to renegotiate their agreement of 1977, which stipulates that no change can be made to female diplomas. It was in this agreement that Radcliffe ceded female education to Harvard College.

"[Lewis] wanted to say clearly, 'Radcliffe does not come into the picture," Cheuse says. "His not signing confirmed my suspicions."

But council President Beth A. Stewart '00 says that a debate on Radcliffe is not dead.

"There's still a question on campus of what Radcliffe's role is," Stewart says.

While women stood on opposite sides of the diploma bill, the debate focused attention on women's role on the council, and sparked an increase in female membership.

One Chorus, One Caucus

A record number of women were elected to the council this fall, due in large part to the efforts of former council President Lamelle D. Rawlins '99, who actively sought to increase the diversity of the council. She ran an ad hoc committee to reach out to women and minorities on campus and encourage them to run for the council.

"Before [Rawlins] and [former council Vice President Mark A. Price '98] changed the image of the U.C. I didn't feel it was worth my time," Cheuse says. The recruiting efforts encouraged progressives to join the council, which is traditionally dominated by conservatives, according to Cheuse.

Despite the increased numbers of women, the council did not become a voice for them on campus, according to fall-term council Secretary Olivia Verma '00.

"I don't think any important legislation for women has been discussed at all," she says.

This perception led Gaard, who was elected to a vacant seat in Cabot House last month, to revive a council Women's Caucus at her very first meeting, last month.

"It's important to have women's perspectives," Gaard said. "There are no issues that are just women's issues but there are issues that women are more invested in than men.."

Gaard has created an e-mail list for the caucus open to all undergraduates. She hopes that the caucus will both recruit women for vacant council spots and inform those busy with other activities about the resources and opportunities the council can offer.

"This school has been a male bastion. We need to have women in leadership positions," Gaard says. "This is a training ground for the real world."