Although student members of the Lowell House committee said they were pleased with the University's choice in Eck, they acknowledged that this monumental appointment of Masters who are lesbians might make a few waves in the House.

"I think she is a brilliant scholar...[and] a really great role model as a scholar," said of the Lowell House Committee Co-Chair Lisa M. Mignone '98, who has taken two courses taught by Eck. "It was just a surprise that [the College] would pioneer this, especially in a House that touts its traditions."

Mignone said she thought a small number of students might prefer the opportunity to bring concerns to a Master who is male.

"There are some issues that students would prefer to discuss with a woman and some with a man," she said.

Katherine A. Hamm '99, who also co-chairs the Lowell House committee, similarly acknowledged that not everyone might be happy with the decision to appoint a same-sex couple as Masters.

"I'm sure there are students in Lowell who are more conservative and the idea of a lesbian couple taking the Bosserts place might be a little shaky," Hamm said.

But Hamm said her expectations of Eck and Austin, like those of any potential new Master, would include making students a priority and carrying on House traditions.

Acknowledging such concerns, Eck said she too was committed to preserving the House's unique features.

"Our intention is to maintain that tradition [of weekly teas] in one form or another," Eck said. "We believe tradition is the way to create community."

The high profile position for a same-sex couple has also brought with it both some public praise and criticism.

In recognition of the University's choice, the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus has announced it will award Eck its Visibility Award during its annual Commencement Dinner tonight.

According to Robert W. Mack '71, the former caucus co-chair and presently a member of its board of directors, the award reflects the importance of Eck and Austin's future position on campus.

"There are closeted students now [at Harvard]...and those people need to know they're okay," Mack said. "That's something that's been said and demonstrated in many ways at Harvard, never so clearly to undergraduates as now by this appointment."

But John L. Adams '50 criticized the College and called for Eck and Austin's resignation in a letter to The Crimson, the only such letter the newspaper received.

"I am absolutely disgusted with Harvard for this appointment," Adams wrote in a letter dated April 15. "Doesn't Harvard stand for anything that is honorable, decent and God-fearing?"