Recognizing the dollar potential of its alumnae, Harvard has recently begun to make direct appeals to the pocketbooks of its female graduates and others concerned with women's issues at the College.

In an unprecedented letter to all Harvard and Radcliffe graduates last April, Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles highlighted the lack of alumnae involvement in Harvard's campaign. The letter questioned why more women were not involved in the University's Capital Campaign, and an enclosed report presented the results of task force meetings designed to find ways to improve alumnae connections to the College.

Many alumnae said they saw Knowles' letter as atacit appeal for donations, adding they had neverreceived letters like his before. Twelve alumnaesigned and delivered a letter to Knowles andPresident Neil L. Rudenstine, criticizing Knowlesfor not consulting Radcliffe President Linda S.Wilson before sending the report.

Under the 1977 agreement between Harvard andRadcliffe, Harvard cannot solicit donations fromalumnae who graduated before 1976.

The recent history of such appeals has causedsome to doubt the sincerity of the College inadvancing women's issues on campus.

"It's no coincidence that the dedication [ofthe Anne Bradstreet gate] coincided with Harvard'sCapital Campaign," alleges Mia Bagneris '98,co-president of the Radcliffe Union of Students."It was pretty consciously timed."

Knowles denies that the College hasspecifically tried to cater to its alumnae byproving that the College is intent on improvingthe lives of its female undergraduates.

"In deciding on programs and policy, we onlyhave one goal: what is best for the institution,"Knowles says. "One must hope that donors approveof what we decide and support that."

Still, the fact remains that the College'srecent interest in women at Harvard has coincidedwith the founding of endowments by women forwomen.

In addition to the Houghton and the TerrieFried Bloom endowments, Amy Smith Berylson '75endowed a fund in her name during the last term.While Berylson declined to comment on the size ofthe endowment, Avery says the gift will fund anannual lecture featuring women professionals in avariety of fields.

And just two weeks ago, five women with Harvardties, in partnership with the University,established a $15 million matching fund toencourage other women to give to Harvard.

All Style, No Substance

But not all alumnae are rushing to empty theirpocketbooks into Harvard's coffers. Instead, manygraduates and current undergraduates say it wouldbe premature for other women to cut off theirsupport for Radcliffe when Harvard has done littleto address the real needs of its female students.

Alumnae like Peggy S. Schmertzler '53, whochairs the Committee for the Equality of Women atHarvard, say the University must increase thenumber of its tenured female faculty before theycan feel assured that the College is addressingwomen's issues in some substantial way.

The group, composed of nearly 2,000 alumni,have established the Harvard Women FacultyFund--money that will be held in escrow untilHarvard has adopted effective measures forachieving a significant increase in the number oftenured women faculty.