Coalition members argued that a student who rapes another student should be expelled--forced to completely sever ties with the University. But in recent decades the Administrative Board has only recommended expulsion in cases of admissions fraud.

The alternative, dismissal, means separation from the College, usually for more than five years, with the option of petition for readmission--a move that requires the vote of the full Faculty. On March9, the Faculty voted to dismiss D. Drew Douglas,Class of 2000, an undergraduate who pled guilty toindecent assault and battery last September.

But some SASH advisers and administrators saythe coalition's demands can be impractical. Forexample, while the coalition says a full-timeadvocate is necessary because "this crucialsupport cannot be found with [Avery] or the seniortutors," Lewis says the College must provide bothparties involved in charges of sexual assault thesame amount of support.

"Victims of sexual assault do need support...wetake these needs seriously," Lewis wrote in ane-mail message.

"Of course we will react quickly to protect thesafety of an individual or of the community whenwe have reason to do so, but prior to anyjudgement or finding or other form of assessment,I am not clear why one student should get anadvocate of a kind that the other student wouldnot get," added Lewis, who attended both meetingswith coalition members.

Regardless of the feasibility of change,coalition members say that by issuing theirdemands, they have raised eyebrows, voices andquestions across campus.

"Students have become much more aware of rapeas an issue on Harvard's campus--not somethingthat's just such an isolated incident," Baldwinsays. "Anytime you have something that encourageshonest, real dialogue on campus, it's a positivething.