Radcliffe "multiplies opportunities" through its unique "dual citizenship" with "value-added" programs that work as an "opportunity, not an obligation," Wilson is fond of saying.

Read one way, Radcliffe is an essential "value-added" element of the female undergraduate experience. But interpreted differently, Radcliffe is merely "value-added" and could be seen as somewhat expendable to students.

With the chance to double its endowment under Harvard's umbrella, it is easy for Radcliffe to emphasize the latter is now true.

Since the announcement, Wilson and others have said that the upcoming merger marks a final victory for a Radcliffe College originally founded to provide higher education for women barred from Harvard.

"We win again," said an enthusiastic Radcliffe Vice President for College RelationsBonnie R. Clendenning after the April 20 pressconference announcing the merger plan. "For thevast majority of women, they've always wanted tobe part of Harvard, not alongside it."

And at a meeting explaining the merger toundergraduates last Thursday Wilson said shethinks Harvard is prepared to assume fullresponsibility for female students.

"Taking on such a responsibility and executingit is a process, not an event," she said. "I amvery convinced that in their hearts they want todo this."

And she added that "many women atHarvard...feel that [equality] has already beenachieved."

But students at the meeting said theirexperiences dealing with Harvard administratorshave been very different.

"We've found them extremely unresponsive," saidRosslyn Wuchinich '99. "They don't reallyunderstand the experience of women at thisschool."

Rabia S. Belt '01 said she was more "afraid" ofthe merger upon coming out of the meeting.

"I was worried that Radcliffe was going to goaway and leave us in the arms of Harvard," Beltsaid. "Now I know that."

According to another student, Harvard is farfrom ready to take on women's concerns.

"I think it's a huge responsibility," said MegRenik '02. "Harvard is an ancient institution thathas been male-dominated for so long."

At the meeting, students asked Wilson to assurethem that the new Radcliffe Institute for AdvancedStudy would publicly back their most importantgoals--a women's center, a Women's StudiesDepartment, greater support for rape survivors andgender parity among tenured Faculty.

Belt challenged Wilson to promise that theInstitute would make a public statement aboutsexual violence at Harvard.