What are the details of Radcliffe's future? Guessing is a little like looking into a crystal ball. Once Radcliffe ceded responsibility for undergraduates completely to Harvard, it must now concentrate on expanding its position as being the foremost center for women's research and study in the nation. The donations that Radcliffe has received in the wake of its announcement have shown that some alumnae support Radcliffe's new mission. Such financial backing may be a positive sign that the Radcliffe Institute will be able to play a dominant role in women's studies in the future.

We expect that the Institute's prestige will only grow as its mission, unhindered by the illusion that it is still a college, becomes clear and well-defined. Wilson's successor faces the formidable task of molding the Institute's identity and crafting its success. How this will be accomplished is still unclear, but it is our hope that the promise of this beginning is not squandered. Here is a unique opportunity for Radcliffe to change without compromising its integrity or importance as an institution but rather to increase both.

To claim that the redefinition of Radcliffe means that Radcliffe's service to undergraduates is over is false. Radcliffe, like the other affiliated institutes on campus--but especially because of its legacy as a college--must continue to support its undergraduate programs without discriminating on the basis of gender. The Institute should make special efforts to include undergraduates interested in the field of women's studies and advancement.

Meanwhile, Harvard has the added responsibility to acknowledge the concerns of the women on campus who feel that Harvard does not do enough to ensure the safety and equality of its female students. The College must step up to the plate on these issues, addressing student concerns such as rape, harassment, classroom inequality and the dearth of tenured women faculty with tangible, public measures. For those undergraduates who found a home at Radcliffe, Harvard will need to fill the void.

The future is bright for the Radcliffe Institute, but it is still hazy for student groups and concerned women on campus. We hope that in the coming year, Harvard and Radcliffe, together in a new partnership, will allay our fears and realize our dreams.