Women's groups both gained ground this year and lost their largest administrative supporter--Radcliffe College.

With the college's status in question since April 1998, the Radcliffe Union of Students (RUS) held a panel on Oct. 25, where group leaders protested that neither Harvard nor Radcliffe did enough to support women. The Coalition Against Sexual Violence (CASV) demanded better services for women, and the Seneca was formed to provide women social opportunities and networking equal to those of men.

In April, Radcliffe merged with Harvard and relinquished all responsibility for undergraduates. The move left RUS and groups such as Radcliffe Rugby, the Association of Black Radcliffe Women (ABRW) and Women in Science at Harvard and Radcliffe uncertain about their funding--and even their names.

Debutantes

The funding increases went in part to support the more than 20 groups students founded this year. At least eight were new publications.

Icon, an on-line magazine of cultural criticism, held its introductory meeting Sept. 24 and has now published two issues, to be found at www.iconmagazine.com.

On Oct. 5 the Harvard Current held an introductory meeting and began a process that may yet challenge campus news providers like The Crimson and the Independent. This bimonthly magazine aims to deliver original student reporting and analysis of current events, both local and worldwide.

Satire V, a humor magazine founded by first-years, printed its first issue Nov. 22. The Harvard Book Review, in which students review newly published works, debuted Dec. 6.

Zalacain, a magazine featuring student works on the literature, culture and history of the Hispanic world and Latin America, was inaugurated in March.

Second semester, Harvard Student Agencies released the first edition of a new publication, The Unofficial Guide to Life After Harvard.

Yet more new campus publications surfaced: Increase, a literary magazine that will feature the work of Mather House students, and Gamut, an undergraduate poetry magazine.

With all of the new publications dropped at student doors, they could drop by out of the way condom dispensers on those less literary moments.

AIDS Education and Outreach took the important and unprecedented step of installing free condom dispensers in all Houses.

Coordination and Controversy

This year's ethnic, cultural and religious groups have also been challenged to consider their role.