"I think we know what to do with money, seeing as how we've been dealing with money for quite some time," Clancy says. "I'm exhausted by their constant emphasis on them giving us money, given that we all give them $30,000 a year."

Student groups that have received funding from RUS say they too would be more comfortable knowing students have had a hand in their grant.

"It's sometimes easier for students to know what the contribution of an organization is to the campus," says Elizabeth D. Chao '00, president of Women in Science at Harvard and Radcliffe (WISHR).

Chao says the merger will hit WISHR's finances particularly hard because the group has traditionally received a $600 grant from Radcliffe College, in addition to its RUS funds.

The group, which sponsors speakers and conferences, will apply to the Trust to make up these funds too. Yet Chao worries that WISHR might need to tailor its programming to fit the goals of the grant committee.

"We usually get money from Radcliffe automatically, without having to apply," Chao says. "That was very nice. We always knew we had funding to support our activities. We always had flexibility because Radcliffe never asked how we spent that money."

Clancy and Chao say they will be watching Harvard administrators carefully to see if they are ready to assume responsibility for women's special needs.

That oft-repeated skepticism already has administrators shrugging that they are doing the best they can.