"This has a direct impact on Harvard students," said David B. Orr '01, one of the bill's sponsors.

"It's important for the [council] to take leadership on issues that are important to students," he added after the meeting.

At first, some were concerned that the bill might suggest that the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) was guilty of police brutality. A vigorous debate on the subject erupted over the council's open e-mail list minutes after the meeting's agenda was announced.

"How many violent HUPD attacks have there been recently?" wrote David A. Tortorella '00, who is not a council member.

Another student, Harpaul A. Kohli '01, responding by saying he had been mistreated by HUPD.

At the meeting, other student shared stories of alleged harassment of black students by HUPD officers. But in the end the council chose to amend the bill to refer to brutality and harassment "not limited to Harvard and its surroundings."

Some students said this made the bill seem even less relevant to Harvard students.