"We must organize a key group of interested members," he said.

Sommer said one immediate goal is to gather an informal group of professors to discuss the issue.

"We should try to do a kind of in-house structure and then go public once it has some sort of track record," she said. "Harvard likes things that work. It is afraid of things it hasn't seen yet."

But the push for an ethnic studies concentration is not new to Harvard.

Three years ago, students met with administrators with a plan of study for an ethnic studies concentration, which the administrators ultimately rejected. Lee said many students left the meeting feeling frustrated.

Since the ethnic studies debate was reopened in February, students have met with George J. Sanchez '81--president of the American Studies Association, a national organization dedicated to developing American studies courses--to discuss potential course additions.

The campaign also raised awareness for its cause at the annual Cultural Rhythms festival this year by wearing green armbands and circulating a petition that was signed by host Matt Damon.

But Lee said he worries that the political nature of ethnic studies may act as a barrier to their efforts, as it has in the past.