But she said that she and ABHW had been concerned that a push for resignations would bring undeserved negative publicity to the University.

A statement on diversity by James Houghton and Daniel, she said, would “actually shed positive light on Harvard.”

“We’re not trying to publicly embarrass these board members,” Levy said. “We’re trying to heighten consciousness on campus about these issues.”

Students debated stances on Augusta and its relationship with Harvard over the Black Men’s Forum (BMF) and ABHW e-mail lists this week.

Levy sent an e-mail to the groups on Feb. 12 informing members that she would be meeting with NCWO leaders and asking for their feedback on the petition. She said she determined that “the general consensus was against demanding resignation.”

BMF President Alonzo Sherman ’03 said the group has no official position on Augusta and has no plans to discuss joining the ABHW petition.

RUS, however, will meet with ABHW during the next week and will cosponsor the petition, Watson said.

Although RUS has not discussed whether the Corporation members should resign from Augusta or from Harvard, as NCWO suggests, Watson said she did think the membership “makes Harvard look bad, because they’re not practicing what they preach.”

Latinas Unidas president Judith Vasquez ’03 said her group has not yet discussed the question either, although Levy said ABHW hopes to work with Latinas Unidas on the petition as well.

Levy said the petition will be circulated to undergraduate and graduate students and should be presented to the Corporation members by the end of March.

—Staff writer Elisabeth S. Theodore can be reached at theodore@fas.harvard.edu.