Preliminary reaction to the BSA e-mail among student group leaders was mixed.

Ethan L. Gray ’05, president of Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, said he was also worried about the changes going on in University Hall.

“My issue is less with Susan Cooke personally than with how the administration has gone about replacing her,” said Gray, who said he supports the BSA initiative, but will read a draft of the proposed letter before signing.

“There is less acceptance of what extracurriculars add to Harvard life at the College in general,” he said. “I’m afraid by de-emphasizing the role extracurriculars play, we risk losing an important avenue of self expression and self growth.”

International Relations Council President David K. Kessler ’04, said he was not sure if he supported the BSA’s initiative.

Kessler said he thought it was very unlikely that College would reverse its decision regarding Cooke, and said that instead student groups should focus o the larger issue of the future of extracurricular activities.

“I think that the idea of sitting down and talking with the administration about the future of activities is a good idea, but I don’t know if this letter is a good idea,” he said.

Kessler said he had not expected to be consulted about the new appointment, although he was surprised when Cooke was not appointed to the new position.

He said that Kidd and the administration have been very supportive thus far, but that the restructuring that followed Lewis’ forced exit has left student groups uncertain of their place in the College.

As Cooke departs, she joins a growing number of University Hall veterans who have left in the past year, including Lewis, Illingworth and former Assistant Dean of the College Karen E. Avery ’87. Registrar of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Arlene Becella, a close colleague of Lewis, also left at the end of last year.

Kidd said that student concerns about the future of the extracurricular scene are unfounded.

“I don’t know why they are concerned,” Kidd said. “We feel confident that there will be no harm to student activities and that everybody will be well supported. That is why we reinvented the entire position: to provide a better level of support.”

—Staff writer David B. Rochelson contributed to the reporting of this article.

—Staff writer Nalina Sombuntham can be reached at sombunth@fas.harvard.edu.