"In the present state of FAS, fiscally speaking, it would be very hard to muster any department," says Garber, who is also the assistant dean of the Faculty for affirmative action.

Associate Professor of Music Graeme M. Boone, who teaches courses on ethnomusicology, questions the very concept of ethnic studies.

"The idea of ethnic studies is already something of ghettoization, isn't it?" Boone asks.

Because ethnicity is part of every discipline--shaping music, art and literature--perhaps it should be better integrated into the curricula of many departments, rather than segregated into one, Boone says.

With so many doubts and disagreements about ethnic studies, the direction Harvard will take is unclear. Waters suggests integrating ethnic studies into every course here. Alexiou suggests a focus on comparative studies--like the course she teaches on Greek and Black women's voices in literature.

Whatever the University does about ethnic studies, Waters says, it needs to donate sufficient resources to the program if that program is to succeed.

One danger with ethnic studies, Waters says, is "starting an ethnic studies program without a very strong commitment to it."