The BSA's invitation of Jeffries and of other speakers espousing a more Afrocentric viewpoint has strained the group's relations with other campus organizations, notably Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel.

Several of the speakers have been criticized by individuals and organizations for statements regarded as racist, anti Semitic, homophobic or sexist.

For instance, Jeffries has been called anti-Semitic for making statement's alleging that Jews financed the slave trade. In his February speech, Jeffries claimed that most of his controversial comments have been taken out of context of misquoted.

Hillel Coordinating Council Chair Shai A. Held '93, who organized the anti-Jeffries protest, says he is certain that "[BSA officials] are not inviting anyone for the sake of hurting people."

But Held says Hillel's relations with the BSA have suffered "a wound" because of the Jeffries speech, and other organization leaders have expressed similar sentiments.

New Role for Black Table

In the wake of last month's events, the Freshman Black Table has stepped in to bring about dialogue between the various minority groups.

Immediately following the Jeffries speech, the Table sponsored a discussion on Black-Jewish relations after other groups' plans for such a gathering failed to materialize.

More recently, the table has begun work on an upcoming forum on race relations, designed to bring together representatives of various campus minority organizations. The forum is still in the planning stages.