Counter apologized Wednesday for any misunderstanding caused by his letter.

"I am deeply sorry for any discomfort I may have caused any students in Hillel or otherwise in my efforts to raise important issues which are brought to our office regarding problems in race relations," he said in an interview yesterday.

While several Jewish students have criticized Counter and his letter, other minority leaders have taken varying stands on the controversy.

Zaheer R. Ali '94, vice president of the Black Students Association (BSA), says he agrees with much of Counter's letter.

"I think to a large part The Crimson's coverage [of minority issues] has been somewhat irresponsible," he says. Ali stressed that he is not speaking as a representative of the BSA.

"I agree with what he wrote, all of it," Ali says. "That does not mean I agree with all the interpretations people have given to the letter."

Raza President Veronica Rosales '94 says the letter doesn't justify a request for Counter's resignation, but acknowledges that he "did make some statement I don't think he should have made."

"If it was just to start dialogue it was a good letter," she says. "I don't really think it has weakened his position as the director of the Foundation.

Asian American Association Co-President Mark H. Kim '94 says the Foundation's record isn't perfect, that hasn't done "incredible amounts" for Asian students. Kim adds, "Overall, the Harvard Foundation does a fairly good job."

Kim says he agreed with much of Counter's criticism of The Crimson's coverage of race relations, but he says that Counter "didn't write [the letter] in the best manner possible."

"It seems that a number of things could be taken offensively by the Jewish community," says Kim. If the letter was intended to criticize The Crimson, Kim many points "not topical to what he's trying to say."