Last spring, Chang became involved in the protests against the choice of then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin L. Powell as Commencement speaker, because Powell had fought lifting the ban on gays in the military. When Chen argued that he didn't think a protest at the ceremony was appropriate, Chang debated the issue with him until 6 on commencement morning. "I think a lot of people would've been `Why don't you understand civilrights?'" Chen says. "I think his patience in talking about these things helped make me [understand] why the [protest] was so essential to him."

Coming out of the closet also catalyzed Chang's coming to terms with his identity as an Asian-American. "I became more self-conscious [about looks] when I came out. I started dating people I was serious about. I began to worry, `I wonder if he thinks my nose is too flat,''' Chang says. "I began thinking about what I thought was attractive and not attractive. When I thought about what I was looking for in a date, I realized that I appreciated white me more. I was brought up to appreciate white culture--The more white you appear, the more beautiful you are. It felt good when some people told me that I was an `exceptional' Asian. `You're different, you're a good-looking Asian.' The personal compliment overshadowed the negative implications.

"Then, I realized I was a self-hating minority. I couldn't find myself attractive if I [held these standards of beauty.] It was self-destructive. Once I realized that, my confidence went up. I think I started trying to date more minorities. There was no way I could ignore my ethnicity so I better be comfortable with it. Comfortable with myself so others can be comfortable with me."

Now Chang is happy with himself. "I'm Asian and I'm beautiful!" he say. "Even if you try to be as white-washed as you want to be, you're still Asian. No point in going to hide. you have to embrace your culture."

Chang began taking Chinese language classes, and he plans to live and study in Taiwan at some point in the future.

"I didn't realize how central language was in informing identification. Growing up I didn't want to speak Chinese. I believed I should have been excelling despite my race. [I had] no ties to people of my own ethnicity. I should be an American. I think by the time I came here I realized that there's a great deal of communicating lost between me and my grandparents."

Chinese classes are just a small sliver of Chang's daunting and diverse academic courseload that will total 40 credits in nine semesters. (Only 32 credits are needed for graduation). Though he will march in today's Commencement ceremony, he will remain in Cambridge for summer school and graduate in January with a dual degree in two very different disciplines, VES and governemnt.

It seems as if it were ages ago now, but Chang began Harvard in 1989 in the sciences, enrolling in Math 21a and 21b and Physics 11a because "I thought that was where respect came from." But in a fitting decision to change, he decided to concentrate in governement because he thought it was weakest. "I Thought the whole point of a liberal arts education was to be well rounded."

The moral reasoinng course "Autonomy and Alienation " lured him to government. " I didn't expect to find it very interesting at all. Political theory is very interesting. On a mundane level, it's listening to a person on how to construct a good society, what values they want to promote, what does this mean about human nature. I never thought I'd be able to relate. But it spoke to me."

Then, in his junior year, when he returned from his leave of absence, Chang stayed in government but also wanted to pursue something closer to his true interests. He found it in VES. "When I was young and was asked what are you going to be when you grow up, I always said architect. My forte was the visual arts-- drawing, painting--and math and science, which meant architecture. I felt architecture and urban planning to be more of my calling. I felt more of natural knack for it. It was more in line with what wanted to do [in real life]".

Chang admits that the addition of VES to his studies had "less to do with vision and more to do with circumstances. I had completed nearly all my requirements when I made the decision. I can work this out by taking a heavier courseload."

In addition to five-class semesters, Chang manages to keep his figure skater's physique by remaining an active member of CityStep, mainly Jazz, Harvard-Redcliff Ballet, and performing in the jimmy Fund charity event, "An Evening with Champions."

""I'm busy. I don't like wasting my time." I don't like think I'd have the stamina to keep up here if I didn't have a skating background."

Figure skating might return for a third act in Chang's life, though his future plans are hazy at best. Ask him what he is doing to do and a list of options files out: architecture, urban planning, design, film, advertising, and "by default, law school." He plans to take the LAST in October, Just in case.

There is always the ice rink, where he can either return to ameteure competition or skate professionally in shows promoted by Dorthy Hammill International. "I'm toying with the idea of competing again. But, I'm not sure I'd learn that much more if I stuck with it. I might go into skating to create a financial cushion for the future."

Has he been happy with his choices? "I think so. I look at what I came with and how I'm leaving. I feel academically there was a fundamental change--[higher] level of confidence, dealing with material I'm not comfortable with. I'm coming out of this with a good handle on a bunch of thing..."

Chen notices the change, too. "I think he's gotten a lot more confident, self-sufficient, and independent."

"[At Harvard], I found other ways of dealing with stress, of dealing with my identity instead of just skating. Now I'm reluctant to say I'm a skater. It used to be always, `Hi, I'm Alex Chang: I'm a skater.'"

Now it's Alex Chang: Chinese-American architect, filmmaker, graphic designer, teacher, political theorist, ice skater.