AN IRRESPONSIBLE DEBATE

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

I feel that the actions of the Harvard-Radcliffe Graduate Student Council in the preparation of the discussion "Should Universities Be Investigated?" did irreparable harm to the cause of Harvard and other universities in the same position. By inviting Dirk Struik, the Council not only laid its flanks bare for outside attack, but also presented an intemperate extremist and a disappointing defender of academic freedom.

The presentation of Messrs. Robertson and Dorgan was particularly irresponsible and was obviously designed to reduce the debate to a farce. These men possessed more guts than perspective or acquaintance with the subject. And from their previous pronouncements this must have been evident to the directors of the program.

By presenting these three men the Council displayed lamentable insincerity and irresponsibility when faced with a crucial situation in which the conscientious exercise of sincerity and responsibility is imperative, especially on the part of a quasi-official spokesman for a segment of the Harvard student body. This can only result in increasing the panic of the defenders of universities and deepening the intransigence of their attackers.

The question of whether or not universities should be investigated is a serious one. It demands responsible discussion and appraisal. And it is only natural that those of us who are intimately associated with a university should resent what we believe to be unreasoned attacks upon it from those over-zealous patriots whom we fear do not properly construe either the functions of a university or the character of the evil they are seeking to uproot. When faced with this threat our strongest weapon is found among those academic principles which we feel constrained to defend--respect for the opinions of others. I am convinced that today's Communist hunters are not inherently vicious men seeking only to persecute harmless professors. I feel that, for the most part, our problem today is the result of the misdirection of the efforts of sincere men in the face of what most conscientious citizens regard as an unprincipled and powerful enemy--world Communism. In my view, the path of our action is clear: first, represent in a forthright manner the position of the University; second, seek to understand and appreciate the positions of those who are engaged in the investigatory activities. Then some attempt can be made to reach a mutual agreement on definitions of principles and, perhaps, an understanding in the present crisis. Three of the speakers presented last Wednesday, I regret to say, did neither. Roger A. Moore '53   President,   Harvard Young Republican Club