Dunlop Refuses to Talk To Four SDS Members With a Tape Recorder

Dean Dunlop yesterday refused to talk with four members of SDS who had arranged an appointment with him, because one of them wanted to tape record the discussion.

The four students wanted to discuss with Dunlop the "Counter Teach-In" disruption and Harvard's relationship to the Indochina War. A Harvard policeman admitted them to University Hall at 3:30 p.m. -the time of their scheduled appointment. All doors to University Hall had been locked in anticipation of an SDS rally which began at 3:15 outside the building. Four University policemen were guarding the doors.

The students were told to go upstairs to the Faculty Room, where Deans Dunlop and May met them in a few minutes. After introductions, Dunlop asked Carroll S. Dorgan '71-who was holding the tape recorder- "Is that an instrument that's on?"

"It's an instrument that's on, yes," Dorgan replied.

"I do not hold conferences in my office with tape recorders," Dunlop said. Dorgan retorted that "this isn't your office,"

"If you want to use a tape recorder," Dunlop then said, "I will not continue this discussion."

"We have a better suggestion," Dorgan said. "We can go outside and not use the tape recorder." About 30 people were waiting outside University Hall.

"Turn the tape recorder off," Dunlop said. A few moments later he turned around and walked toward his office.

"Will you come outside?" Dorgan then asked.

"No," Dunlop said.

"Why not?"

"I have offered to see you in my office," Dunlop said. "I am here to see you."

Another of the students-Marcia R. Livingston '71-then said, "We've invited you to several meetings."

"I don't want to come to your outside meetings," Dunlop replied.

"Don't people have the right to hear besides us?" Livingston asked. "How will they know what to think?"

At this point Dunlop, standing in the doorway which divides the Faculty Room from his office, stepped back and shut the door. May, still in the Faculty Room, began to walk downstairs, and the students followed him.

May also refused to speak with the students, saying, "You don't even have an appointment with me today. I've got a lot of things to do."

'Scared to Talk'

The four students then rejoined the rally outside and told the crowd what had happened. The group briefly chanted "Dean Dunlop, scared to talk, you should not be free to walk," then walked to the Center for International Affairs (CFIA) in order to see Samuel P. Huntington, Thomson Professor of Government. The doors to the CFIA were locked just as they arrived.

A University news release issued yesterday afternoon said that because the SDS members refused to turn off their tape recorder. Dunlop "terminated the interview, inviting the students to return when and if they were prepared to hold a conversation under normal circumstances."

The tape recording of Dunlop's exchange with the students does not include such an invitation.