'No Questions' Policy Blocks Discussion of Wilson's Theories

A "no-questions" policy at a zoology forum yesterday frustrated efforts of the Harvard chapter of the Committee Against Racism (CAR) to challenge the theories of Edward O. Wilson, professor of Zoology and author of "Sociobiology."

About 20 CAR members attended a late afternoon lecture Wilson delivered to the Friends of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, hoping to question Wilson about his theories on human genetics. However, an official of the zoology group prevented questioning by announcing that forum policy limits attendance at a special question and answer session to members of the Friends of the Museum.

Nancy Scollard, a student at the Divinity School and CAR member, said yesterday after the Geological Lecture Hall lecture that the group should have made an exception to its rule "in this important and controversial case."

Wilson said last night he "would be glad to talk to anyone from the committee at any time."

Benedictine Monk

He said there was "absolutely no racism" in his book. "Hunting for a racist in the Harvard faculty is like looking for an atheist in a Benedictine monastery," Wilson said.

"Sociobiology" attempts to explain the social behavior of a variety of animal forms. The last two chapters which account for human behavior through the Darwinian theory of biological determinism, have been attacked as "racist and dangerous" by CAR.