Han Campaign Hits University With Book Promotion Speech

Presidential candidate Sen. Gary Hart (D. Col.) made a campaign swing through Cambridge yesterday as he attempted to gather momentum for this weekend's Democratic State Issues Convention in Springfield where he hopes to show strength in a non-binding straw vote.

The senator's first stop was the Harvard Coop. where he autographed copies of his latest book. A New Democracy. In the evening. Hart gave an address sponsored by the Harvard Environmental Law Society.

As a fairly sparse crowd looked on. Hart seemed books and talked individually for an hour to approximately 20 people lined up in the Coop's street-level book store.

Despite the low turnout. Hart seemed at ease as he greeted many curious Cambridge residents and several long-time Harvard student supporters.

"Students will make a real difference," said Hart of the coming Presidential campaign. He added that he hoped to use students for "issue development."

Most of those who came to have Hart autograph his book classified themselves as Hart supporters, and many expressed disappointment at the low turnout.

"Gary Hart is a very thoughtful candidate," said George Petrulakis '85, who has been directing campus support for the Presidential candidate.

"He is the best candidate the Democrats have," said Dean Montez '84, a junior who called himself a Republican, but purchased Hart's new book.

Daniel deLallis, the Coop's book director, attributed the thin showing to confusion over the date of Hart's appearance at the Coop Originally. Hart was supposed to arrive just before spring break but a Senate filibuster forced him to reschedule his appearance.

Campaign Preview

At the Law School last night. Hart outlined the issues he hopes to address throughout the campaign Speaking before a crowded hall at the Law School. Hart emphasized what he called the Reagan Administration's poor record on environmental and nuclear issues.

The audience responded with applause as he outlined what he termed the mounting dangers of careless toxic waste disposal and an escalating arms race. He lambasted Reagan's treatment of the Environmental Protection Agency adding that he couldn't think of a time since Watergate when we have seen such flagrant violation of law by high officials."

Hart also attacked Reagan's proposed "Star Wars" anti-missile plan, calling it "a cruel hoax on the American people" that couldn't work and would cost "hundreds of billions of dollars."

The senator drew laughter when he responded to a question on the importance of the upcoming convention at Spring field. Denying the straw poll's importance to the campaign, he ended by joking that were he to win the poll, however, "it would take on massive significance."