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A group of about 30 Law School students, representing both liberal and conservative groups, yesterday discussed how to create a more hospitable climate for conservatives to speak at Harvard.
Prompted by Nicaraguan Contra Leader Adolfo Calero's aborted speech last week, the discussion which was held in Austin Hall centered on how to maintain an environment of free speech for both conservatives and protesters.
The Harvard Law School Republi- cans invited Calero to speak on Friday, but theLaw School administration halted his speech beforeit began, after a Tufts senior rushed to the stagein an attempt to attack the former contra leader.
"We want an atmosphere in which a controversialand conservative speaker can come to thisinstitution and not fear for their physicalstate," said John Sharman, a member of the HarvardLaw School Republicans, which sponsored Calero'sappearance.
Vice President of the HLSR Saied Kashani '86said many conservative speakers have refused tospeak at the University because "Harvard hascreated an environment that condones attackingconservative speakers." Kashani said that manyothers, such as Jeane Kirkpatrick, Alexander Haig,and Henry Kissinger, have refused to speak againat Harvard.
But other students said that Harvard should notcondone the actions of some speakers, includingCalero, by allowing them to appear here.
Wilson C. Mcleod, a third year law student,said, "People like Calero should not be allowed tospeak at Harvard Law School." He added that theContra leader did not come here for open debate,but to "win support for murderers."
Participants at yesterday's discussion, whichoften became heated, also discussed the decisionof the HLSR Club to restrict entry to the speech.The Club sold 300 tickets to its own members andmembers of conservative student groups at otherlocal schools, leaving only 50 available tickets.
John Sharman, a member of the Harvard LawSchool Republicans, conceded that the ticketdistribution was "flawed.
One woman who could not obtain a ticket to thespeech said through tears, "I just wanted to askCalero a couple of questions."
Dean of Students Sarah E. Wald said at thediscussion yesterday that Dean of the Law SchoolJames E. Vorenberg '49 is forming a studentfacultycommittee to explore guidelines for studentprotest and cancelling speeches
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