Student Kept From Protesting In Union

The reprimanding of a first-year student last week who sang a political song in the Union has brought to light a dining hall policy that may "stifle political debate," the student said yesterday.

Paul N. Gailiunas '92 said he was told on Wednesday he could not return to the dining hall to perform after he sang an anti-ROTC song. Gailiunas, who had previously been on good terms with dining hall officials, arranged permission to sing by promising he would not raise political issues, he said.

Contacted yesterday, Union Manager Katherine D'Andria said that Gailiunas' lying most likely led to the action, but she said that College Dining Services does have the right to censor public announcements that it considers "distasteful."

Students "have to get permission from this office" to make announcements in the dining hall, she said. Dining Services determines whether announcements are tasteful or not.

D'Andria would not comment whether political messages are considered distasteful.

"It makes a great deal of difference what he's singing about," she said. For example, if Gailiunas' song advertised a rally instead of attacking a group, Dining Services would approve it, she said.

Gailiunas admitted that he misled dining hall officials but said he was still concerned about the dining hall's action.

"If their intention is to stifle political debate, that would be bad," he said, noting the Union's importance as a center of communication.

"The real issue that's important is that thedining hall people should theoretically let us saywhat we want," he said.

Official Harvard regulations--which addresswritten public announcements but not singing--donot, however, consider content, said Dean ofStudents Archie C. Epps III.

"We don't regulate the substance of what peopledistribute," said Epps, whose office enforcesthose regulations.

Epps referred questions about Union policy toAssistant Dean of First-Year Students W.C. BurrissYoung '55. Young could not be reached for commentyesterday