Cox Expected Speech to Quiet Teach-In Crowd

Archibald Cox '34, Williston Professor of Law, yesterday told a panel of the Committee on Rights and Responsibilities (CRR) that "self-deception" had caused him to think that he could quiet the crowd at the March 26 "Counter Teach-In" in Sanders Theatre by addressing them.

Cox also said that although he began his speech that night by saying "I am not here to warn you," his reference at the end of the speech to "the disciplinary action that will surely follow" was "a pretty clear indication" to the crowd that the Administration would punish disrupters of the "Counter Teach-In."

Cox told the panel that he had asked members of Students for a Just Peace (SJP) to cancel the "Counter Teach-In" after it began because of the disturbance outside-not inside-Sanders.

But he added that the noise inside was sufficient to prevent speakers' being heard.

After hearing Cox-who came at the invitation of Sanford Kreisberg, a fourth-year GSAS student who is acting as defense counsel in several "Counter Teach-In" cases-the CRR panel yesterday heard one case and part of another relating to the "Counter Teach-In."

The hearing of Peter H. Levy '71, the last of 21 students to face CRR panels for allegedly helping to disrupt the "Counter Teach-In," will continue at 3 p.m. Friday. He was charged both by the Administration and by SJP co-chairman Arthur N. Waldron '71.

Two SJP members testified yesterday against Coleman P. Harrison '74, who they said clapped and chanted during the speeches of Cox and Dan Teodoru.

Harrison told the CRR panel that he

had mistaken Cox for I. Milton Sacks, professor of Government at Brandeis and a scheduled speaker at the "Counter Teach-In." He said that his clapping and chanting during parts of Cox's and Teodoru's speeches were means of demonstrating his opposition to people he considered to be "war criminals."

When he later learned what Cox had said, Harrison told the panel, he judged the speech to be "laudable."

Harrison will appear in Roxbury District Court on May 24 on charges of assault and armed robbery stemming from a protest last Friday in Boston against Medicaid cutbacks. He is the roommate of Charles H Perkins '74, who faced a CRR panel last Friday on charges of disruption brought by the same SJP member who brought charges against Harrison: Stephen P. Rosen '74, coordinator of marshals at the "Counter Teach-In."

Three people will stand trial in East Cambridge District Court at 9:30 a.m. Friday on changes of trespass and disturbing a public assembly which the Administration brought against them after the "Counter Teach-In."

The Administration also filed charges with the CRR against the three: John T. Berlow '71, James T. Kilbreth '69, and John Pennington '67-4.

The maximum penalty for trespass is 30 days in jail and a $100 fine; for disturbing a public assembly it is 30 days or $50.