Ober Challenges Harvard's Policy

A widely-publicized debate over the meaning of "academic freedom" took place last year when a Harvard Law School alumnus wrote to President Conant explaining why he would not give to the Harvard Law School Fund.

The alumnus was Frank B. Ober, former chairman of the Maryland Commission on Subversive Activities, which proposed Maryland's anti-"subversive" legislation. Ober complained that two Harvard faculty members--Harlow Shapley, director of the University Observatory, and John Ciardi, Briggs-Copeland Assistant Professor of English Composition--were "giving aid and comfort to Communism."

Shapley had headed the World Peace Conference in New York and Ciardi had participated in Progressive Party opposition to the Maryland legislation.

Ober criticized his alma mater for tolerating such "extracurricular activities." His letter produced a short reply from Conant and a lengthy defense of the University's position from Grenville Clark '03, senior member of the Corporation.

Clark said that the University would not consider disciplining Shapley and Ciardi for their political actions. He said this would be an abrogation of Harvard's "basic tradition of freedom," and that the University could not be induced to depart from this tradition "by any fear that gifts will be withheld."