Watson Orders AAAAS To Establish One Price For Baldwin's Lecture

The Association of African and Afro-American Students will not be allowed to use Sanders Theatre for James Baldwin's scheduled Jan. 18 speech unless they drop plans for an allegedly discriminatory sliding admission scale, Dean Watson said yesterday. O. Martin Anochie, president of the AAAAS indicated last night that his group would comply with the University's desires, but labeled Harvard's action as "ridiculous."

The proposed admission prices would have admitted members of civil rights organizations and residents of Dorchester and Roxbury for 50 cents, the members of the AAAAS free. Others would have had to pay $1.

Watson did not object to admitting Association members free, but said, "Under no circumstances could we allow a group to discriminate on the basis of residence in a particular city, or the type of clothes worn, or race, religion or creed."

"Incredible"

Anochie called the University's position "just incredible." "I can't see how letting in people who can't afford to pay a high admission price can be called racially discriminatory," he said.

"But, if the University considers it racially discriminatory to let in civil rights workers and people from depressed areas in Boston, we would avoid discriminating against anybody by charging a flat admission fee for everyone," Anochie said, adding, "This is just ridiculous."

Earlier, Dean Watson said he had told an officer of the AAAAS that the University viewed price differentials based on club membership as justifiable but could not accept those proposed by the club. "I will not issue a permit until this affair has been cleared up," he said.

As of last night, no officer of the club had contacted Watson, but Anochie indicated he would probably inform the Dean of the Association's reluctant change in plans today or Monday. The Association's request to use Sanders Theatre was the first time it had taken advantage of its newly won University recognition.