'Compromise' At Rindge Tech

The fight is still brewing over the Cambridge School Committee's refusal to permit a Young Democrat-sponsored speech by Stokely Carmichael at Rindge Technical High School. The controversy has prompted the Committee to discuss a formal policy for future Harvard speakers at the school. The new policy calls on Harvard to make some important concessions on its responsibility in the presentation of speakers. In exchange, the School Committee offers nothing.

The policy under discussion requires that Harvard organizations attempt to find Harvard facilities for their speakers. If they cannot, Dean Watson himself must ask the School Committee for the use of Rindge. Yet under this "compromise," the School Committee reserves the right to reject a speaker for the same reasons it rejected Carmichael before the agreement.

Committeemen Disagree

If Watson now requested Rindge for Carmichael to speak, the Committee could still turn him down just as it turned down the Young Democrats two weeks ago.

Members of the School Committee disagree themselves about retaining the rejection power. Committeeman Francis H. Duehay moved on Tuesday to strike the words in the agreement which give this power to the Committee. Duehay appears to be supported by the two other committeemen who originally voted with him to accept Carmichael.

The intent of the compromise, as everyone realizes, is to relieve the School Committee of the brunt of public criticism when unpopular speakers use Rindge. Under the compromise the Committee members could say they were fulfilling a Harvard dean's personal request for Rindge, rather than the request of a mere student organization. Though it won't be so, it will seem to the public that Harvard, and not the School Committee, is presenting a particular speaker.

Won't Be a Censor

Watson has tentatively agreed to this plan, clearly to prevent further controversies similar to the one over Carmichael. He has said he would even warn the Committee if he thought a certain speaker warranted extra police at Rindge. But he has also said he will not be made a "censor" of who speaks at the school--something he would become if the current plan went through. The Committee under the current proposal could still reject anyone Watson proposed. To avoid another Carmichael controversy, Watson would have to judge how acceptable each prospective speaker would be to the Committee.

Watson has shown good faith and a willingness to resolve a tricky problem by personally contributing his time and prestige. The Committee has offered absolutely nothing in exchange as its share of this "compromise." It cannot retain the right to reject any speaker and still expect Harvard to make a major concession of its own. That's not a compromise.