Radical Union Talks to Lawyers About Files Statute

The Harvard Radical Union has made contact with attorneys regarding possible legal action if the University fails to comply with a law giving students access to their school files, a member of the union said yesterday.

David C. Stark, a second-year graduate student in Sociology, said yesterday the union has contacted lawyers who were "excited" by the political aspects of the issue. "They could make a political statement about the kind of education Harvard offers," he said.

Members of the union refused to name the lawyers they have contacted. Joel Kreiger, a union member and second-year graduate student, said the union has not yet retained counsel but that negotiations are now taking place. "We should know by midweek whether or not we can go through with this," he said.

The University guidelines for compliance with the student files law call for complete departmental review of files before the law takes effect.

Radcliffe and the Faculty have sponsored resolutions urging Congress to delay implementation of the law.

Daniel Steiner '54, general counsel to the University, said yesterday the University plans to comply with the law. "That doesn't mean we will not try to get an extension of the compliance date and work for what we feel are necessary changes," he said.

The radical union has dismissed the University's position on the law as "paternalistic." "This lack of candor is detrimental to students and to the kind of education Harvard should be offering," Larry F. Vaughan, a union member, said yesterday.