Indecent Exposure

To the Editors of The Crimson:

In recent weeks, your newspaper has arried stories about the controversy surrounding the denial of funding to the exposure, a publication written by Boston University students and others, which has been denied University funding until it agrees to conform with University policy. I would like to offer a brief explanation of the University's policy with regard to publications:

Boston University is fully committed to the concept of a free and unfettered press. If, however, a publication is to be financed by University funds, the University has a responsibility to ensure that it be free of libelous material that would be harmful to others and could lead to damaging litigation. For this reason, it has been University policy since 1969, during the administration of President Arland Christ-Janer, that the University will not be responsible for student publications which create such a potential; these publications must be independent. The Daily Free Press, a publication of Boston University students, is independent--a separately incorporated entity.

The exposure has sought to become a publication of a registered student organization of Boston University and has sought University funding. Such student publications are required to have a faculty or staff advisor. One of the responsibilities of the advisor is to ensure that no material which the advisor believes is libelous will be published. The exposure has refused to meet this requirement for University funding.

The issue is not then whether the exposure shall be published but whether it shall be subsidized by Boston University. The exposure cannot choose to be independent of the University and at the same time receive a subsidy from it. As an independent publication, it will, like the Daily Free Press, have the ability to print whatever it likes and to be distributed on campus. Boston University's dedication to a free press ensures this. Johan A. Madson   Dean of Student Life