Freedom of Expression Needs Protection

To the Editors of The Crimson:

This is an open letter from the Civil Liberties Union of Harvard (CLUH) to all of the members of the Harvard community regarding the future of free speech at the University. Most Harvard students and faculty probably assume that their right to free expression is a secure one here; they are very much mistaken.

Although the Free Speech Guidelines adopted by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences on February 13 and May 15, 1990, state that the "free interchange of idea is vital" for the University community, they fail to guarantee Harvard students and faculty the right to expression.

Instead, the Guidelines state that "It is expected that when there is a need to weigh the right of freedom of expression against other rights, the balance will be struck after a careful review of all relevant facts..."

In addition, the Guidelines state that "some form of student-faculty advisory committee on free speech should be established." This committee would "discuss ambiguities which may arise in applying these Guidelines in the future and to introduce these values to new generations of the University Community." However, no such committee has been established to date.

As a result, matters regarding students' right to free speech will continue to be decided solely by the Administrative Board. This is entirely inappropriate. Although the University defended the right of Bridget Kerrigan '91 to display a confederate flag from her Kirkland House window, there is no assurance that in the future students will be afforded the same protection.

The Civil Liberties Union of Harvard therefore calls upon Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles and the Faculty Council to establish a student-faculty advisory committee on free speech.

We also ask them to issue a more definitive guarantee of the right to free expression on campus.

CLUH has been pleased by the response of Harvard to matters of free speech in the past year, and would like to see the University's performance continue and improve this year and in the future. Joshua Burstein, Director   The Executive Board,   Civil Liberties Union of Harvard