Peninsula Theft Draws Criticism

A Quincy House Resident allegedly took copies of the conservative magazine Peninsula from student doors and house distribution stands this month, a move that has drawn the ire of the magazine's staff and house officials.

The Civil Liberties Union of Harvard is also investigating the Sept. 17 incident, and Stephen L. Black, Quincy House's acting senior tutor, condemned the theft in this week's house newsletter.

Peninsula editors, who said that their controversial publication has been stolen before, said they are pushing to have the offending student disciplined by the College.

"This is a really grave matter," said Charles L. Shaw '92, a member of Peninsula's governing council. "I hope that [Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III] deals with it seriously, and I hope that the student will be reprimanded."

Peninsula editors would not release the name of the student that they suspected of taking the magazines, and Epps could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Black said that the theft of the magazine abridged its editors' right to free expression.

"At Quincy House, we feel that student publications of any persuasion have the right to be distributed regardless of its philosophy, and students should honor that right," he said in an interview. "If they don't like them,don't read them."

Peninsula council member Sean P.McLaughlin '91 said that a group of studentsdisposed of copies of the magazine last May.

And Peninsula council member Chris G.Vergonis '92 said that the only way the Collegecould prevent wholesale theft of magazines in thefuture was to punish the student involved withthis month's incident.

"We're not trying to be vindictive of this onestudent. We just want the problem to stop,Vergonis said