FREE SPEECH and unfettered discourse are values supposedly central to this community. These values are enshrined in the Resolution on Rights and Responsibilities and in the frequent public statements of members of this community regardless of their political points of view. Truth and knowledge can only be pursued in an atmosphere where the unrestricted exchange of views is accepted without qualification.

Regina Kyle, assistant professor of English, is apparently unaware of the importance of these values. President Bok appeared last week at a public meeting to discuss "Teaching in the University." A large contingent from the Graduate Student and Teaching Fellow Union was on hand to question Bok about his stand on the Union's demands. Kyle, who chaired the meeting, announced at the outset that the discussion would be "off the record."

Kyle's announcement was unethical and represented an attempt to abridge the community's right to be informed on an important issue. She deliberately waited until the meeting was underway to preclude discussion of her edict. Her employment of journalistic jargon was a clumsy effort to mask an attempted intimidation of the representatives of the press present.

President Bok's attitude was equally disturbing. He appeared to sanction Kyle's pronouncement by intimating that he was party to an earlier agreement that excluded press coverage, an agreement made meaningless by the conspicuous absence of press representatives.

GOING "OFF THE RECORD" is a valid journalistic device, but the term signifies an agreement between an individual and a journalist that certain information is privileged. No one -- not even President Bok -- can go off the record without the agreement of the press present, and no meeting advertised as open to the public can suddenly be declared "off the record."

Certain types of events, such as meetings of courses, cannot be legally reported; and others, such as trials and legal hearings, are sometimes subject to certain restrictions. But clearly, the meeting at which Bok spoke did not fall into either of these categories. The meeting was open to the public; it was advertised as such and was in no way different journalistically from a Union meeting or an SDS conclave. The Crimson therefore ignored Kyle's statement and her continual affirmation of it during the course of the meeting -- none of which Bok objected to -- and reported what happened.

No one was served by Kyle's crass attempt to manage the news and screen vital information from the community. The issues of the day can only be resolved if the maximum amount of information and opinion from all shades of the political spectrum are widely circulated. We reject Kyle's attempt as we will reject all such attempts in the future, no matter from what quarter they are issued. The Crimson will continue to report and comment on the affairs of this community, and we will continue to treat with disdain those who would hamper our efforts.