Counter, who was present for the entiresymposium, seemed dismayed as he left, sayingonly, "I am deeply saddened."
Gloria G. Hardy, a social worker at SouthSuburban College, Chicago, was the evening's firstspeaker. She spoke of her experiences as a childbeing sexually molested by relatives and as asocial worker talking with families on Chicago'sSouth Side.
"When you have broken-down, dysfunctionalfamilies, you're going to have dysfunctionalcommunities," said Hardy, who is Black. "I camehere tonight to speak for those who cannot speakfor themselves."
During the question and answer period, Hardywas asked by several students whether theunderstood Peninsula's mission and whethershe was aware of the flyer.
"I don't know that what Peninsula is,"said Hardy. She said she did not know about theflyer.
Other Harvard officials in attendance includedAssistant Dean of Race Relations and MinorityAffairs Hilda Hernandez-Gravelle and HarvardUniversity Police Chief Paul E. Johnson, whosedepartment was accused by the doordrop ofmistreating Black Harvard students.
Jonnson said he had dispatched two officers toSever Hall for the speech after a Universityrequest for extra help earlier in the day.
And Hernandez-Gravelle said she did not thinkthe conference would help ease racial tensions oncampus.
"I don't believe this is a conversation that isproductive to race relations on campus," saidHernandez-Gravelle, asked about Peninsula'srole in the symposium. "I think it is a shame thatthe issue of race is being exploited by somemembers of the community."
Jones was challenged frequently for his focuson sexual liberation as the primary explanationfor the large number of dysfunctional Blackfamilies.
Rivers, for one, criticized Jones for his useof quotations and facts. "I have read all theliterature that is from '64'-65," he said, citingthe Moynihan report as an example. "And that's whyI'm so surprised at your exploitation of thisyoung audience."
Peninsula staffers said they weredismayed by the free-for-all attitude thatdominated the event.
"I was very discouraged that students came heremore predisposed to talking and presenting theirviews rather than listening to the very qualifiedspeakers," Landry said.
And many of the administrators in attendanceseemed disturbed by the angry tone of theexchanges.
"I don't think there was much give-and-take,"said Epps, "so I don't think there was muchunderstanding.