In the wake of criticism last month for displaying anti-gay posters without College authorization, the Association Against Learning in the Absence of Religion and Morality (AALARM) has obtained recognition from Harvard.

Founded in 1991, AALARM has a tradition of outspoken promotion of conservative moral values. For the last two years, the group did not seek official recognition, Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said yesterday.

According to AALARM President Tung Q. Le '96, the group strives to alert members of the student body to moral issues.

The group is opposed to "abortion and homosexuality and any other evil countenanced by the University," Le said yesterday.

Several AALARM members said yesterday that the group represents silent conservatives at Harvard.

"We feel that there are a lot of important moral issues that don't get any discussion or token discussion on this campus," said Treasurer Brian E. Malone '96. "And yet we feel that there are a lot of students on this campus who feel differently from the dominant liberal viewpoint, students from religious and traditionally moral backgrounds."

"It's basically a group of conservative Christian people, and that's basically it," said former AALARM president Randy A. Karger '98, who is now a member of the club's Presidential Council. "If there's an issue in which we want to make our views known, I think it basically serves as a forum for that."

Karger said one such issue is a link between the AIDS epidemic and homosexual sex.

AALARM initiated a postering campaign last month during National Coming Out Week. The posters read: "AIDS: Sodomy=Death." In response, the Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Student Association (BGLSA) posted pink fliers reading "AALARM: Hatred=Death."

AALARM was heavily criticized for the posters, partially because the group was not officially recognized by the College and was therefore not allowed to poster on campus.

Following the campaign, the group filed the necessary forms, Malone said.

AALARM received recognition within the last month, according to Epps. But several of the group's executives, including Karger and Malone, said they only learned of AALARM's recognition upon being contacted by The Crimson yesterday.

As a result, most AALARM members interviewed said the group's plans for the future are uncertain.

Members said they would like to have a campus-wide meeting before Christmas break, but they said they were not sure what specific issues such a meeting would address.

Malone said the group would like to bring a speaker to campus. ("A conservative firebrand would be great," he said.)

As an official group, AALARM can poster, use Harvard's name and facilities, distribute literature on campus, apply to the Undergraduate Council for funding and table at registration.