Fine says that actions by individual studentmembers of the Boston Church of Christ should notbe used to prevent Hrnicek's group from beingrecognized.

"Dean Epps doesn't like the church Mike belongsto, he doesn't like the activities of some oftheir members on campus," he says. "Mike hasn'tdone any of those things, I didn't like thislabelling."

Fine charges that Epps withholds officialrecognition from student groups who disagree withhim.

"Dean Epps has a very strong ideology in acertain direction," Fine says. "Some of the groupsthat he has come up with frivolous reasons not torecognize disagree with him," he says. "Dean Eppshas taken authority that, in my opinion, he doesnot have."

Fine says that in the past the COCL "used to bea rubber stamp for Dean Epps' decisions." But Finesays the students on the committee have sincedeclared their independence. "We've made the COCLa place where students have a voice," he says.

Justin C. Label '97, a member of the COCL, saysHrnicek's group has not received just and equalconsideration.

"Those who feel the group should not beapproved are not giving these ten students theirfair due," he says.

First Amendment Violation?

Hrnicek says his attempts to convert otherstudents are protected under the First Amendmentright to free speech.

"I think that it's worthwhile to have the groupofficially recognized," he says. "Where I standhas a lot to do with my initiative and believingthat the freedom of speech should be protected.This is a voice that should be heard on campus."

Hrnicek says he presented affidavits to theCOCL which state instances where Epps threatenedto expel students who tried to share the Bible.

"[The affidavits cite] certain instancesinvolving Dean Epps calling students into hisoffice and telling them that if they continuedtrying to study the Bible with someone they wouldbe kicked out of the college."

In one affidavit obtained by The Crimson,Angela D. Williams '90 says Epps called her atwork during her senior year "demanding" she attenda meeting with him and an associate dean at thetime, whom she does not name.

In the affidavit, Williams said both deansordered her to "stop being a Christian on campus"or they would "prevent [her] from graduating."

"I could not believe that people with suchauthority could use it in this way to harass andintimidate," she wrote. "I was treated like acriminal for being a Christian."