"You don't want to be in a situation whereHarvard thinks you've covered something up,"Dershowitz said. "Harvard's entitled to know."

"Harvard was not wrong in being concerned whenit received new information" about Grant,Dershowitz said. An anonymous person two weeks agosent a package containing newspaper clippings fromGrant's 1990 trial to her high school, the Harvardadmissions office and the Boston Globe.

Grant's supporters, however, have contendedthat the intent of the juvenile justice system isto seal the cases of young offenders so that theycan get on with their lives.

Burnham said Grant's case ended with heradjudication for voluntary manslaughter inJanuary, 1991, and should not be furtherdiscussed.

"The judge [in the case] looked more carefullyat this than any of us have," Burnham said.

"We rely on individuals in whom we entrustauthority to make decisions like that," Burnhamsaid. "But you can put that [past] behind you."

Boston University President John R. Silber alsodefended Grant on "Nightline."

"This society professes redemption in two ofits major religions, Judaism and Christianity,"Silber said.

Silber said if every school were to takeHarvard's position in rejecting Grant, "we wouldsentence her to a life without higher education."Boston University has indicated it would acceptGrant if she applied.

The issue continued to divide students andfaculty yesterday. The Institute of Politics hasscheduled a student panel on Wednesday, April 19to debate whether Grant should be admitted to theCollege.

The panel will feature moderator E. MichelleDrake '97, chair of the Civil Liberties Union ofHarvard; David B. Lat '96, associate editorialchair of The Crimson; Stephen E. Frank '95, formereditorial chair of The Crimson; and Scott L.Shuchart '96, an editor of the liberal monthly,Perspective.

"She doesn't belong at Harvard." Frank saidyesterday. "She murdered her mother brutally andin cold blood by bashing her skull in, that speaksfor itself."

Frank said he was "not sure" whether Grantlied in not disclosing her past on her applicationfor admission, but said "there's no doubt shemisled the community" in not being fully candid.

Liston disagreed.

"However you decide whether Gina Grant shouldbe admitted, Harvard made a hasty decision afterthey received the package of news clippings,"Liston said. "In fairness to all sides, theadmissions process should be reopened."