"Scientology assured me that they will have members there," Tadjedin said.

According to Kisser in a press release dated June 21, 1996, legal fees amassed during lawsuits brought against CAN by the Church of Scientology forced CAN's financial insolvency.

"We've been backed into this corner simply because of the massive amount of litigation we have had to face in the approximately 50 cases brought by the Scientologists against us since 1991," Kisser said. "If you get sued 50 times over four years the odds are that you're going to suffer losses at some point."

The IOP will use normal security measures at tonight's forum, which will begin at 6 p.m.

"I do expect there will be a certain amount of controversy," said Rucker A. Alex '99. "Our goal is not to incite controversy."

Since the beginning of fall term, members of the Projects Committee of the IOP have been planning a forum to discuss "cults and the political influence that they have," Alex, former Projects chair, said. "[One] student was particularly interested in why people join cults. Is it society that forces people to join cults, or the cults themselves that draw people into their organizations?"

The other panelists will be Eugene Gallagher, author of Why Waco and Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Connecticut; Joseph Kelly, Thought Reform and Exit Consultant and former cult member; and Peter Klebnilov, who covered the Heaven's Gate mass suicide for Newsweek magazine, and author of a book on doomsday cults, "The Cult Next Door".

Alex said that she is excited rather than scared about tonight's panel.

"We encourage undergrads to come early to sit in the front row seats," Alex said. "Barring any unforseen circumstances the panelists will be available for comment after the forum.