k-8 Peacock Farm Road
Lexington, &Wzachusetts OU73
July 20, 1965

To The Editor
The New York Times
22cj west 43rd street
New York, New York

To the Editor:

It is encouragim that the N. Y. Times considers the opinions of
professors on political matters worthy of public notlce, wi,tness the
frequent appearance in your columns of letters from members of the
Elcademic cmty.  It seems unfortunate, however, that some of
these opirrhons appear to rate hfgher news value than others. Thus,
an article on page 2 of the N. Y. Times for July 19, under the
headline "Professors back policy in Vietnam" reports that 67 (sic)
professors "from throughout the country" issued a statement of
strong support for United States policy in Vietnam.

Since last Frebrusry, when an Ad Hoc Committee published as an
advertisement in the N. Y. Times a statement of strong critfcism of
our Government's Vietnam policy signed by 473 Boston Area professors,
over 6000 professors have reiterated such criticism.  In so doing,
together with students, clergymen, and other groups of responsible
cltieens, the members of the academic: profession have taken their
place %n a great spontaneous movement that attempts to deter the
Government from a suicidal policy of escalation and to restore the
di@;nlty and mozxl repute of the United States before the peoples of
the world.  So fittle news coverage has been devoted to these state-
ments that it has genc?rally.been found necessary to publish them as
paid advertisements.

Admittedly, the articulate group that feels the duty to make itself
heard in the Vietnam crisis st%ll. represents a sizable minority, even
t%mmg professors.  Yet, the disproportion between pro's and con's is
very great, and one regrets that the protesting thousands fail to get
the news coverage afforded to the vocally approving few.

S. E. Luria

S&&wick Professor of Biology,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chairman, Ad Rot Committee for
   Vietnam Letter