Robert Hobbs in a letter to the editor (Oct. 5) takes Bates to task for a “shocking violation of academic freedom in restricting access to her non-Republican faculty and students” by Bates President Elaine Hansen during the visit to campus by President Bush’s daughters.

Bates may be a small college, but not that small. The president does not approve or organize all meetings, and she had no involvement in this visit. This gathering was organized by the College Republicans, not by the college. As a student club whose membership is open to all students, they can have an event to which they invite only their members. With many dozens of campus organizations, sometimes a club will want to have an event for their membership, and the space for this event was booked by the College Republicans under that understanding.

As a general practice, events at Bates are open to both the public and all members of the campus community, and Mr. Hobbs is correct that when the Kerry representative spoke on campus, that meeting was open to the public.

William C. Hiss, vice president for external affairs,

Bates College, Lewiston