Too Bad Savio Was Honored in Death

In an addendum to your fine article about Mario Savio (“A Voice That Touched a Nation,” Dec. 10), it should be noted that the University of California in a very extraordinary gesture has sent a letter of condolence to Savio’s widow.

In 1964 the UC regents approved of teargassing, arresting and finally suspending Savio because of his protest against the restrictions of students’ rights on the campus. Last week, the current Board of Regents in an attempt to redress these mistakes of 1964 typified the greatness of the university by publicly acknowledging Savio’s contribution to free speech.

It is a sad commentary that Savio was honored posthumously rather than while living.

NATHAN RUBIN

Los Angeles

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Your article credits Mario Savio and his movement with “winning for students the right to engage in political activity on campus.”

Students had always had the right to engage in political activity. Savio fought for the right to force his political opinions on unwilling others. A mindless mob taking over an administration building and imposing its will on the school is not acting in the interest of academic freedom.

As a leader in the student uprisings of the 1960s, Savio is responsible for an assault on American academia that matched and even exceeded that of the McCarthy era.

ARTHUR BENVENISTE

Venice