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The New York Times November 21, 1950, p. 29 Columbia Officials Bar Fast at Forum Columbia University officials have barred Howard Fast, writer, from addressing a campus meeting of the Columbia Chapter of the Young Progressives of America on Nov. 29. The Young Progressives said that last Thursday they had requested permission to have Mr. Fast attend a forum on the Internal Security Act. W. Emerson Gentzler, assistant provost in charge of student interests, refused the request. The provost's office announced yesterday that no explanation of the denial would be made. In December, 1947, while the novelist and ten other members of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee were awaiting sentence for contempt of Congress, the university would not allow him to speak on the campus. It did, however, say that he would be permitted to appear after he either had been cleared under the law or had served his sentence. Mr. Fast served three months for the contempt last summer. Despite the ban in 1947, Mr. Fast spoke at a Columbia "Enlist For Peace" rally in April, 1948, when the students temporarily had power to help pass on scheduled speakers. This power has since reverted to the provost's office. James A. Somers, chairman of the Young Progressives, called on his fellow students yesterday to protest the new ban. Return