We are writing in response to the Penn State Bookstore's decision to sell Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses. We support this decision because it advocates the freedom of speech and of ideals.

However, we are confused as to the policy of the University regarding matters such as this.

In the article by Charles Patterino in the March 6th issue of The Daily Collegian, James Wagner, associate vice president of business and operations, was quoted as saying that "As an educational institution the University is committed to the free exchange of ideas and information. Part of our culture is to be divergent in opinion."

Why was such divergent opinion not acknowledged in consideration of the issue of the Women of Penn State calendar?

Surely the content of the novel The Satanic Verses is more offensive to a Moslem than the free expression of the human body to a woman's rights activist.

The bookstore has taken a risk in selling this book, exemplified by the recent bombings across the country of other bookstores selling this book.

We admire this position on the part of the University in putting values of the Constitution of the United States ahead of the concern of possibly offending a few members of the University.

However we feel this decision is in conflict with the earlier choice to ban the selling of the calandar.

We hope that we can take this latest decision as a show of continued support by the University of freedom of expression on campus, despite the possibility of causing offense to some people, be they Moslems or women rights activists.