The Penn State American Civil Liberties Union met last night to discuss responses received from Rep. John Lawless, R-Montgomery, that attacked the right to petition government.

Through the use of the ACLU Web site complaint form, many students have reported that after contacting Lawless regarding Sex Faire and its role at the Penn State's House Appropriations Committee hearing, he responded to them in a threatening manner.

Brian Ecker, co-director of the ACLU, said students who are reporting to the chapter say the responses are sometimes individual attacks, if not actually harassing in nature.

"Our major concern here is that he was attacking constituents and making threats . . . contacting an official is a protected form of free speech," Ecker said.

Ecker said the most extreme case he has heard was from Robert Pickrell, who sent an e-mail to Lawless that disagreed with his arguments and attacked his physical appearance. After the e-mail was sent however, Pickrell sent an apology that was returned with a phone call from Lawless. According to an e-mail sent from Pickrell to Penn State President Graham Spanier, Lawless called Pickrell and said he would prevent him from getting a job after college.

Pickrell could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Steve Kittel (sophomore-computer science) also sent Lawless an e-mail disagreeing with his reasons for denouncing Sex Faire. In the e-mail, Kittel said he believes Lawless made "a mountain out of a depression" and that "while perhaps amoral, there was nothing unethical or illegal occurring at these events, and this leaves you no room to pass judgment."

An e-mail responding to Kittel questioned whether Kittel was a constituent of Lawless and said it was office policy to respond to those who provide their name and address.

Kittel said that after providing Lawless with his home address, which falls within the representative's jurisdiction, Lawless still did not explain his actions and, instead, insisted that Kittel was not a constituent.

"I don't know if it's his policy of not responding to anyone who is not his constituent or if he's ignoring me because he can't deny me," Kittel said.

A similar incident happened to Julia Hinckley (sophomore-elementary education) as she sent Lawless an e-mail similar in nature, questioning the motives behind his testimony.

"He wouldn't address anything in particular — he just questioned my constituency," Hinkley said.

Ecker said that while the ACLU Penn State Chapter is on watch for free speech violations in regards to campus events or functions, national and state ACLU chapters are also on high alert.

The various chapters are looking into what Gov. Tom Ridge mentions as enforcing "common sense limitations on profanities" and into what Spanier meant when he said he would look at protocol.

Ecker offered a wide interpretation for both intentions and said the ACLU will pay close attention to any comments handed down from any administrative body that may hinder free speech.

"When there's pressure applied to university administrators, that's when we need to be careful so they don't back-pedal on students' rights," Ecker said.