I appreciate Donald Holloway's comments about my involvement with Youth for Western Civilization (YWC). When I wrote "I have a Colt 45 and I know how to use it", I wasn't threatening anyone. Nikhil Patel was concerned for my safety and he took my response as humorously intended. On the other hand, I do believe in the right of self-defense for real threats.

My copying Haley Koch has been misunderstood. I have had a friendly relationship with Haley, meeting for two hours at her request. I later wrote her several times -- advising her to have a lawyer represent her, congratulating her on the dismissal of charges, and offering a tongue in cheek apology for referring to her as a "young girl."

I copied her on my response to Patel because I naively thought that she would regard the flier as "hate speech." Haley is intimidated by no one, surely not by me.

My complete correspondence with her is on www.unc.edu/~cramer/ywc.

My relationship with YWC has not changed since my resignation. Advisers have no responsibilities other than to offer advice; I still do that. The chancellor acted promptly to appoint three new advisers to replace me, and the group is thriving as a result of this controversy.

Elliot M. Cramer

Chapel Hill