Dr. William Gartland 
- 2 - 
2/23/84 
(2) I believe the RAC should not hold closed meetings. I understand 
and am sympathetic to the problems that this might present for industrial 
companies who seek RAC approval and yet who do not wish to disclose 
proprietary secrets. However, I believe this is more than offset by the 
fact that the RAC discussions would be open, which would remove any 
possibility of suspicion that they were not acting in the best interests of 
the public. To do otherwise I believe plays into the hands of those who do 
not shrink from suggesting that irresponsible decisions are made in closed 
sessions. Open sessions would preserve the confidence that the RAC has 
established with a majority of the scientific community and with the public 
over the years, and would be to the overall benefit of work using 
recombinant DNA techniques. 
Ro^stoty" 
Ro^stoty"C. Clowes 
Professor and Head 
Biology Programs 
RCC/jl 
[ 670 ] 
