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Daniela Karlin, a third-year Jewish studies student, types her notes rather than recording the le

Some UCLA professors say they are rethinking their policies on allowing students to tape-record their lectures after a Web site asked for taped lectures as evidence of “radical” professors.

Concern with tape-recording rose among some faculty after the media attention garnered by UCLAProfs.com, a Web site founded by former Bruin Republicans leader and Bruin Alumni Association creator Andrew Jones.

The Web site revealed the “Dirty Thirty,” a list of 31 people who Jones referred to as UCLA’s “most radical professors.”

Jones had offered students as much as $100 for tape recordings of classes given by professors on the list.

Though Jones retracted the payment offer in January, some UCLA faculty members said they have become more cautious in their classroom policies as a result. Others said that some concerns about students recording their lectures have crossed their minds, though they haven’t made restrictive changes.

Before the list came out, political science Professor Steven Spiegel had always accommodated students who preferred to tape-record lectures.

“The Dirty Thirty was the last straw,” said Spiegel, who now prohibits the use of tape recorders in his courses, though he was not on the list.

Though Spiegel said he always had doubts about tape-recording lectures because it allows students to attend class less frequently and pay less attention, the benefits used to outweigh the costs by a small margin.

Currently there are no policies specifically addressing whether students can or cannot record lectures, said Adrienne Lavine, chair of the UCLA Academic Senate.

But because faculty own the copyright to their lectures, they do have the right to restrict recording, she said.

Other professors, including some who are listed on the Dirty Thirty, are not restricting recordings as long as students ask permission and justify the reasons for recording.

Communication studies Professor Paul Von Blum, who is No. 21 on the list, is willing to grant students the permission to record his lectures, which often deal with social and political themes.

“I’m not afraid of what I say. ... I’m grown-up, I’m big, I can handle it,” Von Blum said. “I have high respect for thoughtful conservative intellectuals, (and) Jones doesn’t rise to that level of quality.”

Though some professors are not restricting tape-recording entirely, Jones’ Web site has made them reconsider their policies.

“I have to re-think it a little ... depending on the reason why (students) want to tape-record,” said Rafael Perez-Torres, who teaches Chicano literature and post-World War II American literature and was identified on Jones’ site.

English Professor Robert Watson, who continues to allow recording even though he was targeted by Jones, voiced the same concern.

“That would make me more self-conscious of what the purpose of the recording is,” he said. “I can imagine some professors would have a little alarm bell go off.”

Professor James Gelvin, who teaches modern Middle Eastern history, lectures about controversial issues by the nature of his course, and was placed on Jones’ list. Though he has not restricted tape-recording, he has implemented other policies to prevent the spread of false information.

“Anyone coming to my classes has to be registered, and students who register can record,” he said, adding that in previous years people would come into his classroom and ask him what he considered to be inappropriate, disruptive questions.

Similarly, comparative literature and classics Professor Katherine King allows tape-recording as long as students bring copies of their tapes to her at the next class meeting, allowing her to have a record of the lecture.

King has always had this policy, but plans to enforce it more strictly because her name came up on Jones’ Web site.

King said she did not change her course policies in response to Jones’ Web site and criticism from others like him because she believes that “would be the coward’s way” to deal with the issue, as it brings unnecessary attention to those who seek to undermine academic freedom.

The air of uneasiness among some professors because of Jones’ Web site should anger students, Spiegel said.

“It could inhibit the quality of education,” he said, referring to the notion that some professors might be afraid to say what they think.

Lavine said she is disappointed if the Web site is causing professors to change their policies on recordings.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the Web site had a chilling effect on our openness, if that is the reason why faculty are doing this,” Lavine said. “It’s a shame.”