Subject: s7-25-97 Dr. Deirdre Lashgari California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 W. Temple Avenue Pomona, California 91768 fax: 310-204-6226 e-mail: delashgari@csupomona.edu January 3, 1998 Arthur Levitt Securities and Exchange Commission 450 5th Street, NW Washington, DC 20549 Dear Arthur Levitt: Please act immediately to prevent imposition of the proposed stockholder's gag rule. I am appalled that such an undemocratic, un-American rule would even be considered. Please exert all your authority and leadership to expose this rule for the danger it poses to genuine democracy, the right of citizen-stockholders to speak their concerns and inform other stockholders about issues of urgent concern. If this rule were to go through, it would give the American people the impression that the SEC protects corporations and big money only, and opposes freedom of expression as well as workers' rights and human rights. The stockholders' gag rule would be particularly detrimental to the efforts of employees, investors, and customers as well as stockholders to improve employment practices affecting women and minorities. The most immediate issue that would be affected is the widespread effort to end child labor in U.S. factories in the developing world. I'm sure you can understand how urgent it is that you do everything in your power to oppose this proposed rule, to make it clear that the SEC is not in fact simply an apologist for corporate interests. I deeply appreciate your help in this issue. Sincerely yours, Deirdre Lashgari