The University of Pittsburgh was one of 100 campuses nationwide where students received free copies of "The Origin of Species" yesterday, though the commemoration of the book's 150th anniversary wasn't quite as author Charles Darwin would have intended.

The books included a 50-page introductory section by religious author Ray Comfort that argues against evolution. In total, Mr. Comfort -- who hosts "The Way of the Master" television show with actor Kirk Cameron -- gave away 170,000 copies of the books at universities.

At Pitt, it took about an hour and a half to distribute 1,000 books outside the Cathedral of Learning yesterday morning, said volunteer Jenifer Pepling.

Mr. Comfort's special editions of the book have been controversial, with some secular and atheist student organizations calling for protests and British evolutionist Richard Dawkins urging students to rip out the first 50 pages.

Despite reports that groups would protest the distribution of the books, nothing of the sort occurred at Pitt yesterday, said Ms. Pepling, who said that it took about an hour and half to give away the books.

Most students just took one on the run, she said, with little discussion.

Mr. Comfort's first printing of the book left out four chapters and Mr. Darwin's introduction, but the second printing, which was distributed yesterday, reproduced the whole book.

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