WHERE HARVARD SUFFERS.

A little over a month ago the Graduate Treasurer of Athletics received a letter from Dr. Page, the Physical Director at Phillips Andover Academy, which read as follows: "A so-called 1913 Harvard Basketball team played here on February 7 and their behavior on the floor and in the locker-room was anything but a credit to your College". The matter was investigated for the Athletic Committee and referred by it to the Administrative Board for discipline. At the last meeting of that Board action was taken, and due punishment administered to the guilty parties.

Upon very careful investigation it was found that one man was, to a large extent, to blame for writing to Andover and, wholly without authority from the Athletic Association, scheduling a basketball game with that school. Also owing partly to several interruptions by someone other than the referee, and partly to the fact that Andover was playing under rules with which their opponents were unfamiliar, several disputes arose in the game which caused what may mildly be called "cheap talk" on the part of the Harvard men. The game ended with anything but the mutual feeling which should characterize a match between Harvard and one of the largest preparatory schools in the country.

The CRIMSON publishes the facts in this case for two reasons: first, to let those who may have heard of the matter know that Harvard undergraduates do not stand for this sort of thing. (Had not due punishment already been administered, we should not hesitate to publish the names of the men whom we deem so misrepresentative of Harvard sportsmanship). And, in the second place, we wish to point out the far-reaching effects of what may have been thought at the time something in the nature of a care-free "party".

As to our first point, it may be dismissed without argument. All Harvard men, as well as outsiders familiar with Harvard athletics, know that such exhibitions of "near muckerism" are not frequent in our annals. Those that have occurred have met with instant condemnation.

But as to the far-reaching effects of such acts, we have more to say. The affair at Andover is capable of two evils: first, it places Harvard in a false light with just the men in whose opinions we wish to stand high; namely, prospective Harvard men. Secondly, it counteracts years of hard work on the part of men who are trying to establish closer relations between Harvard and the preparatory schools.

Harvard men must remember that "ipso facto" they are being watched. And to no small degree is the opinion of Harvard formed from the impressions given by Harvard men. The so-called 1913 Basketball team not only hurt themselves, they wounded Harvard in a most vulnerable spot.