MINOR SPORTS

A natural corollary to the Harvard Athletic Association's policy of "sports for all" has naturally been a very sucessful attempt to encourage participation on an increasingly large number of teams by awarding a greater number of minor insignia. This tendency has been especially noticeable in recent years in the recognition of class champions in various fields of athletic activity.

The movement, however, appears to have been limited to the awarding of class numerals to teams which have won a University championship, and no alteration of the insignia awards to minor sports teams has been made, although changes have frequently been suggested in different meetings of the Minor Sports Council. Already there are a large number of universities which have abolished the distinction between a major and minor letter, the University of Pennsylvania being one of the leaders in this field in the East, and in almost every case there has been a noticeable increase in the participation in minor sports, without any loss in the prestige which accompanies playing on what had been one of the major teams.

Even without such a stimulus the minor sports in Harvard have received a steady increase in undergraduate interest which reached its peak this spring when the call for candidates for the lacrosse team resulted in a larger turnout of men than any major team has received. It seems only fair that the men making this team should receive some insignia which at least approaches in importance that awarded to men on major sports teams, places on which were gained in a smaller field of competitors.

If some change in policy were adopted by the Athletic Association it would not necessitate the complete uniformity of letter awards which has often accompanied the innovation elsewhere. During a transitional period, in which the experiment was being tried out, the minor "H", with no small qualifying letters, could be substituted for the full sized "H" with- letters designating the sport, and full major letter could be given to the men on those teams which, under the present system, win the minor insignia.

Naturally such a change would meet with a great deal of opposition, especially from graduates, but surely after taking the first stand in the country supporting the policy of "athletics for all," Harvard can accept a certain amount of adverse criticism if she feels that she is following a policy which is in accord with that held at present.