Committee Counterpoint

After a month of useless wrangling and recrimination the Union and the Houses are finally getting together in a cooperative attempt to plan weekend dances. A Union football dance during the Dartmouth weekend, the first in its history, out into a monopoly held by the inter-House committee and touched off an argument of magnificent proportions. Last week, under Student Council guidance, representatives of the inter-House Social Committee and the Union Committee agreed to agree. Although some knotty problems still face the two groups, they should reach a speedy concurrence o forestall further friction.

Lashed to a creamy forth by Union plans for a Dartmouth dance, the Social Committee protested that two dances would cut into House profits. A Union ticket fee of $1.80 as against a $3.60 toll at the House dances was regarded as a direct attempt to divert both Freshmen and bargain hunters from the Houses. Yet both Yard and House dances were sellouts. Again; when the Union scheduled a dance on the Princeton weekend, the inter-House Committee made similar protests. They asked the Union to switch its dance to the Brown weekend, so that the Houses would be certain of a profitable "Final Fling." The Union declined, and for the second time, a bumper crop packed all the dance-floors.

Yet the inter-House Committee had good reasons to fear Union competition. In order to tide over their spring social activities, the Houses must make a profit on fall ticket sales. The Union can charge low prices for its dances, since its primary purpose is not to make money, but to provide a cheap and attractive evening for Union members.

In such an unbalanced situation, cooperation is imperative. A tentative plan, now under discussion, gives the Union first choice on dates in the spring and fall seasons, around which the Houses are to arrange their programs. The big issue that threatens to delay a final agreement is the extent of Union ticket sales and advertising on any weekend when both organizations will plan dances. The inter-House Committee balks at the suggestion that the Union may publicize its dance in the visiting college on these conflicting dates. Fearing that the visitors will flock to the lower-priced dance, the inter-House Committee wants Union huckstering strictly limited to the Yard.

House objections on this score are hardly justified. Only on the crowded weekends will dance competition occur, and this year's examples of the Dartmouth and Princeton sellouts should assure the Houses of excellent sales under similar conditions. A delaying argument on this point would detract from the encouraging forward movement of both parties toward a necessary and beneficial harmony.