The Mail

To the Editors of the Crimson:

Further investigations into course conflicts between the fields of History and English, in the light of the recent Crimson editorial on the English department, reveal that the dilemma of the American History and Literature concentrator has if anything been understated.

With Professor Miller on leave of absence for the spring term, Professor Matthiessen teaching only the basic course in the American field, and Professor Levin engaged in General Education, the concentrator finds that, as far as his needs are concerned, the renowned English Department does not exist. Although the absence of three of the most vital men in the field may be justified, the multiple course conflicts are inexcusable.

A glance at the course offerings for the spring term reveals that almost all of the courses in the field of American History and Literature have been magnificently dumped into three examination groups. Three of the most important courses to be offered are all to be found in Group XI--English 60c, English 170d, and History 62b (the best American history course offered at Harvard, in the almost unanimous opinion of students in the field). Group IV finds the first undergraduate poetry course to be offered in at least two years competing with Professor Schlesinger's History 63. As an added fillip, Fine Arts 7f, a survey course in American painting, completes the fatal trilogy in Group IV. To fill the serious gap in American literature offerings, Professor Murdock is repeating his course on the American novel in the nineteenth century, English 170c. But because it has been relegated to Group XIII, it will do those who are enrolled in Professor Mayo's History 67, American Biography, no good at all, for it, too, is in Group XIII.

The fourth conflict, between History 66, on American Immigration, and History 68, American Naval History, both of which are in Group V, is perhaps understandable on the grounds that they are peripheral courses. The conflict nevertheless does serve to reduce the number of courses which do not conflict to a mere two--History 60b and Philosophy 17a, the latter of which is concerned with men whom the average concentrator has probably covered elsewhere.

A shortage of teachers is to be sympathized with, as is the necessity of sabbaticals for independent research, but such conflicts in examination group can only be the result of oversight and confusion. Names Withheld by Request.