Glass Backboards Put in Blockhouse

Glass backboards in the Indoor Athletic Building joined Harvard's glass flowers Tuesday.

The new boards are made of herculite, which resembles plexiglass and is, of course, unbreakable. They are standard equipment in the Ivy League, as Dartmouth was the only other school besides Harvard that did not own a set before the current season opened. The HAA doled out $425 for the boards.

Besides affording spectators seated behind them a clear view of the goings on, the transparent boards will give Coach. Hill Barelay's forces a chance to get used to the ball's rebound off glass before invading courts like the Boston Garden, where the Crimson had some difficulty adjusting last winter.

The new backboards are slated to get their baptism under fire Wednesday night when Harvard opens its home season against Northeastern. Barclay declined to comment on whether the Crimson would give the visitors the glassy stare.