THE SPORTING SCENE

Two weeks ago the Undergraduate Athletic Council voted to elevate soccer from minor to major sport standing, after two years of intensive work spent in drawing up a list of criteria for elevation.

The Council list has three main categories: (1) the activeness of the sport; (2) the nature and extent of its identification wit the University; and (3) the nature and extent of its intercollegiate competition.

The 14-man undergraduate committee broken down these rather vague categories, including under the first: the number of people competing for positions in the aport, and the amount of practice and training it demands in comparison with the standards for major sports. There must also be "sufficient" spectator interest and letter standards equivalent to major sports.

A breakdown of the second category reveals that "identification with the University" means that the individual participant should be more interested in Harvard's glory than his own. "Identification" also includes the financial and moral support allotted to the sport by the Department of Athletics.

The third category is defined as an approved period of time during which the sport is practiced on an organized basis.

Confronted for the first time with a list of standards that must be met minor sports will view with envy the major "H". However, requests for major sport status will not, as happened at Yale, be approved en masse. The Council has specified that each sport will be considered separately.

Now, however, the path through the red tape is clearly defined. For example, consider the steps that led to the elevation of soccer to major sport status. Nearly a year ago, the captain presented a petition to the Council containing the reasons why it should be given major recognition.

For almost six months, the U.A.C. considered and discussed the request. It appointed a subcommittee to watch the team this season. Finally, it decided that soccer had fulfilled most of the standards.

At its meeting this coming Monday the Council will consider a major recognition petition from the cross country team, and may soon renew one from the wrestling team. If the University follows the lead of other colleges--reducing the sports of sailing pistol, rifle, and skiing to the club status that rugby has--fencing, golf, lacrosse, squash, and tennis would still have the right to petition.

Eventually, other minor sports may follow the lead of soccer and apply for major recognition, but first they must desire it, then they must apply for it, and above all, they must merit it.