Students to Solicit College Applicants

In the first concentrated undergraduate effort to interest more high school seniors west of the Alleghanies in Harvard, a special student committee has been organized under the auspices of the Crimson Key. Official University support has been given the project.

Over 40 selected undergraduates, members of the newly formed Undergraduate Schools Committee, will start work over Christmas vacation in cities from Scattle to Pittsburgh.

John T. Hazel, Jr. '51, president of the Key, who heads the new committee, assisted by Marvin H. Kraus '51, said yesterday that the undergraduates will collaborate with the Harvard Clubs' Schools Committees in attracting more "good men to the College."

Hazel also hopes that the committee's efforts will help to activate many of the Clubs' Schools Committees which have failed to perform their function of attracting and screening applicants.

Varsity Club Cooperates Hazel cited the fact that only half of the Harvard Clubs have active Schools Committees and that the proportion is lower among those west of the Alleghanies.

Meanwhile the Varsity Club's Undergraduate Executive Committee, organized last Thursday, pledged its full support to the Hazel group. Robert N. Berks '51, president of the Varsity Club's committee, said that Varsity Club undergraduates, who heretofore have functioned independently, "will now work through the Undergraduate Schools Committee in attracting both athletes and scholars to the College."

Richard M. Gummere, chairman of the Committee on Admissions, has given his complete approval to the undergraduate committee. He particularly applauded the Varsity Club's "awareness that encouraging athletes to come here is only part of the over-all problem of attracting more and better men to the College."

"This program must be handled with discretion," added Gummere, "but I see no reason why a qualified undergraduate cannot attract good men to the College. I am also certain that this committee will serve to arouse alumni interest in the work of the Admissions Board."

Alumni Notified

Francis P. Kinnicutt '30, secretary to the Associated Harvard Clubs' Schools Committee, said yesterday that his office had notified the alumni of the undergraduates' plans and requested their cooperation in the matter.

Eventually the program may start working with the eastern Harvard Clubs, but not until the project proves successful in the West and South. Hazel said last night that the West, Mid-West, and South were selected as the trial area because there are so few applicants (roughly one fourth of the candidates for admission).

He added that his committee would attempt to interest more men in the College by breaking-down the traditional myths which visualize Harvard as a "brain factory" and a "nest of snobbery."

No Discussion of Scholarships

The undergraduate field workers will not concern themselves with scholarships or financial aid. Any prespective applicant who needs financial help will eb referred directly to F. Skiddy von Stade, Jr. '38, director of scholarships, John U. Moore '34, assistant to the Provost, and the local Harvard Club. There authorities will then follow-up a case with interviews and pamphlets.

Several years ago the Crimson Key did some informal field-work to attract students but the now project represents the first such effort carried out with the backing of the University administration and the Harvard Clubs