Official Word on Beanies

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

The controversy over the Radcliffe beanies may be important to those who are still fighting the battle of the sexes or the beanies vs. the white shoe; it is not, however, important to those of us who were in any way responsible for the sudden appearance of the beanie at Radcliffe. The important thing, the purpose behind the sale of the beanies, seems to have been overlooked all together.

Red beanies with white "R's" were adopted as a money raising project of the Class of '53, on February 28, 1950, at a class meeting. This project was one of three similar projects, selling Radcliffe records, pennants, and beanies. (Since then the pennants have been replaced by stuffed animals.) The adoption of the beanie was no great plot to leave our mark on Harvard or to show our individualism. It was not a plan to lead into eventual compulsion for freshmen. We had no motive in mind other than raising money we need for the support of our Foster Child and, if possible, $330, over and above the amount for the Foster Child, to give to the Salzburg Seminar.

If we are able to raise the money through the sales of our beanies and other projects then I think the end justifies the means, beanies included. Martha McCabe   President, Radcliffe Class of 1953