Excerpts From Council Committee's Report on College Athletic Picture

The following are excerpts from the report of the Student Council Committee on Athletics which the Council accepted at its last meeting.

The problem (of getting to live in a House) is unexpectedly complex. It's complicated on the one hand by the fact that the situation tends to be a self-perpetuating vicious circle. In many cases there are men who have formerly held substantial scholarships which they have lost due to their failure to maintain the Group IV standing requisite for a scholarship holder. Often the loss amounts to $800 or $900.

To make up the deficit it is necessary for the student to hold one, perhaps several, part-time jobs. This in turn makes it difficult to spend sufficient time studying to regain scholarship ranking in Group IV. For those men who attempt to participate in College activities such as football the difficulties become practically insurmountable. . .

Removal of Group IV

Consider a few possible solutions: One would be the removal of the Groups IV scholarship requirement on the theory that any student in good standing has a right to apply for scholarship aid. Indeed, this Committee feels that this may ultimately be an advisable step. It does, however, raise the familiar argument about the scholastic standing of the College. In any case the issue is clearly beyond the province of a report on football, and is far too controversial to be endorsed here.

Another possible solution would be expansion of the Room Adjustment Funds administered through the Houses. But funds are here lacking for any such extensive program. And at maximum, room adjustment covers only a small portion of the total rent.

Maximum Payment

A third possible solution would be an expansion of the program of beneficiary aid. But even now the University is spending more than double the budget allotment on Beneficiary Aid. Furthermore, many of the men living in Weld, Varsity Club, and "room for service' are already receiving the maximum pay- ments under the Beneficiary Aid program.

This Committee therefore proposes that the Harvard Clubs be asked to subscribe an annual gift of $10,000 for a Room Fund to be administered at the discretion of the Deans for the purpose of paying the room rents of students in financial difficulties.

The proposed Room Fund would serve to pay the minimal $100 per term House room rent for the 50 men. . . It would be administered at the discretion of the Deans to apply to any student in financial need; it would, therefore, not serve to sequester the athlete or indeed to give him any special treatment as a group apart.

Welcome Expansion

It would not effect the Group IV rank list scholarship requirement or the scholastic standing of the college. It would, on the contrary, be an extremely welcome expansion of the current program of beneficiary aid in a manner that would be completely in keeping with traditional regulation of the College.

What are the prospects for raising such a Room Fund? The Committee does not feel that it is being unduly optimistic in venturing that the current situation is peculiarly favorable for such a project. The sum to be raised is not large; it represents, as one possibility, an annual gift of $10 from 1000 alumni. It would not necessarily prejudice any other fund raising activities of the University, present or future.

In view of the much expressed resentment of many alumni of the scholarship and other regulation of the University which thwart most proposals for alleviating the difficulties of the Harvard athlete, it should not be difficult to arouse interest in a program that works within existing policies and regulations, and can still do a tremendous amount to relieve a bad situation, and one that the rising cost of living is steadily making worse. . .

Try it First With Athletes

We propose that for experimental purposes this program (of examination coaching) should be established on a temporary basis for one year, during which it will be made available to freshman football players and a limited number of others, the number to be determined by the two seniors who will head the program. It should then be re-examined by another Student Council committee for the purpose of making it available on he same free and voluntary basis to the entire Freshman class. . .

Members (of the various student and alumni committees) cover the secondary schools in their area taking to principals, athletic directors, etc., and above all to the boys themselves--not just seniors, but juniors and sophomores who are potential applicants to Harvard. The purpose is not simply to hand out admissions blanks but to seek out and actively go after the most outstanding boys. . . .

No Trouble About Admission

The (Scholarship Committee) handbook (for alumni) also implies the now generally accepted axiom that the so called "all around boy" is what Harvard wants most. But a graduate should be sure to make no promises to a boy who hasn't the minimum amount of intelligence to do the work required at Harvard. A reasonably accurate formula has been worked out to determine this level of intelligence.

The Admissions Office has shown itself very willing to admit the "all around boy" including the athlete. But admitting such a boy is not the problem--the problem comes in attracting them to Harvard. . .

It is important that the graduate representative in this proposed organization (co-ordinating all admissions) have the authority to successfully represent alumni interests. If possible, his salary should be paid by the alumni rather than the University.

Equal Authority

Obviously, graduates who know that their interests as well as the University's are being pushed in the Admissions Office, will have more incentive to do recruiting work. Princeton and Yale alumni know that when their agent places an application on the desk of the Dean of Admissions, it is more than likely to be accepted. The graduate representative and the Dean of Admissions operate under equal authority at these colleges and the alumni are more than satisfied with the system. . .