Yale Strikes Back After Towel Loss Totals $3,600

Yale has decided to crack down on the towel situation. Discovery of an annual loss of $3,600 caused the director of the Yale gymnasium to start a get-tough policy during the last two months. Harvard authorities, meanwhile, stated that a similar situation does not exist in Cambridge.

Yale's get-tough policy consists of separate stencilling of each towel, limited allotments to visiting teams, and "a routine vacation check of all rooms." The check resulted in the recovery of 200 missing towels.

Yale has also closed all entrances to the gym except one which is now under the constant scrutiny of the main desk.

Carroll F. Getchell, business manager of the H.A.A., stated yesterday that loss due to stealing here is extremely small. "The students have cooperated very well. Although there's bound to be a few missing, there is remarkably little expense from loss of towels."

James Farrell, head of the supply room in Dillon Field House, reported that Harvard has had probably the "littlest towel loss" in the Ivy League. "Our system has worked for the last 20 years. It's surprising that the other schools haven't adopted it."

The system consists of carefully checking out each initial towel and not supplying a new one except in exchange for the old towel. Yale, previous to the get-tough policy, had merely placed its towels on a large center table, allowing anyone needing one to take it freely.

The Indoor Athletic building. Newell Boat House, and Hemenway leave more to the student's conscience than Dillon. Each incoming students is given a ford and is expected to throw it in a large laundry basket when done. there is no check other than routine screening as they leave.

Despite this honor system towel loss is only slightly greater than in Dillon.