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Undergraduate organizations which cannot find the required two faculty sponsors will definitely not be forced out of existence by the University, according to statements yesterday by Associate Dean Watson.
Watson indicated in an interview, however, that he and the Faculty Committee on Student Activities had not as yet worked out any plans on what status organizations without sponsors would have, or whether charters would be issued to new groups who were unable to meet the requirement.
He said such groups would most probably be able to reach an "understanding" with the faculty that would permit them to continue in operation.
Dean Watson, in effect liberalizing a controversial proviso in the current "Rules for Undergraduate Organizations," said, "I feel that no organization which has made a conscientious effort to get faculty sponsors, and has failed, should have its charter revoked or suspended for that reason alone.
"It is up to me and the faculty," he continued, "to see to it that such organizations do not go out of existence officially, provided they have fulfilled all the other requirements, and have acted in good faith with me."
Progressives Affected
The only recognized organization now affected by Watson's announcement is the Young Progressives, which operates under a four-year-old charter, and which announced yesterday that it had given up its perennial battle to find faculty sponsors, at least for the remainder of the spring term.
Dean Watson's statements grew out of questioning on the possible fate of the group, since it had admitted its inability to meet the necessity for sponsors.
"The Young Progressives have always been honest about their situation," Watson said, indicating no action was plan-
ned against the organization, or others in the same situation in the future.
"I am enormously relieved about this," said James K. Bouzoukis '52, president of the Progressive group, which has sought sponsorship from numerous professors, including Kirtley F. Mather, professor of Geology, and Henry J. Cadbury, Hollis Professor of Divinity, and has been repeatedly refused.
The Young Progressive group, according to Bouzoukis, has feared for the past two months that the University was going to clamp down on them.
"We couldn't have planned much activity here for the rest of the term anyway," Bouzoukis said, "and I doubt if this will make any change in our plans." He said, however, that the group will still try to find sponsors when it reorganizes in the fall.
According to Dean Watson, the organization is the only one which has had serious trouble with the sponsor requirement
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