New Ruling to Permit Films By All Groups

All student organizations will now be able to show movies in University buildings and charge admission, according to the latest decision of the Faculty Committee on Student Activities.

This ruling reopens the cinema competitive field, which has been monopolized by Ivy Films thus far this fall.

The only qualification expressed by the committee is that the groups show movies which are in line with the purposes of the organizations.

The Harvard Liberal Union is already considering two pictures, "All the King's Men" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," Phillipe Villers '55, HLU president, revealed last night.

This new announcement is the third change of film policy since the race to make money in the movie business began around the Yard.

Under the new policy, the HLU will be allowed to show political movies, the French Club may show French films, etc., in line with purposes of the groups.

Duncan Cameron '56, president of the U.N. Council last year, attacked this principle last night because of its inherent extremes. "Students join a club for some activity and find themselves running around trying to arrange films," he said.

"The purpose is being lost sight of, but the organizations must find some source of income," he added.

When the privilege of showing films to cover expenses was first abused and groups began conflicting in dates and bookings of titles, Robert B. Watson, Associate Dean of Students, formed Ivy Cinema. This new organization consisted of all the concerned groups and divided its profits.

The combination proved unprofitable, however, and broke up. Ivy Films, the only organization conceived to show the development and history of film technique, won the sole right to put on movies and charge admission.